MORRIS COUNTY

CCM students build parts for NASA

High schools engineers work on International Space Station

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

RANDOLPH - If astronauts in the International Space Station wonder where the signatures on top of their stowage locker came from, next year’s answer may be “Morris County high school students.”

The students, taking engineering classes at the County College of Morris, have been contracted by NASA to build parts for the space station.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for young students to gain practical hands-on experience and to start building their resumes,” said Eric Pedersen, lab assistant for the engineering programs at CCM.

The Engineering Design and Advance Manufacturing program began last fall and features about 20 students from county high schools. They spend the second half of their school day at County College of Morris, technically working with the Morris County School of Technology, taking college courses.

Pedersen was the one who connected the program with NASA High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) for the International Space Station.

CCM is the first college to partner with NASA HUNCH, which began as a cost-effective way to build parts and now operates through 85 schools in 25 states.

Wednesday afternoon at CCM, Florence Gold, NASA HUNCH implementation project manager, was on campus to introduce the students to the program.

Gold, a Randolph High School graduate now living in Montana detailed the students’ assigned task for the space station.

Also in attendance Wednesday was John Schamarek Jr. from Haas Factory Outlet. The students will be working on equipment manufactured by Hass, completing what Gold called a “STEM triangle.”

“Academia, business, government,” Gold said. “It takes a whole community to help wonderful students reach your potential.”

The Morris County high school students will primarily be working within HUNCH’s Build to Print program, designing and manufacturing parts for single stowage lockers used to house experiments. NASA needs about 200 in total.

“Starting next year (NASA is) out of lockers,” Gold said. “And they are depending on us to build them.”

Gold said every student in the program can now put NASA on their resume.

“This is all about the students, but it’s also about the parents,” Gold said. “They’re the ones who appreciate it more, because they understand what it means when applying for a job.”

Gold said County College of Morris has signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA, identical to other companies the organization contracts with like Boeing.

“This is not NASA Education. NASA Education doesn’t sign space agreements with schools,” Gold said. “You are NASA contractors with the Johnson Space Center.”

Roxbury High School junior Alex Marchesi said he looks forward to working on the project every weekday afternoon.

“It really feels unreal,” Marchesi said. “Not everyone can say they worked for NASA in high school.”

Work begins this week, as students begin to decide how they will fabricate the stowage locker for NASA. Once that’s done, they’ll get to work designing, building, and eventually signing their name to the parts before they travel to space.

Students in the two-year Engineering Design and Advance Manufacturing program begin in their junior year of high school, and by the time they complete the program will have received 32 college credits in mechanical engineering and technology. The time share program between high schools and the college is designed to prepare students for careers in engineering, computer applications and manufacturing through college-level work and hands-on activities.

Students who complete the program will also receive a Certificate of Achievement in Mechanical Computer Aided Drafting and Engineering Technology and are invited to enroll in CCM’s Associate in Engineering Technology program for one additional year to complete their associate degree. The credits will also help them should they choose to apply to a four-year college or university or pursue workforce placement.

“Not only are these students gaining a competitive edge by starting a college education early,” CCM president Edward Yaw said, “Now they will be implementing what they are learning in the classroom for NASA and gaining the experience to help them launch successful careers.”

The program is funded by a grant by the Department of Education through at least the next three years.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com