STUDENTS AT GREAT FALLS COLLEGE MSU ACCEPTED INTO STATEWIDE “LAUNCH” PROGRAM
Great Falls, MT—Two students from Great Falls College MSU have recently been accepted into the Montana Space Grant Consortium statewide “Launch” program. The “Launch” program is an opportunity for students attending two year colleges across Montana to get hands-on training in science, engineering, technology and math (STEM) fields.
Mark-Edward Miner, a third-semester computer networking student, and Louis Solana, a sophomore getting his Associate of Science degree, each received $5,500 through the Launch program.
Those funds include a $1,000 scholarship for the spring semester, a $4,500 stipend, plus support for lodging and travel while attending a three-week workshop this summer. During the workshop they will work with experienced and motivated faculty and professionals. For the remainder of summer session each student will work from home on a research or development project of their choosing.
During spring semester, students will be paired with a professional mentor from companies such as IBM, Zoot and Oracle.
“Meeting with mentors is really exciting for me because with my computer technology degree I’ll be able to learn a lot,” said Mark-Edward Miner, 22.
The applicants had to meet the programs eligibility criteria of being full-time students, have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 and be pursing either a geospatial or computer technology education.
“This is an opportunity for me to work with a lot of really, really brilliant people in a field that is dear to my heart,” Louis Solana, 31, said. “The technology that we as humans can create acts as this fundamental force for change and improvement in our lives. It’s this brilliant and luminous beacon toward the future that I’m really interested in being a part of.”
“For these students, acceptance into the Launch program is an incredible opportunity,” said Matthew Fisher, Great Falls College MSU Faculty member, and Montana Space Grant Consortium representative. “They will get the chance to learn from and work with some amazing faculty instructors and fantastic organizations and business professionals.”
The Montana Space Grant Consortium is a component of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, which works to strengthen aerospace research and education in the United States. Over the past two years, it has awarded Great Falls College MSU, its students and faculty members more than $30,000. MSGC has also incentivized many students at Great Falls College to pursue an education in science, engineering, technology and math (STEM).
Great Falls College MSU is a proud partner of the Montana Space Grant Consortium and the opportunities it offers students.
The mission of Great Falls College MSU is to educate and inspire you.
For more information, contact:
Lewis Card
Executive Director—Development, Communications and Marketing
Phone: (406)771.4412,
Email: [email protected]
Matthew Fisher
Biology Faculty/ Montana Space Grant Consortium Campus Representative
Phone: (406) 268.3706,
Email: [email protected]
