Students who are enrolled in aeronautics or engineering degree programs and are interested in expanding their knowledge and skills can benefit from participating in national competitions. By attending these events, individuals can take advantage of working outside the classroom, and meeting students and industry professionals from across the nation.
For instance, NASA recently announced the winners of this year's aeronautics competition, which encourages students to enroll in science-related degree programs. The event challenged teams to design a multi-purpose aircraft that could be used to assist victims during water- or land-based natural disasters and help put out large fires.
A total of 10 undergraduate students from Virgina Tech were on this year's winning team, who created a twin-hulled watercraft that was powered by two propellers. The team received $5,000 each in financial assistance to be used towards paying for higher education.
Susan Gorton, lead representative of the judging panel, stated that "the designs were creative, innovative and looked at many issues in detail." She added that "I certainly hope some of them decide to work with NASA as a career choice."
By 2018, the demand for aerospace engineers is expected to grow by 11 percent, and will create approximately 7,400 new jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
