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Release: 01-290

Tennessee State student La Toy Jones reaches for stars in NASA education program

La Toy Jo’nil Jones, an undergraduate student in business administration at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tenn., is working in the U.S. space program as part of a NASA Contracting Intern Program.

Jones recently completed an assignment at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., supporting the space agency’s Microgravity Research Program. Microgravity is the unique condition of low gravity – commonly called weightlessness -- created by a spacecraft orbiting Earth.

For three months, Jones has worked as part of the NASA Contracting Intern Program on simplified acquisitions – a process that involves awarding purchase orders for commercially available goods and services. These are required to support research, design, development, fabrication, and other activities involving both ground- and space-based microgravity science research.

The Marshall Center is NASA’s lead facility for development of space transportation and propulsion systems, and manages all propulsion elements that carry the Space Shuttle from launch to orbit.

In addition to exploring new rocket technology, Marshall manages the science experiments onboard the International Space Station.

“Working at the Marshall Center has been a great experience,” Jones said. “It is a great opportunity to expand my knowledge within the work force. I feel very fortunate to have been selected for the NASA Contracting Intern Program.”

The NASA Contracting Intern Program combines a student’s academic study with a paid career-related work experience. Students must be enrolled in the cooperative education program at their school and be referred to NASA Headquarters by the school’s cooperative education administrator.

This program places students in full-time positions directly related to their field of study. Participants alternate periods of study at their schools with periods of work at NASA centers.

Jones, a 1998 graduate of Willowridge High School in Houston, will continue her studies at Tennessee State University this fall. She is the daughter of Willie Mae Wilson of Houston.

For more information on the NASA Contracting Intern Program, visit the Web site at:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/procurement/co-op/Welcome.html

For more information on the Marshall Center’s cooperative education programs, visit the Web sites at:

http://eodd.msfc.nasa.gov/coop/index.html

http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/