Alumni Stories

Christian Agaba

STARBASE Class of 2013, Pursuing Mechanical Engineering

In 2013, Christian Agaba and his class from Battle Creek Elementary attended STARBASE. As a 5th grade student, he wrote “I learned about how Mars is different than Earth and I learned that if we were to go to Mars, what things we would need and how to prevent the dangers of Mars to go on effect on us. You don’t always get everything right on the first try. You have to follow the engineering design process [EDP] to get something you are making to perfection.”

Today, Christian has opportunities to practice the engineering design process as a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Minnesota. He explained that his experience at STARBASE was incredibly impactful and helped him steer toward his future in STEM!

With an intensive course load this semester, we asked Christian how he will get through difficult classes. He explained that reaching out to others, even if they don’t know the answers, is reassuring. You know you’re not alone and can work together to search for resources. He appreciates hearing different perspectives and working through challenges with classmates, especially when working in Materials Science!

Arlie Kapaun

STARBASE Class of 2014, Pursuing Rehabilitation Services

For Arlie, a former STARBASE student from Skyview Elementary, being hands-on is the best way to learn. Arlie came to STARBASE with a callsign of “Cat 13” and she is a recipient of a $1,000 scholarship funded by the STARBASE Board of Directors. Arlie is a sophomore at University of Wisconsin- Stout which she chose because it is a polytechnic program, meaning it is hands-on in the STEM fields, just like how she remembers STARBASE being. The impact of STARBASE on “Cat 13” was lasting and she still has a team photo of her from when she was here which she proudly shared when talking about her experience.

Arlie is a Rehabilitation Services major who plans to go into Pediatric Physical Therapy so she can help others get back to feeling themselves and help them get their confidence back. “For each patient, I want them to be able to be kids and run around with other kids.” She has been a runner since seventh grade competing in the mile run, the 3K, and the steeple chase. Arlie states that being a runner “encouraged my health science interest and got me familiar with rehabbing injuries.” Her favorite and most challenging class right now is her Anatomy and Physiology course where she finds it interesting to learn about the basics of the body and how things connect. She is looking forward to future classes that talk about how the body recovers from injury.

Angelina Losoya

STARBASE Class of 2015, Pursuing Construction Management

At Achieve Language Academy, STARBASE was everyone’s favorite time of the year, including Angelina Losoya, most recent recipient of one of STARBASE Minnesota’s $1,000 scholarships for alumni. Angelina, callsign “Ray Ray”, remembers the hands-on opportunities of STARBASE, working together as a team with her classmates, programming robots, and being mesmerized by the capabilities of the 3D printers. She believes that STARBASE spoke to her desire to be hands-on and encouraged her to design, be creative, and explore ideas of what she could build in the world. Even though she didn’t know it at the time, Angelina feels she is now pursuing a career that aligns so well with what she did at STARBASE.

In her post-secondary journey, Angelina briefly pursued sonography at Concordia University before realizing that what she really wanted was to be able to build, draw, and be hands on. “I knew I wanted to go into some kind of construction job or trades, I was just scared to step into it, especially with so few women, let alone Latina women, in the field.” She went on to explain, “They don’t really tell you about the trades in school. But when we went to STARBASE, it showed us there are so many other jobs out there in the world and seeing people already in those careers gave me confidence.” Angelina trusted her instincts and went about changing the narrative.

She is now well down the path in “the trades” which she loves. While she enjoys courses at Dakota County Technical College, including her favorite class, Intro to Construction Management, she also works over 40 hours/week as an Assistant Manager for Menards where she gets more experience, including learning to drive a forklift, one of the only females to help with all the heavy lifting needed in her department.

Angelina is a dedicated and hard-working young woman who began working at age 14 to help support her mom and younger sister, buying her own car to drive her and her sister to school and pitching in with household bills when she could. One of her greatest achievements has been her ability to work and go to school while staying on the A honor roll for most of her semesters in high school and so far in college. She makes sure that her schooling and work don’t interfere with one another, keeping her grades up and growing in her job. Ultimately, she seems to be handling both well, being awarded Menard’s Employee of the Month within the first few months while earning As in school.

As STARBASE instructors shared photos from her 4^th and 5^th grade years at STARBASE, Angelina’s face lit up even more as memories flooded back. She is a fierce advocate for the STARBASE experience for young students and thrilled to learn about the program advancements and see the new, expanded STARBASE STEM career website. Asked what advice she would give to students, Angelina said, “When you think of STEM, don’t automatically think of it as hard math – it is math that makes sense and solves a problem. STARBASE creates the best of memories for students while in school.” Little did she know at the time how the lessons at STARBASE helped prepare her for where she wanted to be 10 years later. Yet, somehow deep inside she must have known when she forecasted on her post-survey, “science and engineering might come in handy in life”. And, so it has.

