John Carl "JC" Henderson was recently accepted into the Merchant Marine Academy. He majored in mathematics at Adams State University prior to applying. "I definitely feel like my skills in math and science were greatly enhanced and solidified at Adams State."
The positive reputation of the science and mathematics programs, as well as outdoor adventures, attracted him to Adams State. "I was extremely happy attending Adams State. I was fortunate enough to never meet an unfriendly face and I made tons of friends."
Henderson appreciated the encouragement and guidance from Dr. Matthew Nerhing, professor of physics and department chair, and George Sellman, assistant professor of computer science. "I made the honor roll a couple of times."
One of his favorite classes was introduction to engineering class with Nehring. "I really found a hobby in tinkering with robotics," Henderson said. This hobby turned into a position as a robotics technician in the ASU robotics lab with Sellman.
Fellow student and robotics technician, Alex Basagoita, who will attend West Point next year, and Henderson competed in the Nasa Space Grant Consortium Robotics Challenge twice for Adams State. "We won the challenge with our robot, The Desert Rat, in 2015," Henderson added.
Along with being a robotics technician, Henderson worked in Porter Hall, the Science, Mathematics, and Technology Building, as a lab technician, and was involved in wrestling and the ASU Newman Club. He plans on studying electrical engineering in the Merchant Marine Academy and eventually using his degree to work on ships and "sail around the world."
