Extraordinary Students

Florida Tech student: We really do build rockets.

Extended studies student Kara Schmitt recently sat with colleague Terry White in front of a video camera. With microphone in place, a miniature booster rocket and a replica of a space shuttle on the table. Across the room was a large video monitor. You see images of children. In fact, these are third graders in Surprise, Ariz.

Imagine you are in the third grade

The presentation begins. "Good morning. My name is Kara Schmitt and this is Joe Smith. We work at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. And we really do help build rockets and launch them into outer space." Listening closely you hear voices whispering with excitement, as the children edge closer for a better view. The smiles are priceless. The presentation continues with colorful Power Point slides, descriptions of the Shuttle vehicle and, in a third-graders language, how a rocket is launched into space at hundreds of miles an hour.

Kara Schmitt is creating an impact.

An impact on our future. Kara as well as other Florida Tech students and alumni have a positive impact on our future scientists, engineers, and professionals that may drive humans to parts of space exploration not yet found.

Kara is employed at United Space Alliance and is enrolled in the Master of Science in Space Systems degree program. She shares her time with young people, hoping to make a positive impression. "I love taking to the students about space shuttles, what NASA is doing and where we are going in space. In today's talk we were surprised we didn't get any potty questions. One of the kids did ask how long it takes to get to Mercury and we weren't certain of the answer, so he stumped us on that one," says Kara.

"How do I feel when explaining to young people the scope of my job? Nervous, but overall excited. If you can entertain a group of kids, the big-shots at NASA are easy."

"To make our talks in classrooms interactive, we'll bring clean room suits for them to try on, but over the Internet we use props such as flown tiles, materials the orbiter is made out of, and small scale versions of the Orbiter for demonstration purposes," she continues.

When asked if the students are interested in space Kara shares, "Very much so, kids are always interested in the unknown and how we go about exploring it. That just sticks with some of us into adulthood." Just like Kara.

In addition, Kara was nominated as a Extended Studies Division Outstanding Student for 2009 and received her award at Florida Tech's Convocation Awards Ceremony held April 30.