Congratulations, Angelina, on receiving this scholarship and breaking barriers!

Kai Polaski

STARBASE Class of 2013, Pursuing Biology

“What I remember about STARBASE was team building and coming together with others to figure out problems. STARBASE helped me to communicate with others where things have gone wrong and helped me form better relationships with new people.” Kai Polaski, better known to us at STARBASE by the callsigns “Landscape” and “Sasuke” is now a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship recipient who attended STARBASE with his classes from Achieve Language Academy. This scholarship is funded by Collin’s Aerospace for former STARBASE students enrolled in post-secondary education.

At STARBASE, Kai remembers vividly “being shot back with a burst of air from an orange device when learning about air pressure.” After STARBASE built and launched rockets with his class, he went to the hobby store to purchase more rockets to launch! At the time, he thought it was so interesting to learn how things work together to operate. When he discovered biology and physiology, he realized his passion has always been learning how things work. From rockets to the human body, Kai will reach great heights learning how things work to improve the human experience in his career.

Cassie Christian

STARBASE Class of 2015, Pursuing Epidemiology

“I don’t really think many 9- or 10-year-olds know what they want to do when they’re older, but after STARBASE I knew I was going to do something in science.” STARBASE alumni and Collins-Aerospace funded scholarship recipient, Cassie Christian, remembers how exciting and new learning was at STARBASE each day she walked in the door with her 4th and 5th grade Achieve Language Academy classes. She has a vivid memory of the Nanotechnology classroom she learned in, which was sponsored by Boston Scientific, and how there was a model of an artery with plaque and blood cells on the wall. Cassie thought having the computers inside the desks was the wildest thing ever, remembers programming robots, and even recounted an activity where you used cards to determine how best to spend resources on Mars.

At the University of Wisconsin – River Falls, Cassie’s busy taking courses in Microbiology, Lab Safety, Calculus, Spanish, and Theater. When asked about her favorite course, she excitedly responded “I was just looking at my course in microbiology and saw that there is a lecture on epidemiology on my birthday!” Cassie’s passion for STEM pours through in conversation. She pursues microbiology to have a wide base of science but plans to attend the University of Minnesota for a PhD in Epidemiology after graduation. She enjoys topics like virology and immunology, but in the long term wants to work as a Disease Detective to figure out why disease outbreaks have happened to prevent them from happening again.

Jazmine Hawkins

STARBASE class of 2015, Pursuing Cosmetology and Sports Management

Jazmine Hawkins, who attended STARBASE most recently in
2015, with a callsign of “Rocky”, is now applying her entrepreneurial spirit and her leadership skills that she began to hone at STARBASE toward a future career in Cosmetology and Sports Management. She expects to graduate in 2025. Jazmine is a first-generation college student attending West Los Angeles College and is the latest recipient of a $1,000 scholarship thanks to Collins Aerospace!

Jazmine grew up playing sports and is currently playing both basketball and volleyball at West Los Angeles College. On the court she works
hard, and her mantra is “look good, feel good, play good.” This is
exactly where the intersection of Jazmine’s interest in cosmetology and sports management came to be, addressing an unmet need for female athletes. Jazmine noted just how much chemistry and math are involved in this applied area of STEM, noting that when she is working with clients, she must consider the different environments of the athletes. This impacts the chemical formula for product performance and for the athletes to feel their best, and ultimately play their best.

Chayeng Moua

STARBASE Class of 2014, Pursuing Chemical Engineering

All it takes is a spark, and that spark ignited for Chayeng Moua when he came to STARBASE with his classmates from Farnsworth Elementary School in St. Paul. As a 5^th grader with a call sign of “Apollo”, Chayeng learned computer-aided design, (CAD), and applied it to building and testing a rocket prototype. “STARBASE piqued my curiosity to continue exploring the fields of science, eventually leading me to discover my passion for chemical engineering combined with 3D printing.” He continued to 3D print models in middle school and high school and was excited to learn that there was a 3D printing lab at the University of Minnesota where Chayeng is now a sophomore double majoring in Chemical Engineering and Chemistry.

Chayeng continued to be inspired in high school because he had a great chemistry teacher. At that point, his love of chemistry began to heighten, so he took Advanced Placement (AP) chemistry and Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO) Chemistry. Taking these advanced courses helped land him at the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities as a Chemical Engineering and Chemistry major. His current classes in Multivariable Calculus, Material and Energy, and Organic Chemistry are challenging, but interesting, allowing him to combine his passion for chemistry with making things.

