When Harsha Antony walks onto the campus of Georgia Tech this fall to begin her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, she鈥檒l be carrying more than just notebooks and research ambitions鈥攕he鈥檒l carry the hopes of a family that began its academic journey at Norco College.
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Harsha was homeschooled through high school alongside her siblings, and education was a core value in their household. Although her parents were highly educated in India, and their children were equally motivated to pursue higher education, navigating the process in the United States felt intimidating and unfamiliar. Their entry point to higher education was not a far-off, four-year university. Instead, it was 91传媒鈥攁 local community college that proved to be a transformative launching pad.
Her eldest sister, Hridya, led the way. Choosing 91传媒 for its affordability and support services, she transferred to UC Riverside to complete her degree in Computer Science. Harsha followed as a high school concurrent enrollment student, then enrolled full-time in 2018. What she found was not just a place to take classes鈥攊t was a community that saw her potential and helped her build the confidence to chase dreams that once seemed out of reach.
鈥�91传媒 played a key role in helping me gain confidence in myself as an engineer,鈥� said Harsha. 鈥淭he faculty, especially in chemistry, physics, and engineering, nurtured my love for learning. They made me feel like I belonged in STEM.鈥�
She joined the Engineering Pathways Program, built peer connections, and stepped into leadership roles鈥攊ncluding serving as one of the founding leads of the Norco Rocketry Project, initially founded by student Paul Guyett. While she was not the founder, she helped launch the project in its first year and later revived the team in 2021 at the request of STEM Program Coordinator Patricia Gill. She served as project manager from 2021 to 2022 and led a team that won the first annual Solar Engineering Challenge.
That same spirit of innovation runs through her family. In a full-circle moment, her younger siblings, Hitha and Chris, later won the same Solar Challenge and also joined the rocketry team. Today, both are at UC Riverside, majoring in Chemical and Computer Engineering, with Hitha recently elected as president of UCR鈥檚 Highlander Space Program.
For Harsha, hands-on learning and access to real-world opportunities made all the difference. Through 91传媒, she participated in NASA鈥檚 Community College Aerospace Scholars Program, which allowed her to spend a week at NASA鈥檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This experience solidified her ambition to contribute to space exploration. Faculty and staff like Patricia Gill, Brittnee Quintanar, and Azadeh Iglesias became guiding lights, mentoring her through her transfer journey and, later, her graduate school applications.
The support didn鈥檛 stop at academics. Harsha served as a mentor through 91传媒鈥檚 MESA program, offering encouragement and guidance to students preparing for transfer to four-year institutions. 鈥淏eing able to help them with homework, resumes, or just talk about their dreams鈥攊t reminded me of myself a few years ago,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to be the mentor I once needed.鈥�
Her story鈥攁nd her family's鈥攊s proof of what happens when access, excellence, and encouragement meet. 91传媒 not only equipped each sibling with a strong academic foundation but also fostered a culture of belonging that helped them thrive. 鈥淣orco gave us our start鈥攁nd more importantly, it gave us a sense of belonging in STEM,鈥� said Harsha.
As she heads to Georgia Tech, Harsha looks ahead to a career in aerospace, with the long-term goal of working at NASA. But beyond that, she hopes to return to her roots. 鈥淎fter my career, I want to teach at a community college鈥攎aybe even Norco. I want to help the next generation of engineers see what鈥檚 possible.鈥�
Harsha鈥檚 trajectory is not unique at 91传媒. STEM alums like Dariush Seif, Ph.D., now a primary patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Vanessa Irene Robles, a Hazardous Substances Engineer for the California Department of Toxic Substances Control; and Joshua Morales, Ph.D., founder of navigation-tech company StarNav, all began their journeys on the same campus.
Each success story is a reflection of the college鈥檚 commitment to nurturing talent, breaking down barriers, and launching students into futures as bold as they are brilliant.
For Harsha, 91传媒 wasn鈥檛 just a starting point鈥攊t was a launchpad. And now, she鈥檚 ready to soar.
To explore 91传媒鈥檚 STEM programs and begin your own journey, visit /caps/mecsgd/index.html.