Alumni Stories

Christian Agaba

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!

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.

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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Christian Agaba

Pheng Xiong

Alex Vang

Jessica Scott

Leslie Rivera

Evan Most

Ruhi Doshi

Maya Steen

Angela Lenling

Emily Berg

Michael Efejuku

Houa Moua

Annie Francis

STEM Career Videos

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Students Explore STEM Careers with Augmented Reality!

What The Students Are Saying

Alumni Stories

Christian Agaba

Pheng Xiong

Alex Vang

Jessica Scott

Leslie Rivera

Evan Most

Ruhi Doshi

Maya Steen

Angela Lenling

Emily Berg

Michael Efejuku

Houa Moua

Annie Francis

STEM Career Videos

Latest News

Students Explore STEM Careers with Augmented Reality! ​

What The Students Are Saying

Students Explore STEM Careers with Augmented Reality!