Daisy Arroyo Ambrosio

STARBASE Class of 2014, Pursuing Nursing

One thing that makes STARBASE so unique is that the experiences and memories made here follow our students through their years of schooling and beyond. Daisy Arroyo Ambrosio, recipient of one $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace, vividly remembers being a part of the Charlie team at STARBASE Minnesota and doing hands-on projects alongside her classmates. Daisy, callsigns “Starfish” and “Stary”, attended STARBASE in 2013 and 2014 with her classmates from Emerson Dual Language School in Minneapolis. Fortunate enough to still be in touch with former teachers, she learned of this annual scholarship through a former elementary teacher of hers who had been attending STARBASE recently with her current group of 5^th grade students. She recalls, “STARBASE was the first time I experienced and learned about the field of STEM”.

Daisy will graduate in May of 2025 from St. Catherine University. She is a first-generation college student, pursuing a degree in nursing. One of her biggest goals is to land her dream job in labor and delivery or with the pediatric population. Her interest in nursing grew after her mother gave birth to her youngest sister 6 years ago. She felt she had an opportunity to care for her in those postpartum days the same way her mother had done for her her whole life. Being a part of a maternity clinic and assigned to the nursery reinforced and cemented her passion for this career path. During her time at STARBASE, she learned problem solving and critical thinking skills that she applies to her current career pursuits. “Even though I was young, I was able to practice those skills and then eventually connect those skills with my interest in nursing.” She recalls the power of teamwork at STARBASE and how she now is working towards such a team-oriented career.

As a third-year student at St. Catherine University where Daisy is taking courses in Pathophysiology, Nursing Interventions, Healthcare Teams, and Application of Theory in Nursing Practice, she is hoping to complete an internship at M Health Fairview’s Masonic Children’s Hospital or The Birthplace at M Health Fairview in 2024. Daisy hopes to graduate with a high GPA and complete her clinical rotations in various units to gain a diverse experience of opportunities. Beyond her coursework, Daisy is an on-call resident aide at an area nursing home and is a College Possible community leader. College Possible’s college access and success programs help to empower students from under-represented communities on their path to a college degree. See https://collegepossible.org/ for more information.

STARBASE Minnesota is proud to award this alumna with this scholarship and know that her patients will always be in her good care. After hearing the news that she was being awarded the scholarship, she stated “I’m thankful for the memories at STARBASE like completing hands on experiences. Those were core memories for us as kids and we will remember them long into adulthood!” Daisy feels that receiving this scholarship will be a reminder of her childhood and of some of her favorite memories coming to STARBASE. “I never felt judged or made fun of while at STARBASE. Even when I made mistakes, I was in a safe environment.”

She is a wonderful role model to her younger sisters who can watch their big sister out conquering the world as the only person in their entire family pursuing a post-secondary degree. She feels lucky to have the chance to represent her family in this way by furthering her education.

When asked what advice she has for current and future STARBASE students, she said “Everything feels new. If you don’t know something, you can’t stay quiet. Be open-minded and participate!”

Congratulations, Daisy, and best of luck in your pursuit of STEM!

Langston Butler

STARBASE Class of 2013, Pursuing Family Social Science

Dedicated, hard-working, persistent, positive, and determined are all words to describe STARBASE alumni Langston Butler. STARBASE Minnesota is proud to award him one of this year’s $1,000 scholarships, five funded by both Collin’s Aerospace and two by the STARBASE Minnesota Board of Directors, for former STARBASE students who attended STARBASE in elementary school and are currently enrolled in post-secondary education. Expressing his great appreciation, Langston said, “I wouldn’t expect that something I did so long ago could have an impact on my life right now.”

“The memories of exploring STEM subjects and launching rockets still resonate with me today. STARBASE ignited a spark within me, fueling my determination to excel in technology and math. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities and inspiration it provided, and STARBASE will forever remain a significant influence on my academic journey.”

Currently, Langston is a student at The University of Minnesota Twin Cities where he has big plans for his future. He keeps busy working 32-40 hours a week doing an overnight shift at an area hotel and has a full 18 credit course load. He’s taking classes in Family Policy, Community Engagement, Psychology, Family Theories, and Introduction to Personality working towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Family Social Science. Eventually, he would like to pursue a Juris Doctor degree in Family Law, aspiring to go beyond the legal realm to receive a doctoral degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Stumbling upon a quote early in college that really stuck with him, “Pick a career that you would do for free” Langston was steered toward therapy, counseling, and psychology. He wants to understand how people think, act, and feel so that he can be the person to listen and guide them through whatever they’re facing in life. “People are in pain, and I want to do what I can to help alleviate that.” Following a career path in psychology allows him to understand people and know their needs. After being overwhelmed by so many different career options, it only took one course in psychology to know the direction he wanted to move in. He will use his education to gain a foundation of understanding human behavior and family dynamics, giving him a basis to advocate for families and their well-being. Twenty years of age but wise beyond his years, Langston strives to use his academic and professional pursuits to “positively impact the lives of others, promoting understanding, empathy, and resilience.” He knows he can contribute to creating a happier and more compassionate world through his work.

