Estefani Ontiveros

Norco College Alumni Spotlight (2020)

Estefani Ontiveros, an Engineering Pathways and Norco College alumni, was selected to participate in the FIELDS Internship through University of California, Riverside at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) in Pasadena for the summer.

Ontiveros will be conducting research for 10-weeks alongside JPL science staff members on projects related to data science, analysis, and processing. The FIELDS program is designed to train the next generation of scientists and engineers in large-scale data analysis and visualization.

Ontiveros, a first generation college student, graduated from Norco College in June with distinction and the following associates degrees:

• Associates in Arts, Social & Behavioral Studies
• Associates in Science, Math & Science
• Associates in Science, Physics
• Associates in Science, Mathematics
• Associates in Science, Pre-Engineering

“I don’t think I would have made it this far if it weren’t for the wonderful connections, experience, and support I’ve received over my time as an Engineering Pathways Program student. The program and its people truly encouraged me to expand my horizons and seek out every opportunity with grit and I’ll always be thankful for that,” said Ontiveros.

She transferred to California State University, Los Angeles as a Mechanical Engineering major. In addition, Ontiveros was selected as the spring NASA JPL Maximizing Student Potential in STEM Internship program. She was a STEM Club member and a member of the Norco College Rocketry Team. She participated in NASA’s National Aerospace Scholars Program and toured the Johnson Space Center in Houston as a benefit for completing the program. Ontiveros was one of four members in the all-female Team, MOMA, who won the inaugural Norco College engineering challenge in spring 2019.

 

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