“Kids want to learn, regardless of socioeconomic status,� he says. “The biggest discussion between low-income people … is that, for many, education is not accessible. San Antonio is trying to build the
human platform.�

In the fall of 2005, Brazell was hired as a degree program consultant at NVC. Recognizing a gap between industry’s needs and educational training, he came up with the idea for SpaceTEAMS.

The college helped the Edgewood Independent School District find grant money to fund four teams of six middle-school students. Brazell brought in mentors from the U.S. Air Force Intelligence Agency to help teachers and students learn how to program and engineer robots. The teams also traveled to Houston for a regional “Botball� competition and the college hosted a day at the Challenger Center Mission to Mars
flight simulator.

In March of 2006, the group behind SpaceTEAMS presented their summer program idea to the San Antonio City Council, which approved not only its concept and design, but also $90,000 to fund a camp for 100 students and 25 teachers.

The program received about 175 applicants, with finalists selected on a range of criteria, says Colleen Smith Arrey, director of alternative programs at NVC.

Dr. Charles Winton, a professor of computer science at the University of North Florida and one of several scientists imported for the camp, says he has never seen anything quite like SpaceTEAMS, especially considering how far some of the students had to come in terms of scientific knowledge, vocabulary and application.

“I think all in all, they’ve come an amazing distance in a very short time,� Winston says. “They’ve succeeded in doing things I’ve seen college students have difficulty achieving.�

Now, Brazell is planning the next phase of the program: applying for grants he hopes will take SpaceTEAMS through 2030.