While other high school students sunned, relaxed, perhaps went to summer school or worked part-time jobs, Woodrow Wilson High School senior Brent Oglesby spent most of his summer interning at NASA in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Oglesby, who worked as an engineer’s aide, was the only student in the program from out-of-state. His mother, Vicki Hodges, says he was a test case for starting a program with out-of-state interns. He found out about the internship when inquiring about interning at the White House. That program was full, but his contact knew people who worked with NASA and put Oglesby in touch with them. Oglesby applied and got into the program.
“Ever since I can remember, it’s always captured my mind. The desire to be a pioneer and explore, to do something that isn’t routine, that hasn’t been done before,” Oglesby says.
In his project, he worked with the thermal protection system of solid rocket boosters. He used thermal analysis to determine how much cork layering was needed for the SIRTF (Space Infrared Telescope Facility) mission, which will send out a telescope to take pictures and return data.
Sounds complicated? Oglesby could take it, especially with the training of his heavy course load. Physics is his favorite subject, and he’s taking all Advanced Placement classes for his senior year, including calculus, calculus-based physics, music theory, English and European history. He feels like Woodrow has prepared him well for the internship.
On top of his difficult class schedule, he is on the Mock Trial team, plays football, golf and throws discus in track, plays the baritone in the band and guitar in the jazz band, as well as for Variations, Woodrow’s show choir.
Oglesby wants to attend a military academy, preferably the Naval Academy in Annapolis , he says, and study aerospace engineering or systems engineering.
“I’ve never seen anyone who wasn’t better off for going through a military academy. The character one has to have to take on leadership in the military is something I admire,” Oglesby says.
His ultimate goal is to be an astronaut, and he feels like going through the academy is a good step toward accomplishing that.
He also gained some experience living on his own this summer. Since his internship program doesn’t usually have out-of-state interns, organizers couldn’t provide housing.
“It’s been interesting. You have a lot more freedom, a lot more responsibility,” he says of living on his own. “You have to think a lot harder.” His mom says he was told to expect surprise visits from her and his stepfather.
Oglesby says the internship has only confirmed his ambition to work with the space program.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a once- in-a-lifetime experience, to see what I’m seeing at my age. I’ve gotten to do so much hands-on stuff with the engineers. I was able to see and learn so much.”