Perusing through photos of STARBASE, Langston beamed with pride and excitement seeing his peers. He mentioned still spending time with many of those faces from all those years ago. “These memories are worth more than a million dollars to have; they are such keepsakes.”

When asked what advice Langston has for students as they come to STARBASE this year, he stated “You need to have fun, enjoy the experience. Just do it! Go for it.”

Congratulations to Langston. STARBASE Minnesota wishes him the best of luck in his future. We know he will do incredible things.

Pheng Xiong

At the corner where hard work and perseverance meet, you’ll find Pheng Xiong. “STARBASE inspired me to think differently and achieve goals that others hadn’t considered at the time.” Pheng explained that when everyone at STARBASE was designing “normal” turbine blades at STARBASE, he was attempting to make his look like a flying pig. Even at an early age he was finding ways to think differently to reach his goals. We congratulate Pheng on being selected as a very deserving recipient of a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship funded by Collins Aerospace in 2022-23 awarded to STARBASE alumni enrolled in post-secondary education.

Gabriella Vanda

“I never expected STARBASE to have such an impact on my life all these years later,” exclaimed Gabriella Vanda, a first-year student at Century College and a recipient of one $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace.

Gabriella was the first to graduate high school in her household and, as the oldest among her siblings, the first to go to college, too. She was the top 100 in her high school class graduating with an A- average. “That was a really big step for me and my family. I wanted to show my younger sisters that if I can do it, they can make a good future for themselves, too.”

When recalling her time at STARBASE with Battle Creek Elementary School, she said “I remember designing a rocket with 3D-printed fins. It was cool watching the 3D printer make our stuff. I loved seeing my ideas come to life in front of me.” When at STARBASE, she went by the call sign “Paris” because of her love of France. She still dreams of taking a trip to France one day with an aunt who has had a great influence on her life. Although she felt science wasn’t always her strongest class, she said that “the hands-on activities at STARBASE really made me like science a lot more: STARBASE expanded what I wanted to be.” Now, Gabriella is on a path towards a STEM career as a student at Century College.

Growing up, Gabriella loved watching documentaries and true crime. As a sophomore at Tartan Senior High School, she learned about the career of forensic science in class and was so excited to explore more about it. Presently, she is pursuing her Associates Degree at Century College, taking courses in Ethics, Physical Geography, Police and the Community, and the Criminal Justice System. She mentioned that this field of forensics and crime scene work has consistently drawn her attention, even as she has been moving through her general education classes. In the future, she will continue her education with a 4-year degree in Criminal Justice or forensic science. She envisions being a part of a team of people solving a crime to bring justice and give peace to families.

Gabriella’s kind and caring attributes and desire to help others began in high school when she began volunteering with The Waters of Oakdale: Assisted Living and Memory Care and The Boys and Girls Club. On both ends of the life journey, she loved creating a bond with the elderly during BINGO and reading books, handing out snacks, and interacting
with kids in games. Due to her good grades and work within the community, as a senior in high school she was asked to be a part of the National Honor Society.

In her Intro to the Criminal Justice System class, she commented that she just completed a report about policing in MN. With everything going on in the world right now, she sees this career path as a way to make change and have a positive impact on the world. She says that
she loves her smaller class sizes at Century and that there is really good
balance of gender diversity in the classes and field she is pursuing.

When asked what advice she would give to students as they come to STARBASE, she said “Make the most of your time there. That week goes so fast. Have fun. Don’t make it too serious, and have fun with the people you’re with.” Even Gabriella remembers all the teamwork that takes place in a week at STARBASE!

In awarding Gabriella this scholarship, she beamed and replied “Thank you so much for this opportunity. All my hard work is paying off and I know I will be able to make a difference in the world.”

Gabriella has poured energy and value into her education and will continue to impact the world and community with her pursuit of helping right social and criminal injustices. She has a passion for learning and for people that will guide her through her future career.

Congratulations, Gabriella!

Ben Broich

STARBASE has a lasting impact on students who come through the program, and this could not be more true for “Secret Agent 22 Jr”, Ben Broich, the most recent recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from STARBASE Minnesota funded by a special grant from Collins Aerospace. Ben attributes his love for hands-on STEM to STARBASE and still has his rocket that he built in 5th grade. He loved the experiments at STARBASE and said the experience felt like magic to him. Fast forward 8 years to today as Ben is pursuing a Chemical Engineering degree at the University of Minnesota and aspires to help others and make a difference in the world by making processes more productive and efficient.

