January 19, 2021 : By Ryan Klinker - Office of Communications & Public Engagement Aariana Maynard Liberty University junior strategic communication student Aariana Maynard has taken another leap on her journey to launching a career with NASA following an internship with the space agency last summer. The start of Maynard’s involvement with NASA began during her junior year of high school when a science teacher encouraged her to apply for opportunity to become a Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar (VASTS). VASTS is one-semester program that immerses high school students in NASA-related research and also offers participants the ability to earn college credit for their work.