Brisbane Christian College graduate of 2013, David Corporal, has been given a rare opportunity to reach for the stars. He is one of five indigenous students who has been granted a 10-week internship at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
During his Senior years at Brisbane Christian College, David became inspired by the wonder of space after watching videos of the then-commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hatfield, who is also a man of faith. In an interview with AAP, David said, “I thought, hey, I am good at maths. I’m good at physics. Why not try to become an astronaut? That has been my guiding north star since then. And if I don’t become an astronaut, which is a lofty goal, I still aim to be an engineer in the space industry.”
David says he has worked hard to reach this point but could not have done it without the support of his family, friends and teachers.
“I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has helped me get here; no person stands alone,” he said. “I’m able to go to NASA because of the teachers I had in school, the people who supported me in university and my family and friends who helped me in rough patches.
“For all the effort I have put in, I could not be here without the love and support they’ve put into me.”
If that wasn’t enough of an achievement, David was recently recognised at the Australian Space Awards in Sydney as the Engineer of the Year. This was an outstanding achievement, especially when he was up against real-life rocket scientists!
We are incredibly proud of David and know that he is an inspiration to our students to follow their dreams and reach for the stars.
If you know of outstanding achievements, significant moments or weddings of our Alumni, please contact the Community Development Team at marketing@brisbanechristiancollege.com.au