She was fascinated by astronomy and the complexity of science. That thirst for knowledge helped recently lead Hemming to a trifecta of national graduate scholarship opportunities.

Hemming, a 2014 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, is a current graduate student in aerospace systems engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Hemming first started down this path thanks to the guidance of her stepfather, Fort Dodge’s Kevin Friesth.

Hemming, a 2014 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, is a current graduate student in aerospace systems engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

-Submitted photo
Michaela (Spaulding) Hemming charts activity as a graduate student in aerospace systems engineering at the University of Alabama-Huntsville. Hemming is a 2014 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate.

Hemming first started down this path thanks to the guidance of her stepfather, Fort Dodge’s Kevin Friesth.

“My stepdad watched how I did in school and introduced me into engineering,” Hemming said. “I had the intention of going into the medical field, but with science being something I’ve always enjoyed, I was intrigued by engineering.”

As a student in the Fort Dodge Community School District, Hemming soaked up every educational opportunity she could fit into her schedule.

“I took courses in Project Lead the Way, which included Principles of Engineering,” Hemming said. “I also loved all math (courses), and specifically, Calculus 1.

“One thing I enjoyed was the experimental side of research.”

Being hands-on with projects and being able to construct and deconstruct were lessons Hemming also learned while at Senior High.

“I took welding at Senior High,” Hemming said. “It felt quite rewarding doing creative things and problem solving. I took courses in cutting metals, and used the drill press.”

Hemming was up for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) fellowship, and DoD’s Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) scholarship, as well as the NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO).

“I heard from NDSEG right away, and it was a relief,” Hemming said. “It meant that my graduate research would be funded, and no more debt would incur. Then I also heard from SMART and NSTGRO.

“It was an honor, but I wasn’t sure how I would pick the right one.”

Hemming ultimately chose the NSTGRO scholarship and NASA route.

“I always dreamed of working for NASA,” Hemming said. “Each one of the fellowships had stipulations. NASA was the one that fit best for me after considering everything.”

Hemming’s college journey began at Iowa State University in Ames, where she graduated in 2018. She is currently in her second year pursuing a master’s degree in aerospace systems engineering (MSASE) at UAH, a part of the University of Alabama system.

Working toward her doctorate, Hemming is currently a graduate research assistant in UAH’s Propulsion Research Center.

Hemming is working on a project with Friesth, in the beginning stages of setting up a launch vehicle company using recyclable, additively-manufactured engines for propulsion.

“Kevin has done testing on rocket projections on his own,” Hemming said. “It led to this idea of using liquid methane and liquid oxygen. The special aspect of the project is using a 3D printer, and after it launched, it would be used five to six times and learn to recycle the material and print it.

“I’m helping with the engineering aspect of it — the drawings and modeling.”

Hemming is anxious to see what the future holds.

“I’m excited to be working with NASA,” Hemming said. “I want to work with engineering problems that are new. Things that haven’t been done before, like rotating detonation engines.

“I love being challenged.”