Space Dynamics Lab Celebrates Class of 2023 Student Employees

Utah State University’s Space Dynamics Laboratory announced today that 41 of its student employees will graduate during USU’s 136th commencement and college convocation ceremonies on Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5.

SDL employs approximately 1,100 engineers, scientists, technicians, and business professionals who collaborate with and mentor over 150 student employees from USU while they pursue their undergraduate and graduate degrees. By providing experience working on programs of national significance, SDL offers student employees exceptional career prospects to continue solving technical challenges for the military and NASA.

“Each May, we celebrate the academic accomplishments of our student employees, who play essential roles in developing solutions for some of the most complex challenges faced by our industry. Whether working side by side with our engineers and scientists or being mentored by SDL’s accountants and technical writers, our student employees contribute significantly to the Lab’s success,” said Jed Hancock, president of SDL. “Working hard to achieve their academic goals while at the same time translating classroom knowledge to practical applications is commendable, and we are proud of our Class of 2023 student employees.”

During convocation and hooding ceremonies at USU this week, SDL’s 41 graduating student employees will be awarded a total of 44 degrees. Of the 41 graduating students, six will receive master’s degrees and 35 will receive bachelor’s degrees from various colleges within USU, including the Caine College of the Arts, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, and College of Science. The Class of 2023 SDL student employees will be conferred degrees in the following fields:

• Accounting (2)
• Biological Engineering (1)
• Business Administration (1)
• Business Management (1)
• Communication Studies (2)
• Computer Engineering (5)
• Computer Science (10)
• Data Analytics (1)
• Electrical Engineering (4)
• Graphic Design (1)
• History (1)
• Information Systems (2)
• International Business (1)
• Mechanical Engineering (5)
• Political Science (1)
• Psychology (1)
• Public Health (1)
• Sociology (1)
• Technology Systems (1)
• Theatre Design and Technology (1)
• Wildlife Ecology and Management (1)

SDL provides its student employees with opportunities to enhance their learning experience beyond the classroom. Among the graduating students, 11 have earned the distinction of SDL Student Scholar. Since its establishment in 2015, SDL’s Student Scholar program has offered valuable, immersive experiences that expand students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities. SDL Student Scholars embody excellence by maintaining a high grade point average, attending training sessions, engaging in outreach, and completing high-level projects. Each Student Scholar is tasked with developing and executing a unique project that contributes to the teams they work on at SDL. Once their projects are completed, Student Scholar candidates present their work to SDL executive management.

USU’s academic procession will begin at 8:20 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, at the Taggart Student Center and University Quad. Following the academic procession to Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, the commencement ceremony is scheduled for 9 a.m., with college convocations and hooding ceremonies later on May 4 and 5. Please visit USU’s commencement website for detailed information.

Headquartered on Utah State University’s Innovation Campus in North Logan, Utah, the Space Dynamics Laboratory is a nonprofit organization and a Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center owned by USU. More than 1,000 dedicated SDL engineers, scientists, business professionals, and student employees solve technical challenges faced by the military, science community, and industry and support NASA’s vision to explore the secrets of the universe for the benefit of all. SDL has field offices in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Chantilly, Virginia; Dayton, Ohio; Huntsville, Alabama; Ogden, Utah; and Stafford, Virginia. For more information, visit www.sdl.usu.edu.