Arkansas Tech University senior Marvin Suggs is the only student from an Arkansas college or university selected to participate in the NASA Student Ambassador Cohort IV this summer.
Suggs (photographed), an electrical engineering major at Arkansas Tech, is serving his internship at the NASA Langley Aeronautics Research Center in Hampton, Va.
In all, only 100 students from around the country were selected for the NASA Ambassadors Cohort IV.
“I am so excited about interning at NASA,” said Suggs before departing for Virginia. “It’s a prestigious institution that will provide me with a lot of great experience studying under world-class mentors and working with world-class technology. They are looking for students who are motivated and want to motivate others.”
This is the second consecutive summer in which Suggs has interned with NASA. In 2011, he worked at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
“I was able to take the lessons I learned in the classroom at Arkansas Tech and apply them to solve real-world problems,” said Suggs of his experience at Goddard.
A native of Rison, Suggs chose Arkansas Tech because of the accreditation of its electrical engineering program and because he felt at home there.
“My favorite part of being a Tech student is the people,” said Suggs. “I have made a lot of friends that I will have forever. This time in college is important to network and build relationships with people you may see in the future.”
The 2012 NASA Student Ambassadors represent 34 states and 73 universities. According to a news release from NASA, the program is part of the agency’s effort to engage undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research opportunities.
Ambassadors interact with NASA personnel, share information, make professional connections, collaborate with peers, represent NASA in a variety of venues and help inspire and engage future interns.
“Congratulations Cohort IV on your selection to the NASA Student Ambassadors,” said Leland Melvin, associate administrator for education at NASA headquarters. “We are proud of your commitment to excellence and your spirit of paying it forward. Being selected for this prestigious group is an honor, and your creativity and innovation will help NASA inspire STEM workforce of the future and the next generation of explorers.”
For more information about the study of engineering at Arkansas Tech, visit www.atu.edu/engineering.
