The Devoted Graduate
Bauer College Senior Shares his Journey from the U.S. Air Force to NASA
Finance senior Alex Olley has always aimed for the stars.
After graduating this semester with a near perfect GPA, Olley will start a career in contract management at NASA, but reaching these heights didn’t happen overnight.
Olley grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina and graduated from high school in 2016. Shortly after, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, and served for six years in North Carolina, New Jersey and South Korea. Later, Olley’s dreams of working for NASA brought him to the C. T. Bauer College of Business, with his eyes set on the Johnson Space Center.
At Bauer College, Olley hit the ball running, getting involved with the Emerging Leaders Academic Success Program (ELASP) and the Ted Bauer Undergraduate Business Scholarship (TBUBS). He credits his decision to get involved as what transformed his college experience.
“ELASP has really helped me make connections,” Olley said. “I was very introverted before I came here. Director of Student Success Whitney Johnson has also helped me out so many times and been there for me any time I had an academic question.”
In addition to classes and student organizations, Olley completed two NASA internships, all while running his own thriving YouTube channel. During busy days and nights, he turned to a picture of his mother for inspiration.
“The thing that keeps me most motivated is my mom,” he said. “When she had my older sister, she dropped out of high school. I remember her going back to get her GED when I was in middle school and helping her study for it. It was motivational to see, and a testament that it's never too late to do anything.”
Olley credits the perseverance that his mother taught him to his personal success and is something that he believes is important to share with others.
“Even though I didn't take the traditional path of going to college right after high school, it wasn’t too late to get my degree, and here I am getting it,” he said. “It’s very important to actually believe in yourself and know that you can get that dream job. Just don't give up.”
After Commencement, Olley plans to spend a few weeks traveling and making films before starting his full-time role with NASA in the spring.
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