HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- A space systems analysis engineer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory recently spoke to students at the STARBASE Academy here about career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The students, from Josiah Quincy Elementary School, listened to Nicholas Leung give a presentation about his experience in Department of Defense STEM programs and how those opportunities impacted his career.
“I was here in the program myself as a fifth grader,” he said. “STARBASE exposed me to technology I hadn’t seen before and wouldn’t see again for another five to 10 years.”
Hanscom AFB STARBASE is a DoD program that focuses on fifth graders and supports school districts across Massachusetts.
Students and teachers engage in a five-day, in-person STEM experience that includes 25 hours of guided and open-ended activities designed to build interest and skills in STEM fields.
Leung recalled experiments involving robotics, 3D printing and computer-aided design, and remembered the program’s longtime director, Dr. Peter Holden.
“I ran into Peter on base recently,” said Leung. “I immediately recognized him and remembered his classroom codename ‘Navigator.’ It has been really cool to come back and get reconnected.”
Holden has served as director for more than 12 years and is aware of its lasting impact.
“It’s an ideal environment to expose students to STEM, career pathways and mentors,” he said. “We hope to challenge kids and support the choices they make. This type of decision making and self-actualization helps them realize what they can do and that they can take on difficult problems.”
Guest speakers have long been a core element of the STARBASE curriculum, offering students career awareness.
“We want the kids to think about what careers might suit them and what environments they might feel comfortable in,” Holden said. “The guest speaker program personalizes the idea of a career journey and hopefully the students take that to heart.”
Leung is the latest in a long line of professional speakers, but he won’t be the last.
“STEM education is a key component in developing our youth,” Leung said. “It enables students to innovate and sparks curiosity. That is important when we consider the next generations of technologies within the DoD environment as well as the commercial industry.”
Those interested in participating in the guest speaker program at Hanscom STARBASE Academy can contact Peter Holden at peter.holden@theastagroup.com.