{"id":2286,"date":"2025-11-05T00:01:42","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T05:01:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/?p=2286"},"modified":"2025-11-03T15:59:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T20:59:07","slug":"s13-e19-lauryn-leslie-beyond-the-stars-with-nasa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cedarville.edu\/cedarville-stories\/2025\/s13-e19-lauryn-leslie-beyond-the-stars-with-nasa\/","title":{"rendered":"S:13 E:19 | Lauryn Leslie: Beyond the Stars With NASA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beyond the Stars: Lauryn Leslie\u2019s Journey From Cedarville to NASA<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For Lauryn Leslie, the stars were never just distant lights in the sky \u2014 they were a destination. As a child, she\u2019d look up and wonder what it might be like to explore the universe God had spoken into being. Today, that childhood dream is blazing into reality.<\/p>\n

A 2024 Cedarville University graduate, Lauryn now works at NASA, helping design communication systems that will connect astronauts on future missions to the moon and beyond. Her work is part of Lunar 3GPP<\/span><\/i> \u2014 a groundbreaking project to bring mobile communications to space.<\/p>\n

But Lauryn\u2019s story isn\u2019t just about rockets and research. It\u2019s about faith, perseverance, and the kind of courage that steps forward even when the next move isn\u2019t clear.<\/p>\n

At Cedarville, Lauryn juggled a demanding engineering program with collegiate sports \u2014 first softball, then tennis. When an injury sidelined her, it felt like her plans were collapsing. Instead, it became a launchpad. While playing in a local tennis league, she met two female NASA engineers who encouraged her to apply for an internship. Despite her doubts, Lauryn took a leap of faith. \u201cGod opened that door,\u201d she said, \u201cand I walked through it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That leap led to two NASA internships \u2014 opportunities awarded to just a few \u2014 and eventually, a full-time role advancing space technology. \u201cAt NASA, we face challenges bigger than any one person,\u201d she shared. \u201cThere are moments I\u2019ve prayed, \u2018Lord, give us wisdom.\u2019 And He always provides.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now pursuing a master\u2019s in communications and electromagnetics at Purdue University, Lauryn continues preparing for her ultimate dream of becoming an astronaut. Yet she keeps her heart anchored where her dream began. \u201cI\u2019d love to go to space,\u201d she said, \u201cbut more than anything, I want to be where God wants me.\u201d<\/p>\n

From the fields of Cedarville to the frontiers of space, Lauryn Leslie\u2019s journey is a reminder that when faith fuels our dreams, not even the stars will hold us back. Hear more from Lauryn on the Cedarville Stories <\/em>podcast.<\/p>\n