Space Dynamics Lab Inducts 12 Utah State Students into Student Scholar Program

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory announced that it has inducted 12 students into a competitive program that builds on classroom experience to provide real-world solutions.

Established in 2015, SDL’s Student Scholar program provides a unique, substantive and meaningful experience to increase students’ knowledge, skills and abilities. SDL Student Scholars exemplify excellence by maintaining a high grade point average, attending training sessions, participating in outreach and completing a high-level project within the organization.

Each Student Scholar is required to develop and execute a unique project that benefits the teams they are working with at SDL. Following successful completion of their projects, the Student Scholar candidates present their work to SDL executive management.

“SDL is actively involved with more than 200 programs for NASA, the Department of Defense, and other customers by building small satellites, manufacturing electro-optical sensor systems, developing software solutions, providing essential business support and supplying a range of other capabilities,” said Jed Hancock, president of SDL. “Real-world implementation within SDL of theoretical principles taught in the lecture halls and laboratories of USU has become an important pairing for students and SDL. Providing students with relevant opportunities to develop their academic disciplines within programs enables them to achieve experience beyond that of many of their peers while adding tremendous value to SDL.”

During a recent ceremony, the following students were recognized as SDL Student Scholars: Logan Chapman, Spencer Crane, Tiffany Durrant, Max Francom, Isaac Froisland, Porter Giles, Nathan Haws, Cole Hendrickson, Nathan Huntzinger, Korbin Keller, Elijah Peterson and Jarren Worthen.

“The student project I participated in taught me more than I could have imagined from the start,” said Durrant. “I was very lucky to be able to work with these programs and departments, and they each gave me a new insight into what I might see myself doing in the next five years. I loved being able to see the immediate impact my project had on the facilities here at SDL. I am proud to have been a part of something so impactful at SDL, while also feeling humbled that, as a student, I had a wonderful opportunity to work with such amazing people and create something so large.”

SDL has been solving the technical challenges faced by the military, science community and industry for more than six decades and supports NASA’s mission to drive advances in science, technology, aeronautics and space exploration to enhance knowledge, education, innovation, economic vitality and stewardship of Earth. As one of 14 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers, SDL serves as a subject matter expert in its core research areas to the U.S. Government, ensuring that essential engineering and technology capabilities are maintained. SDL is a research laboratory headquartered in North Logan, UT, and has offices in Albuquerque, NM; Bedford, MA; Colorado Springs, CO; Dayton, OH; Houston, TX; Huntsville, AL; Los Angeles, CA; Stafford, VA; and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.sdl.usu.edu.