Secret agent 22 Jr attests that “STARBASE helped me to grasp the

idea of what it meant to be an engineer and inspired me to begin solving problems in systematic ways.” As a 5th grader at STARBASE, he was able to conduct experiments that were hands-on and that sparked his interest and made him want to do more. “If I hadn’t had that experience, I don’t know that I would have known that I really wanted to pursue STEM.”

Chemical engineering degrees require some challenging courses and Ben is facing them head on. When he was in high school, Ben found himself drawn to chemistry and felt that is what he wanted to do as far as a career. Ben felt that adding engineering would open more pathways for him, however, he is still deciding if he wants to do more chemical research or more on the industrial side.

Alex Vang

Alexander Vang, callsign “Batman”, loved the teamwork he experienced at STARBASE back in 2014. Along with his classmates from Farnsworth Aerospace Elementary School, he remembers having his STARBASE instructor’s encouragement while designing his rocket fin in CAD. Today, Alex has just begun his pursuit of higher education at St. Paul College, where he loves the teamwork approach. He says the faculty emphasize communication and working together to achieve goals.

With dreams of working in computer science after graduation in a few years, Alex knows technology is the future, and he remembers his coding and robotics experience in his STARBASE classroom! Another favorite memory was applying the engineering process in order to save his 3D printed astronaut from the force of inertia as it landed on Mars (aka slid down the zipline in the classroom).

Alex is a recent recipient of a STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship funded by Collins Aerospace in 2022-23 awarded to STARBASE alumni enrolled in post-secondary education and we are proud to support his educational and career pursuits in STEM. Alex will be the first member of his family to attend college and they are proud of his hard work and dedication.

Students in front of a plane. — Jessica is the student standing on the left in the second row.

“I learned about flight technology. I learned about Newton and his three laws. I learned all about airplanes so I could grow up to be a big smart scientist.”

– Static Shock, 2005, STARBASE Minnesota- St. Paul

Fast forward to 2022, STARBASE Minnesota is fortunate to have Jessica “Static Shock” Scott as a member of the STARBASE instructor team. Jessica now goes by Artemis, drawing inspiration from NASA’s lunar missions.

Jessica attended STARBASE Minnesota- St. Paul in 2005 with St. Agnes Grade School. Experiencing the flight simulator and touring airplanes left strong impressions. Jessica remembers how it felt to fly a plane in the simulator and learn facts about different aircraft. One classmate of hers now works for Cirrus installing flight controls on aircrafts and fixing non-airworthy problems. Another memory that stands out for Jessica was working in small groups to design a solution to an emergency in space. She remembers the feeling of solving the engineering problem as a team, drawing on each other’s strengths.

Leslie Rivera

Not every student knows exactly what they want to be when they grow up like Leslie Rivera did. When she attended STARBASE as a 5th grade student, Leslie noted her desire to become a nurse on a pre- and post-survey.

We congratulate Leslie on being selected as one of two 2021 recipients of The STARBASE Minnesota General Tim Cossalter Scholarship. She is currently pursuing her dream of becoming a nurse at The College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth!

Leslie attended STARBASE Minnesota with Achieve Language Academy, a Saint Paul charter school. As an elementary school student, she recognized how much she learned, recapping in her survey some of her favorite lessons doing the work of a young scientist and engineer exploring Mars.

These days, Leslie shows dedication to her studies in anatomy and physiology lab, and dedication to serving others while working as a certified nursing assistant at a local care facility. She appreciates the opportunity to learn in class, then practice her skills at work!

Evan Most

It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. It is without a doubt that former STARBASE student Evan Most is pursuing his passion for aviation and we are pleased to congratulate him on being selected as one of two 2021 scholarship recipients of The STARBASE Minnesota General Tim Cossalter Scholarship.

Evan is currently studying Commercial Aviation at the University of North Dakota, following his dream of becoming a pilot. He worked towards and earned his private pilot license in the summer of 2019. Evan is enrolled in Instrument Training at UND, learning how to fly in situations with zero visibility. He has loved his flight courses because he is able to work in the airplane and gain flight time. Private pilot class has been his favorite class so far in furthering his education; he has been fortunate to have great teachers, flight instructors, and resources. Evan has already faced many challenging written, oral, and flight tests. He has persevered with a lot of studying.

Currently in his training, Evan is flying a Piper Archer plane and simulator, working towards flying a multi-engine Piper Seminole. His favorite plane that he looks forward to flying one day is a Boeing 777 aircraft. He will graduate in 2-2 ½ years and hopes to become a commercial airline pilot for Delta, or any other major airline, with hubs out of Minnesota.

