NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

While just a 10th-grader, Jasmine Ward was creating aerial photo maps for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and supporting edits for a roof survey database at NASA's Langley Research Center, or LaRC. After earning her bachelor's degree eight years later, Ward now runs her own information technology and geographic information systems, or GIS, consulting business in Pennsylvania.

Ward was an intern for the GIS team at Langley through the Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars Project. LARSS is an internship project for undergraduate juniors and seniors, and graduate students who are pursuing degrees in engineering, scientific or aerospace disciplines related to Langley's research projects.

Image to right: During her LARSS internship, Jasmine Ward helped develop maps with mentor Mary Gainer and the GIS team at NASA Langley Research Center. Credit: NASA

Ward entered the project as a high school student through LARSS' Bridge Program, a component that allows outstanding high school seniors and first- and second-year college students to participate also.

The Virginia Space Grant consortium, under the auspices of the National Institute of Aerospace, manages the LARSS project for NASA. The project supports the agency's goal of strengthening NASA's and the nation's future workforce.

During the internship, Ward had the opportunity to work on various projects with the GIS team, including geo-referencing and creating aerial photo maps for the United States Department of Agriculture, and completing geodetic control point surveys for several U.S. Air Force bases. Geodetic control points are permanently affixed objects at various locations all over the United States that enable efficient land surveying, civil engineering and mapping.

"I also provided GIS support for the NASA LaRC (and contractor) Johnson Controls roof survey database edits and Langley Air Force Base's Air Combat Command space utilization project, and assisted in a facility modification and accessibility study for the Office of Equal Opportunity at NASA LaRC," Ward said.

Related Resources + Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars Project + NASA Langley Research Center + NASA Langley GIS Team Public Site + NASA Education Web site + A Family Affair + Launching the Future With NASA Support

She was an intern at Langley for two years while in high school. After graduation, she went to the University of Pittsburgh to study economics with an emphasis in science. She said participating in the LARSS project opened many doors for her in the field of GIS and ultimately led her to run her own business.

"The GIS training I received under Mary Gainer and Brad Ball at the NASA LaRC GIS team exposed me to cutting-edge technology and the wide variety of practical applications of GIS," Ward said. "Working with the GIS team through LARSS also gave me the tools I needed to start my own GIS consulting firm."

Ward's mentor, Mary Gainer, has been working with high school and college student interns since she joined Langley's GIS team as an analyst in 1998. Her team's main function is support of Langley's infrastructure.

"We provide survey and mapping support for the center as well as developing spatial applications for analysis, maintenance and visualization for the center," Gainer said. "So we spend a lot of time maintaining floor plans and center infrastructure maps, as well as developing Web applications to efficiently move personnel. We also sometimes have fun projects, like tracking the movement of migratory birds."

Students have worked on several projects, including tracking the movements of osprey, creating virtual tours and maps of the center's historic landmarks, and making videos used for virtual tours of Langley's "New Town" renovation and construction.

Another LARSS intern, Ryan Kozoriz, was the lead student on the utilities for New Town. Kozoriz started as a LARSS intern in 2003. He graduated this year from Old Dominion University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

"My primary responsibilities are to maintain the GIS utility systems," Kozoriz said. "My current focus is building an interactive model of NASA LaRC's electrical distribution system. Other projects have given me experience with database management, remote surveying with PDAs and tablets, and GPS rovers needed to undertake the electrical project."

He described his experience as a LARSS intern and as part of the GIS team as invaluable.

Image to left: LARSS interns Doug McMillin and Ryan Kozoriz work on a mapping project. Credit: NASA

"My experience here helped keep me on the leading edge of technology and above most in the classroom," Kozoriz said. "I've also had the opportunity to network with a lot of great people and make connections that will last a lifetime."

After graduation, Kozoriz accepted a contracting position with the GIS team at Langley, where he now works full time.

Gainer said the LARSS internships provide interested students the opportunity to build on what they are taught at school. "Most of what they learn here is never covered in a classroom, and so these students have an edge over other graduates when looking for their first job," she said.

Gainer has seen some students participate in the internship project from 11th- or 12th-grade through college. She estimated that around 85 percent of the students find a job in a related field shortly after graduation.

"Many of these students have started with us, thinking it might be a fun way to spend the summer, and end up pursuing a related field in college," Gainer said. "Their experience here gives them valuable experience in learning software applications, working independently and applying classroom theory to real-world issues."


Heather R. Smith/NASA Educational Technology Services