Florida Tech Student Earns Honor for NASA Co-op Job

– Trent Smith, a Florida Tech graduate student expected to receive his master’s of science degree in chemistry in May, has been named Florida Tech Co-op
Student of the Year. Smith has worked as a polymer chemist/materials engineer co-op student for five semesters at NASA’s Testbed Technology Branch at
Kennedy Space Center (KSC). He was nominated by his mentor there, Dr. Martha K. Williams.

“Trent is an intelligent, highly motivated worker … (His) work performance has far exceeded that expected of a co-op employee and he has proven to be an
important contributor to the research team…” wrote Williams.

As a co-op, Smith supported Williams in developing a new flame retardant technology. His name is listed with Williams’ on the filed patent application.
Smith has accepted a full-timer polymer chemist position with NASA’s Testbed Technology Branch at KSC.

Three other Florida Tech student employees also were singled out for exceptional 2004-2005 service. Each won a scholarship donated by Coca-Cola.

The other winning student employees were: Best Work Study-Kemble Ng, Office of Financial Aid; Best College Role-Nikhil Arora, Clemente Center; Best Off
Campus-John Picciano, data technician at Professional Data Storage in Melbourne.

Best departments to work in, as named by student employees, were Office of the Registrar, Center Court, Office of Financial Aid and Evans Library.