Alumni Spotlight -Amy Felt

Thanks to EvCC and the Kennedy Space Center, Amy Felt is a few steps closer to her dream of becoming a mechanical engineer. Over the last two summers, the EvCC alum served as an intern for NASA, including engineering work in the fluids and propulsion branch and cryogenics test laboratory at the space center. “The high point of my internship was working on a wide range of projects from all over the country and being able to contribute, in however small a way, to NASA’s overall mission,” she says. Amy credits her EvCC instructors with providing the one-on-one support she needed to complete her pre-engineering courses and helping her continue to a four-year school. “Every instructor at EvCC was very passionate and knowledgeable about the subject matter they taught,” she says, “They really care about each of their students’ success.”

What you are currently doing?

I am currently attending Washington State University North Puget Sound at Everett in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

How did EvCC impact your life up to this point?

EvCC provided a great local alternative to universities for completing my first two years of pre-engineering classes. EvCC offers a range of engineering classes that are not offered at other local community colleges, allowing me to continue advancing towards my degree prior to my transfer to a four year school. Every instructor I had at EvCC was very passionate and knowledgeable about the subject matter they taught and cared about each of their students' success. In addition, the small class sizes at EvCC provided a better environment for learning and allowed for more one-on-one time with the instructors.

Please tell me more about your internship with NASA.

This summer, I worked in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at the Kennedy Space Center as a Cryogenics Research & Technology Development Engineer Intern. The Cryogenics Test Laboratory is a one-of-a kind capability for research, development and application of cross-cutting technologies to meet the needs of industry and government. The overall objective is to develop new technology and promote engineering for energy-efficient storage, transfer, and use of cryogens and cryogenic propellants on Earth and in space. I worked in the labs performing various tests on different materials, developing new technologies, and supporting a lot of different projects. The high point of my internship was working in the Cryogenics Test Laboratory on wide range of projects from all over the country and being able to contribute, in however small a way, to NASA's overall mission.

During my previous internship at the Kennedy Space Center, I worked in the Fluids and Propulsion Branch as a Fluids and Propulsion Engineer Intern. During this internship, I worked on an Advanced Plant Habitat Environmental Control System. The technology I helped develop for this project is expected to be onboard a flight to the International Space Station in 2016. In addition to my main project, I also designed and built an experiment for a microgravity flight. Data from this experiment will be published in a microgravity journal, and I will be listed as a co-author.

Alumni ad published 9/15/2014