Beyond the Stars: Cerro Coso Hosts Second Jump Start Career Exploration in STEM and Aerospace

Cerro Coso Community College’s Career and Technical Department (CTE) proudly held its second Jump Start Career Exploration program this fall in Ridgecrest as part of the Central Valley Mother Lode Regional CTE initiative. The program, designed to engage high school students in career exploration and job shadowing opportunities, was themed Beyond the Stars: STEM and Astronomical Discovery and attracted students from Heartland Charter and Burroughs High School in grades from 9th to 12th.

The two-week program provided hands-on experiences in fields related to energy, flight, and the aerospace industries. Students engaged in career preparation, flight simulation, and engineering pathway exploration while benefiting from community and employer partnerships. Highlights included an exclusive tour of China Lake Naval Base, where students explored the Drone Swarm, Immersive Space, and Chemistry Labs.

Special guest speakers enriched the experience, including Mark Haas from Scaled Composites at Mojave Air and Space Port, Stephen San Juan of RISE Renewables in Tehachapi, Omer Keles from NASA, and Abel Nunez-Guerrero from CSU Bakersfield’s engineering department. Cerro Coso faculty members Melissa Brandan, Jarrod Bowen, Michael Bonner, Tim Randolph, and Braxton Walls contributed workshops and activities aligned with their disciplines.

The program concluded with a grand finale featuring Commander Michael López-Alegría, a world-renowned astronaut, who shared his insights during two public speaking engagements in collaboration with local schools and the community.

Student participants left inspired, with one noting, "It will be a great way to give me a head start on engineering and STEM jobs," while another shared, "I am interested in exploring other career options and seeing what in the space field would pique my interest."

Students received a certificate of completion and valuable career exploration opportunities to add to their resumes. The program highlighted Cerro Coso’s commitment to preparing future generations for success in STEM-related industries and the importance of community partners.

Caption: (top) Jump Start students interact with Cerro Coso's "coyote" robot.