NC A&T STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AS ASTRONAUT SCHOLARS
BY ASHLEIGH FIELDS
B lack women account for less than 5% of workers in fields relating to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Despite that small number, North Carolina A&T is working to influence the nation by pouring resources into a demographic that’s underrepresented. As the nation’s largest public HBCU and top producer of Black engineers, the institution is known for pushing students to attain the full promise of their potential. This year three deserving young ladies were selected to build upon the school’s long lasting legacy in the STEM field;
Maya Odom, Kristi Barnes and Breyana Robinson were selected as recipients of the prestigious astronaut scholarship in honor of its founding members, the Mercury 7 Astronauts. “I am honored to work with astounding Aggies such as Kristi, Maya and Breyana,” said Alsace-Lorraine Gallop, A&T’s national scholarships and fellowships coordinator. “They have dedicated themselves not only to excellence in STEM innovation or STEM research, but have also made notable and sustained contributions to the campus and East Greensboro communities as they seek to
empower marginalized groups and improve our world.”
Black university (HBCU) to have more than one Astronaut Scholarship available in an application cycle.
The scholars selected must attend the fully funded “Innovator’s Week” in Florida where they presented technical research at a conference and brainstormed with Astronaut Scholar alumni and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation’s members. Across the span of the academic year they also received $15,000 for educational expenses. Although A&T gained its first astronaut scholarship slot in 2019, the school has already become the first historically
“I chose to attend N.C. A&T because it has an amazing experiential-learning chemical engineering program with strength in healthcare applications. I wanted to be in an environment that wanted me to thrive and succeed,” Barnes shared after winning the scholarship. “I knew that at N.C. A&T the faculty and staff would be supportive of my academic, physical and mental development.”
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