Ruhi Doshi

“STARBASE gave me confidence to keep pursuing my passion and helped me realize my dream job as an astroinformatics scientist.” Ruhi Doshi recollects a pivotal moment in her STEM journey- attending STARBASE Minnesota’s Next Generation summer program. Today Ruhi is even closer to achieving her dream job. She studies data science at the University of California, Berkeley where she contributes to dark energy research, participates in the statistics association, and even helps teach a data science course.

Growing up Ruhi had a passion for science and math, but often felt frustrated being the only girl in the room at most STEM camps. On the first day of a robotics camp, Ruhi walked into a room full of boys who made decisions without her and told her to sit and watch. “I almost ran out crying,” Ruhi recalls. “I remember feeling so frustrated. Just because I may not have had the exposure beforehand didn’t mean I wasn’t capable. It just sucked the fun out of all these supposedly fun summer camps.” Ruhi was ready to give up on math and science, but then, she explains, “When STARBASE happened the first thing I could do was make friends with other girls. It was so refreshing to be able to do that. And that I wasn’t the only person who had these experiences was really empowering to me.”

At STARBASE Ruhi used a 3D printer for the first time and solved problems like an engineer. Working with her teammates, Ruhi tested the strength of shapes to solve a design challenge of building a bridge capable of holding significant weight. After completing the challenge, Ruhi learned that engineers use trusses to build strong structures in real life. “I was just mind blown. That’s the kind of problem solving that is really appealing to me about STEM, about creating new solutions…I’m never going to forget that.” Ruhi learned Pro/Engineer, a computer-aided design modeling software, to design and 3D print rocket fins. “It was just absolutely fascinating,” Ruhi remembers, “to see all of the different shapes my friends and I designed.”

The positive week at STARBASE not only revived Ruhi’s self-efficacy and interest in STEM, but propelled her into advanced learning experiences. The very next year Ruhi’s Engineering Technology and Design teacher offered her more complex projects because of her experience using Pro/Engineer while at STARBASE. Ruhi pursued STEM outside of the classroom by joining Science Olympiad, where she found a community of like-minded STEM enthusiasts. Over the years her role has transitioned from avid participant to leader and mentor, “Now I help write textbooks and test questions, and help proctor the tournament. It’s definitely one of the communities that I really enjoy being a part of.”

While in high school. Ruhi had the chance to conduct research alongside professors at the University of Minnesota, an experience that led her to declare a data science major at the University of California, Berkeley. In addition to taking classes like Data Inference and Decisions Statistics, Ruhi contributes to STEM research as an intern with the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) Survey. As a member of the software team at DESI, Ruhi works on creating a data quality monitoring application that astronomers use to make sure incoming data is of good quality. Ruhi and her undergraduate teammates had the opportunity to present at the 235^th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Hawaii earlier this year.

When asked what skills she uses most often, Ruhi responds with conviction, “Perseverance is so key. When you see a problem you don’t know how to do, you just try from a different angle or come back after a little while. That’s the whole point, you don’t stop working on a problem if you get stuck.” She goes on to say that teamwork is another key skill, “Science, engineering, and any kind of STEM work, is not done individually. It’s all collaborative. You don’t solve problems on your own, and if you get stuck you go and talk to your teammates and you find out what they would do instead. Find out how to grow and learn those methods yourself so you can help other people too.”

We asked Ruhi to share words of advice with current STARBASE students. She recommends, “Stay involved and keep trying new experiences.” She advocates for students to communicate and support fellow classmates. “STARBASE is a great launching point, being able to talk to other students and not feel shy about asking them what their rocket design looks like, how it’s different from yours, and what shape they think is best to support a bridge. Those are the ways you grow, learn, and keep staying interested in STEM.”

Many thanks to Ruhi for taking the time to reconnect with STARBASE! We enjoyed catching up and hearing about her fantastic STEM experiences. We wish her the best as she continues STEM research, STEM mentoring and teaching, and pursues a career in data analytics!

Maya Steen

STARBASE Minnesota Alum Maya “Nova” Steen attended STARBASE’s 2011 and 2012 Next Generation summer programs through a STARBASE partnership with Microsoft and other local STEM corporations. Maya recalls a positive and validating STEM learning environment where students worked to take on real world problems. “STARBASE really helped me gain confidence and not be afraid of big questions, tough challenges, and finding creative solutions to problems. All the adults, the teachers and staff, took the kids seriously. I felt like I was a real scientist for the first time.”

Currently, Maya is working toward a bachelor’s degree in astronomy and physics at Boston University. We asked Maya what skills she learned at STARBASE that she still uses in her studies today. She recollects working in teams to find solutions for human survival in the harsh environment of Mars. “We had a big plan that we would make a greenhouse and all these other colony buildings. It was cool to work in small teams, solve problems, and develop our ideas as a group.” Today, Maya uses teamwork in astronomy labs and in her physics study groups. “Being able to work in teams is a key skill to develop as early as you can. Teamwork is one of the most important skills you need in any career path.”

