Niantic resident Dallas Capozza is heading to NASA’s Johnson Space Center this winter to meet with NASA engineers, learn about science and engineering careers, and work on creating a prototype rover.

Capozza, a student at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs, Colo., has been chosen as one of 171 community college students across the United States to participate in the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars onsite experience.

After a five-week online activity, the students will participate in a four-day event at a NASA center. Working in teams, the students will create fictional companies pursuing Mars exploration. The teams will be tasked with developing and testing a prototype rover, creating a company infrastructure, managing a budget, and planning communications.

During the event, NASA experts will provide briefings to students. Students will also tour NASA’s facilities and learn how to apply for internships.

The Minority University Research and Education Program, whose mission is to engage underrepresented and underserved students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in learning experiences to sustain a diverse workforce, is funding the activity in part.