Michael Keen is flying through unique experiences at rocket speed during his time at Nunez Community College.

The Aerospace Manufacturing Technology major from Slidell recently completed Missions 1 and 2 of NASA’s invitation-only Community College Aerospace Scholars program during the summer and fall of 2024. Keen’s application for the exclusive program included nine hours of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) coursework that he completed as a high schooler enrolled in Dual Enrollment courses at Nunez.

NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars program (NCAS) is a competitive admission program that introduces students to NASA’s research and operations methods via mock missions completed online. Participants work on individual projects and team missions. Mission 1 familiarized Keen with NASA’s history, mission and goals through independent work and weekly meetings with subject matter experts. Mission 2 assigned him to a team of 12 participants, each with a specialized role, tasked with designing a remote-controlled rover, as well as a mission for the rover to complete.

Keen was uniquely qualified for his role as a hardware specialist on his Mission 2 team thanks to his time spent with Nunez’s competitive robotics Team 9456, first as team captain and, after graduating high school, as team advisor.

Nunez’s Team 9456 was tasked with fabricating and assembling a robot from the ground up to the specifications of the FIRST Robotics Bayou Regionals competition, which took place April 4-6 at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. In a field of 51 teams, including teams from California, Florida, Mexico, Turkey, Canada and Poland, Team 9456 finished 32nd in its inaugural competition against teams as large as 20 members and with 20 years of competition experience.

The robot built by Keen and Team 9456 is a six-wheeled machine with a rectangular base approximately two feet long and three feet wide, with a sloped apparatus rising three feet from the base to designed to shoot plastic hoops. At Bayou Regionals, Team 9456 scored points by guiding the robot via remote control through a course laid out on the floor, then scored additional points by shooting the hoops into a raised target.

Keen added another accolade to his growing resume in April when he earned a Gold Medal in the Principles of Engineering Category at the Louisiana SkillsUSA competition. Keen’s presentation demonstrated how an alternator generates electricity for an automobile, as well as explaining the various forms of electrical current.

Having completed Missions 1 and 2 for NCAS, complete with a certificate recognizing his accomplishments, Keen is now eligible to apply for Mission 3 in the summer of 2025, along with exclusive internships available only to NCAS alums.

“I’m grateful for everything that I learned through NCAS and the opportunities that this experience offers,” said Keen. “This is something that I want other Nunez students to know about, because this kind of experience can potentially lead to employment through internships.”

High school students also have an opportunity to follow in Keen’s footsteps by signing up to participate on Team 9456 and taking part in the 360-degree experience of robotics competition, from building and maintaining the robot, to publicizing and branding the team, to competing at events around the state and region.

Nunez STEAM Director Dr. Julie Rexford, who oversees Nunez’s robotics program and SkillsUSA program, said Keen has proven himself exceptional with every new endeavor.

“Michael is a go-getter. When he commits to something, he gives it his all,” she said.

For more information on NCAS visit go.nasa.gov/nas. For details about Team 9456 and robotics teams for younger students at Nunez, email Rexford at jrexford@nunez.edu.

About Nunez Community College
Nunez Community College is a student-centered institution that delivers relevant and innovative curriculum integrating the arts, sciences, and humanities leading to academic credentials and workforce opportunities. Nunez serves a vital role in the community by engaging with partners to support student success and personal growth. Nunez Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Nunez Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). Nunez is located at 3710 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. For more information, visit www.nunez.edu.