Since she was a young astrophile stargazing with her grandpa in southern Minnesota, Maya has developed skills in technology to learn more about celestial objects, space, and the physical universe. At STARBASE, Maya was introduced to how CAD and 3D printing can help solve STEM challenges. “I remember how new the technology was to me and how cool that was. It felt very exciting and current. Using CAD was the first time I had ever done that kind of learning with computers.” Maya now uses computer programs and telescopes to track Saturn and Betelgeuse in nighttime astronomy labs. “We program the desktop computer in the next room over from the ten-inch telescope. One person focuses the telescope while someone else programs the computer. We usually work in groups of 10 when we’re in the observatory and this is a really fun group.” Maya reports that using the telescopes is one of her favorite parts of college because she enjoys collaborative teamwork and hands-on use of technology.

Today, Maya uses perseverance to work through challenging astronomy and physics concepts, a mindset she developed early on when learning STEM concepts and the engineering design process at STARBASE. “Being able to tackle big questions and find creative solutions is a big deal and we did that a lot at STARBASE.” We asked Maya what words of advice she has for current STARBASE students who are passionate about STEM. She shared, “If you’re interested in it, go for it. Don’t be afraid of it being hard or overwhelming. I’ve found that I’ve learned the most from the hardest classes and the hardest experiences. Don’t back down from the challenges, because you can do it if you persevere and use your skills.”

Maya will graduate from Boston University in 2023. We wish her the best as she continues her studies and look forward to hearing about her future career! Thank you, Maya, for sharing your story with us.

Angela Lenling

STARBASE Minnesota alum Angela Lenling attended STARBASE in 2013 with Battle Creek Elementary School, St. Paul Public Schools. She always had enjoyed STEM and space and after attending STARBASE recalls, “I came back and thought, I want to do that every day to learn even more. It was really exciting to go to STARBASE for the whole week. That was the best field trip I’ve ever been on because I learned completely new things every day and it was super exciting!”

Currently, Angela is finishing up her senior year in
School District 622 and will join the 208th Weather Flight upon graduation. Weather Flight is a globally separated unit that supports the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard’s pilots and their missions. Angela chose to join the military because of the opportunity to further her STEM knowledge. She was also encouraged by her family’s extensive history of military service.

Angela is excited to begin military and scientific training, which will include boot camp, meteorological training, and hands-on practice with meteorological tools used in Weather Flight operations. After training, Angela will join her fellow service members in the day-to-day operations at 208th Weather Flight. She will provide commanders and pilots with mission execution forecasts, flight weather briefs, long-range forecasts, climatology reports, trafficability forecasts, and all other meteorological requests. Weather Flight can also deploy combat weather teams within 72 hours of notice, something that Angela will most certainly be a part of in the future.

Angela “Sparkly Unicorn” has many memories of STARBASE. She remembers CAD and 3D printing, studying the density of the air by experimenting with hands-on models, and using teamwork and perseverance skills to solve STEM challenges. When asked to name one skill learned at STARBASE she still uses today, Angela reports, “Teamwork was a really important part of learning at STARBASE. Even if something is difficult and might not have an obvious answer, there is always a different way to approach it. We did that a lot at STARBASE. Getting other people’s views and perspectives on a problem is helpful.”

STARBASE motivated Angela to pursue math activities outside of her multivariable calculus class. “I was a member of the math team, which is a team of about twenty people in all grades in high school. We competed with different schools.” Angela viewed each competition as a learning experience. “It was more of a fun challenge instead of being super serious. I liked being with other people on the team and trying to figure out the answers to our problems. It was really fun to see how other people work through issues and problems. I wasn’t disappointed when I didn’t score too well because it was more fun to think about what I know and how can I improve.”

When asked to share advice with current STARBASE students, Angela advises to lean into challenging experiences and to welcome unexpected opportunities. “You’re not always going to be on the path that you want to be. Just keep finding ways to include STEM in your life.” Angela shared that the STEM field is fulfilling because there is always something new to learn. “A STEM career is most interesting because every day is different and always changing. Keep working hard and being interested in things that are challenging. It will help you in more ways than one.”

Thank you, Angela, for your future military service. We appreciate your positive attitude and inspiring story! We wish you all the best as you continue your STEM education and career.

