Zoe Kane, a Greenville Technical College (GTC) Honors Program student, is headed to Princeton University this summer. She will participate in the Department of Energy’s Community College Internships (CCI) program at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL).
The CCI program at PPPL is for students interested in technical careers relevant to plasma physics and fusion energy research. Students work under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists or engineers on projects supporting PPPL’s research. Each participant completes a research paper and presents a poster summarizing work completed over the course of the summer. Participants are full-time students at community colleges or accredited two-year colleges who have completed at least one semester of study.
Kane, a 2018 graduate of Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, WI, took a gap year in 2019 to work at nth Solutions, LLC in Exton, PA. She focused on data analysis, applied physics, programming, and experimental design using MATLAB and R programming languages. Her hope is to complete an associate degree at GTC before transferring to major in physics at a four-year college or university.
The Honors Program at GTC enhances the academic experience for bright, highly-motivated students who desire a challenge, take responsibility for learning, and seek intellectual and cultural stimulation. This motivated community of scholars has opportunities beyond the traditional classroom to develop their potential through community service projects, cultural engagement events, colloquia, and leadership activities that connect with their enriched academic coursework. Small, challenging classes encourage give-and-take between student and instructor, enhance opportunities for independent research, and allow the student to pursue individual goals.