Carver High School 2016 Graduate Sets His Eyes to the Stars With Johnson Space Center Internship
One aspiring engineer gets another opportunity to work at NASA before heading off to college.
Iván Delgado (far left) poses with teacher Samita Debnath and Principal Anthony Watkins.
[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]T[/dropcap]hings have been moving full throttle for Iván Delgado. He started the school year with an internship at NASA’s Johnson’s Space Center. His future remains bright as he continues to reach for the stars.
Iván using a hybrid simulator at JSC.
In [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]fall 2015, an InsideAldine article featured Iván. The senior had completed NASA’s Summer High School Aerospace Scholars (HAS) Project. When the program ended, Iván’s adventure with NASA was just beginning. He applied and accepted the internship at the space center.
The internship began in August 2015 and ended in May 2016. Iván was the only high school student in the yearlong internship. All the other interns were college juniors, seniors and PhD students.
During his internship at JSC he worked in the Computer Safety Working Group. There he created a data retrieval application. Iván also worked on developing a Python-generated graphical user interface. It generates an Excel spreadsheet compiled of relevant data found in distinct software directories.
Iván at the Space Shuttle Control Panel.
NASA officials use the data to identify all potential safety hazards. The space agency will use the data for upcoming flights, missions, software transitions and final safety reviews. If you are curious about the details, Ivan did write a two-page report that also details what he did at JSC. But it remains classified.
He got to experience what others dream of. For instance, he was aboard the International Space Station. Not literally. He boarded the ISS virtually using a hybrid simulator. This is something astronauts will use to prepare for missions.
Iván traveled extensively during his yearlong internship. He would start his days at Carver High School where he attended classes until 11 a.m. Then he trekked across the city to the JSC. He did this every day, Monday through Friday.
This June, Iván will graduate Magna Cum Laude with the Class of 2016. He’s been admitted to Texas A&M University where he will start in the fall. And he has been accepted into the Engineering Honors Program.
Iván will be the first in his family to attend college.
NASA still forms a part of Iván’s life. He will return to JSC this summer before heading off to college. Iván will intern full-time under the Computer Safety and Software Assurance Branch. He will design and innovate software that provides requirement traceability. This would include high-level standard requirements to project-level documents and procedures. The software will impart a re-configurable trace mechanism to implement updated documents and procedures.
He will get a little break in his schedule. Iván’s yearlong internship ended May 13. Iván endured long hours between school and his JSC responsibilities. When asked why he did it, Iván doesn’t hesitate. The aspiring engineer wants to show others that if he can reach his dreams, so can they.
“I don’t like to hear people say that they can’t achieve this or that,” he said. “If you want something in life, you have to be committed and determined to achieve it. The only limits that exist are the ones that one imposes on oneself.”
Delgado hopes to make the world a better place through innovative technology. He plans to major in electrical engineering or computer engineering. He hopes to explore the final frontier.
“People are meant to be pioneers,” said Iván. “I am determined to achieve my fullest potential for myself, my family and my friends,” he said. “I have never owned a telescope. But ever since my 11th birthday, I look up at the moon and always say ‘One day.’“
You are showing you have the right stuff … Keep reaching for the stars Iván!
Carver High School made [icons icon_name=”icon-external-link” icon_size=”14px”]U.S. News & World Report‘s Best High Schools in the U.S. 2016 rankings. The magnet school focuses on engineering, applied technology and the arts.
About the Author: Leticia Fehling