Emily Berg

Name: Airman First Class, A1C, Emily Berg
Call Sign: “Torque”
Year at STARBASE: 2009
Interviewed by: Santi Bromley, STARBASE Instructor & Military Volunteer Engagement
Date: December 12, 2017

Santi: Tell me a little about what you have done since you participated in STARBASE in 2009. Read More

A1C Berg: During my senior year of high school, I enlisted in the Air National Guard as an airplane mechanic, graduated high school with honors, and left for basic training and technical school. I was awarded a Commander’s Coin for my high grade point average in my military training, and since then (February 2017) I have gone on multiple TDYs, and have started to further my education at Winona State University with a major in Nursing.

Santi: How did you decide on your nursing major?

A1C Berg: For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to have a career where I could help people. Going to STARBASE really expanded my perspective that there are many ways to do that, and helped me discover my passion for science. Ultimately, I decided that going into a healthcare field was the right fit for me.

Santi: Tell me what you remember about STARBASE.

A1C Berg: I remember showing up to STARBASE on my first day and being very nervous. But soon after we got started I met one of my fellow students named Elastagirl. She and I got along like two peas in a pod. I had so much fun at STARBASE. After making my rocket, I felt so much more confident and knew I wanted to go back the next year, but unfortunately I was too old.

Santi: In the time shortly after completing the STARBASE program, were you motivated to do any further STEM activities?

A1C Berg: After STARBASE I decided that I wanted to start competing in science fairs. I did projects on metal corrosion, buoyancy, psychology, and many other topics.

Santi: Can you identify anything you learned at STARBASE that you still use today?

A1C Berg: The biggest concepts that I learned at STARBASE were critical thinking and problem solving. These concepts are very important in my career and in everyday life.

Santi: What are your plans after you complete your nursing program?

A1C Berg: I would like to go into either psychiatric nursing or aeromedical evacuation after college. Staying involved in the military is very important to me and I would like to continue to be a part of such a great organization.

Santi: How did you end up choosing to go into the military?

A1C Berg: STARBASE showed me that just because you have never done something before, doesn’t mean you can’t. It boosted my confidence and without that confidence I don’t think that I would have been able to progress to where I am now and be able to make the decision to enlist.

Santi: What is the work you do on Maintenance on the flight line at the 133rd?

A1C Berg: I do a wide variety of tasks on the flight line. I do anything from refueling and servicing different systems on planes, to changing tires and other important parts to inspecting and preparing the planes for the aircrews that get to fly them.

Santi: How has being in the military impacted your life?

A1C Berg: Being in the military has impacted my life a ton. It is the best decision I have ever made. It has let me travel to places I didn’t think I would ever go, taught me not only about planes, but about other people and myself, and given me a supportive community that is always willing to give me a hand when I need it.

Santi: Do you have any advice for current STARBASE students as they complete the program and look to their futures?

A1C Berg: Be creative! Don’t just try to do what everyone else is doing – think outside the box.

We are thrilled by the inspiration that A1C Emily “Torque” Berg found from her experience at STARBASE Minnesota as a student attending in 2009 and we hope that the students who go through the STARBASE program are as equally inspired in their approach to education, training and life. Thank you, A1C Emily for your service to our country, and for being such an outstanding role model to the thousands of students who participate in our STARBASE now and in the years to come.

Michael Efejuku

Michael Efejuku attended STARBASE with Risen Christ Catholic School as a 4th grader in 2006 and 6th grader in 2008. He has fond memories of building and launching rockets, viewing airplanes, and using the 3D printer. He remembers leaving STARBASE amazed by science and all of its applications. Michael later attended DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, graduating in 2014. While at DeLaSalle, he continued to build off of his experience at STARBASE, by joining the school’s science club. Read More

Houa Moua

“In 8th grade I attended Washington Technology Middle School. I signed up for an elective class in engineering and city planning. As the only girl in the class, I was shy and afraid because I viewed my intelligence as something not “up-to-par” with boys. I remember the encouragement that girls can solve “big-world” problems just as equally as boys can. During this time, I was also an English language learner. There was tremendous stress and pressure for me academically, socially, and culturally. Trying to learn English and excel in my engineering class took a lot of effort. I wasn’t talented in it naturally like my peers, but I knew that if I worked hard to learn, I could excel in it. Looking back, I felt that STARBASE helped prepare in me, a heart for learning.” Read More

Annie Francis

The second recipient of the Brigadier General Tim Cossalter STARBASE Minnesota Scholarship is Annie Francis. Annie attended STARBASE with St. Bernard’s Elementary School as a 4th grader in 2006 and a 6th grader in 2008.

At the time that Annie attended STARBASE, she found that school was challenging. She had to work harder than most students because of a learning disability. “STARBASE was an amazing opportunity for me. I have a learning disability that makes it very difficult to read and write. The hands-on learning that happened at STARBASE made learning exciting and fun. I could understand what I was doing because I was actually doing it!”. Read More

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