AMU Original Space

The Space Shuttle Program and an Honor from UCF Football

By Dr. Jessica Sapp
Associate Professor, School of Health Sciences

There is more to a university than sports, but when you attend a university with a top football program, it is easy to get excited about football games. The holidays traditionally bring together family and friends, but the holiday season is also a time for football bowl games.

This week, the University of Florida (UF) and University of Central Florida (UCF) will compete in the Gasparilla Bowl. These teams haven’t played each other since 2006, and this game is only their third matchup.

The Gasparilla Bowl means more to me than just a football game. Instead, it feels like a commemoration of the two universities that deeply influenced my career.

Attending UF, Interning at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and Its Influence on My Career

I attended UF for my undergraduate studies in health education, which required a full-time internship in the final semester. Many students interned with health organizations, but I had the unique opportunity to intern at the NASA Kennedy Space Center. This internship ultimately led to multiple healthcare roles over the years, including serving as the medical triage communicator for space shuttle launches and landings.

It was a privilege to be a part of America’s space program. It was my NASA experience that developed my skills in emergency management and contingency planning.

Our medical triage team used an incident command structure, but there were many unique attributes to it because of the space shuttle and astronauts. For example, our team required specialized training with the astronaut suits.

My first shuttle mission was the STS-114 Discovery. It was the “Return to Flight” mission, the first shuttle launch following the 2003 Columbia tragedy.

Working at UCF and Being Honored by the UCF Football Team

Later in my career, I transitioned to academia full-time and began working at UCF. I was able to teach students, but I also served on the UCF Campus Emergency Response Team because of my previous experience. I volunteered with the UCF Department of Emergency Management at multiple events, including football games.

UCF is nicknamed the “Space University,” due to its history and current affiliation to the United States space program. This connection contributed to the UCF Space Game, which has generated some of the most talked-about college football uniforms.

The first space shuttle launch was in 1981. The 2021 UCF uniforms commemorate the 40th anniversary of the space shuttle program.

According to John Heisler, the Senior Associate Athletic Director for the UCF Athletics Association, “Each of the 135 shuttle missions is recognized by a square designed to look like one of the thermal protection system tiles and incorporated into the jersey numbers. The stripe down the middle of the 2021 helmets includes more than 100 names of individuals with UCF connections who have played a role in the Space Shuttle program over the years.” 

This year, I am honored to be one of the names included on the UCF football helmets. My name appears near the top right-hand corner of the photo showing the list of names.

Having ties to both schools will make it fun watching the Gasparilla Bowl. My team wins, regardless of the final score!

Dr. Jessica Sapp is an associate professor in the School of Health Sciences and co-author of "Your Healthcare Job Hunt: How Your Digital Presence Can Make or Break Your Career." She has over 15 years of experience in public health, working in various environments including government, hospitals, health insurance, community, international, corporate and academia. Jessica earned her D.P.H. in health policy and management at Georgia Southern University and a M.P.H. in health promotion, education, and behavior at the University of South Carolina. She also has a B.S. in health science education from the University of Florida.

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