CCAC Students Get Surprise Visit from NASA Astronaut

Published May 7, 2026

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke visited CCAC mechatronics and advanced manufacturing students in the Center for Education, Innovation & Training on May 6 at the college's main campus. Fincke talked about his experiences, discussed careers at NASA and answered questions during the visit, which was arranged by Dr. Justin Starr, CCAC endowed professor of advanced technologies. Starr told a reporter the reason why Fincke's connection to the area and CCAC is so meaningful:

"When our kids see someone from Pittsburgh, they just connect with that," he said. "So when they see he could go to space, be born in Pittsburgh, and that's his career path, our students see that they can do anything."

To see the local WTAE-TV news coverage and learn more about the visit, click here.