Ozarks Tech is redefining community college from stepping stone to launchpad by opening up ever-expanding opportunities for students. This summer, two honors students, Emily Zimmerman and Billy Rice, traded classrooms in Springfield for NASA research centers, working alongside some of the brightest minds in aerospace.
Their projects—Emily in California’s Silicon Valley and Billy at Virginia’s Langley facility—gave them a glimpse of a potential future in the aerospace industry, following in the footsteps of thousands of NASA employees who began their education at community colleges.
Emily Zimmerman: From Springfield to Silicon Valley
Emily, a double-major at Ozarks Tech, spent her summer immersed in research at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, where she contributed to multiple projects.
“I really liked meeting people,” she said. “There are so many different ways to get into NASA. You don’t have to be a PhD student or at the top of your class. You can just be passionate about something.”
Her main assignment centered on Astrobee, a free-flying robotic system aboard the International Space Station. Astrobee—three cube-shaped robots named Bumble, Honey, and Queen—handles routine tasks like inventory, cargo movement and experiment documentation so astronauts can focus on higher-level work. Emily’s role focused on data processing and validation, ensuring the information was accurate and ready for use by researchers around the world.
Having already earned an Associate of Science in Information Technology from Ozarks Tech, Emily is now completing a second associate degree in Mechanical Engineering. She hopes to transfer to a university such as Cornell, Purdue or Missouri S&T. After graduation, she aims to expand her work into space robotics hardware and has her sights set on a future in the aerospace industry, possibly even returning to NASA.
Billy Rice: Leveling Up at Langley
While Emily was tackling projects in Silicon Valley, Billy Rice headed east to NASA’s Langley Research Center. A double-major in Computer Science and Mathematics, Billy earned a coveted spot in the highly competitive NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) program.
The program began online and culminated in a capstone on Advanced Air Mobility, NASA’s initiative exploring the future of air transportation (think drones and electric air taxis). Billy’s team identified gaps in traditional aviation and proposed innovative solutions.
As one of the few students invited to Mission 3, the in-person stage at Langley, Billy helped present technical diagrams and detailed proposals, receiving direct feedback from staff. One lesson stood out: the need for adaptability. “Don’t box yourself into something super specific,” he said. “NASA has so many areas that need solutions.”
Community Colleges as Launchpads
The experience also strengthened Billy’s belief in the role of community colleges as powerful springboards to opportunity. “Don’t let the fact that you’re attending a community college hold you back,” he advised. The old stereotype that community college coursework is easier or less valued by employers no longer holds true.
In fact, community colleges play a vital role in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education. NASA reports that nearly 40% of all introductory astronomy courses are taught at institutions like Ozarks Tech, and roughly one-third of the NASA workforce are community college graduates. Among them is Clayton Turner, Associate Administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate—who made it a point to meet with Billy and his fellow scholars during the Mission 3 experience at Langley. Ozarks Tech is also part of the NASA Community College Network, which equips instructors with high-quality teaching resources developed by the agency.
Both Billy and Emily, honors students and members of Phi Theta Kappa, serve as student leaders of Ozarks Tech SED Space Techs, a campus organization dedicated to advancing the value of space exploration. Guided by mathematics instructor Chelsea Cozort, the group encourages curiosity and teamwork through hands-on projects, competitions, and outreach. At this year’s Club Rush event, the club showcased one of its recent achievements: a detailed model of the International Space Station, built right on campus.
As Emily and Billy prepare for the next steps in their education and careers, they carry forward the foundation built at Ozarks Tech and NASA, along with a clearer vision of the futures they intend to create.
