NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility teamed up with local businesses and organizations to spark the curiosity of over 4,500 eighth-grade students at the 2024 Junior Achievement (JA) Inspire event. This career exploration gathering took place on March 12-13 at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. It showcased over 100 local businesses across 15 career clusters.
Students from various counties in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia attended the event. They had the chance to meet community members from different career fields. The event provided students with a dynamic experience, offering insights into the education and skills required for various careers and advice on job hunting.
David L. Pierce, the director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, emphasized the importance of preparing for NASA’s future missions by building a diverse and skilled workforce. He highlighted Wallops’ commitment to partnering with local institutions for this purpose.
The Aerospace Industry exhibit was a highlight of the event, featuring nearly 40 employees from NASA Wallops. They presented career opportunities in various areas such as sounding rockets, scientific balloons, and robotics. Additionally, 35 representatives from Wallops’ partners, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard, participated in the exhibit.
Pierce expressed Wallops’ dedication to the JA Inspire event, noting its role in connecting classroom learning with real-world applications in the Delmarva area.
The engagement with students doesn’t end with the JA Inspire event. Wallops plans to continue its outreach through the Wallops Flight Facility Junior Achievement Storefront at the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center in Salisbury, Maryland. This center offers hands-on learning experiences in financial literacy and entrepreneurship to over 10,000 students annually.
At the center, Wallops will be among approximately 20 storefronts, each sponsored by local businesses. These storefronts provide a unique learning environment where students can gain practical knowledge about running a business and managing finances.
Wallops volunteers will contribute their expertise to programs like Biz Town and Finance Park. These programs teach students about the day-to-day operations of a business and household budget planning. Through these initiatives, Wallops aims to promote NASA and STEAM careers among students in the region.
Pierce highlighted the impact of JA Inspire in helping students understand the workings of the real world. He expressed hope that the event and the storefront would encourage students to pursue STEM-related studies and possibly join the team at Wallops in the future.
The completion of Wallops’ storefront is expected by mid-April, marking a new chapter in its commitment to inspiring the next generation of STEM professionals.