Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is home to many of the world’s brightest aerospace scientists who steer rovers around Mars, land probes on moving comets and monitor voyages into interstellar space.
Louise Grego of Southwestern College fit right in. Her big interest and curiosity for space took her right into the leading center of robotic exploration.
Grego went where no Jaguar had gone before, but only after weeks of nail-biting suspense. Thousands applied for the internship, she said, but fewer than 500 from across America were selected.
Grego said the first portion of the program was the busiest and most competitive. She completed a five-week course that students needed to complete with a 90 percent grade or better.
OUT OF THIS WORLD – Louise Grego at her NASA internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena. She earned a full-ride scholarship to the program in a nationwide competition.
“I would log on to Brightspace, which is the website of the program, and spend 1 to 2 hours doing readings and completing quizzes,” she said.
Once at JPL, Grego spent 14-hour days working side by side with NASA engineers and expanding her understanding of the universe. She also worked with San Diego City College sophomore Naomi Webb, who was Grego’s team leader on their final project.
When both realized they were accepted into the program, they were ecstatic, said Webb.
“My heart almost leaped out of my chest when I received the acceptance letter,” she said.
Grego agreed.
“The first thing I did when I found out was tell all of my coworkers, friends and family,” she said.
Webb said the experience gave her a whole new perspective.
“The program really is a life-changing experience that also helped me personally in building my own confidence,” she said. “This experience really made me want to work for JPL.”
Webb said students return home with different perspectives and new goals.
“I really encourage everyone to apply,” she said. “Shoot for the stars and see where it takes you.”
