Education

NASA Missions Provide New Insights into ‘Ocean Worlds’

Published

9 years ago

April 13, 2017

WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — Two veteran NASA missions are providing new details about icy, ocean-bearing moons of Jupiter and Saturn, further heightening the scientific interest of these and other “ocean worlds” in our solar system and beyond. The findings are presented in papers published Thursday by researchers with NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn and Hubble Space Telescope.

In the papers, Cassini scientists announce that a form of chemical energy that life can feed on appears to exist on Saturn’s moon Enceladus, and Hubble researchers report additional evidence of plumes erupting from Jupiter’s moon Europa.

“This is the closest we’ve come, so far, to identifying a place with some of the ingredients needed for a habitable environment,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at Headquarters in Washington. “These results demonstrate the interconnected nature of NASA’s science missions that are getting us closer to answering whether we are indeed alone or not.”

The paper from researchers with the Cassini mission, published in the journal Science, indicates hydrogen gas, which could potentially provide a chemical energy source for life, is pouring into the subsurface ocean of Enceladus from hydrothermal activity on the seafloor.

The presence of ample hydrogen in the moon’s ocean means that microbes – if any exist there – could use it to obtain energy by combining the hydrogen with carbon dioxide dissolved in the water. This chemical reaction, known as “methanogenesis” because it produces methane as a byproduct, is at the root of the tree of life on Earth, and could even have been critical to the origin of life on our planet.

Life as we know it requires three primary ingredients: liquid water; a source of energy for metabolism; and the right chemical ingredients, primarily carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur. With this finding, Cassini has shown that Enceladus – a small, icy moon a billion miles farther from the sun than Earth – has nearly all of these ingredients for habitability. Cassini has not yet shown phosphorus and sulfur are present in the ocean, but scientists suspect them to be, since the rocky core of Enceladus is thought to be chemically similar to meteorites that contain the two elements.

“Confirmation that the chemical energy for life exists within the ocean of a small moon of Saturn is an important milestone in our search for habitable worlds beyond Earth,” said Linda Spilker, Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California.

The Cassini spacecraft detected the hydrogen in the plume of gas and icy material spraying from Enceladus during its last, and deepest, dive through the plume on Oct. 28, 2015. Cassini also sampled the plume’s composition during flybys earlier in the mission. From these observations scientists have determined that nearly 98 percent of the gas in the plume is water, about 1 percent is hydrogen and the rest is a mixture of other molecules including carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia.

The measurement was made using Cassini’s Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) instrument, which sniffs gases to determine their composition. INMS was designed to sample the upper atmosphere of Saturn’s moon Titan. After Cassini’s surprising discovery of a towering plume of icy spray in 2005, emanating from hot cracks near the south pole, scientists turned its detectors toward the small moon.

Cassini wasn’t designed to detect signs of life in the Enceladus plume – indeed, scientists didn’t know the plume existed until after the spacecraft arrived at Saturn.

“Although we can’t detect life, we’ve found that there’s a food source there for it. It would be like a candy store for microbes,” said Hunter Waite, lead author of the Cassini study.

The new findings are an independent line of evidence that hydrothermal activity is taking place in the Enceladus ocean. Previous results, published in March 2015, suggested hot water is interacting with rock beneath the sea; the new findings support that conclusion and add that the rock appears to be reacting chemically to produce the hydrogen.

The paper detailing new Hubble Space Telescope findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, reports on observations of Europa from 2016 in which a probable plume of material was seen erupting from the moon’s surface at the same location where Hubble saw evidence of a plume in 2014. These images bolster evidence that the Europa plumes could be a real phenomenon, flaring up intermittently in the same region on the moon’s surface.

The newly imaged plume rises about 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Europa’s surface, while the one observed in 2014 was estimated to be about 30 miles (50 kilometers) high. Both correspond to the location of an unusually warm region that contains features that appear to be cracks in the moon’s icy crust, seen in the late 1990s by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft. Researchers speculate that, like Enceladus, this could be evidence of water erupting from the moon’s interior.

“The plumes on Enceladus are associated with hotter regions, so after Hubble imaged this new plume-like feature on Europa, we looked at that location on the Galileo thermal map. We discovered that Europa’s plume candidate is sitting right on the thermal anomaly,” said William Sparks of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Sparks led the Hubble plume studies in both 2014 and 2016.

The researchers say if the plumes and the warm spot are linked, it could mean water being vented from beneath the moon’s icy crust is warming the surrounding surface. Another idea is that water ejected by the plume falls onto the surface as a fine mist, changing the structure of the surface grains and allowing them to retain heat longer than the surrounding landscape.

For both the 2014 and 2016 observations, the team used Hubble’s Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) to spot the plumes in ultraviolet light. As Europa passes in front of Jupiter, any atmospheric features around the edge of the moon block some of Jupiter’s light, allowing STIS to see the features in silhouette. Sparks and his team are continuing to use Hubble to monitor Europa for additional examples of plume candidates and hope to determine the frequency with which they appear.

NASA’s future exploration of ocean worlds is enabled by Hubble’s monitoring of Europa’s putative plume activity and Cassini’s long-term investigation of the Enceladus plume. In particular, both investigations are laying the groundwork for NASA’s Europa Clipper mission, which is planned for launch in the 2020s.

“If there are plumes on Europa, as we now strongly suspect, with the Europa Clipper we will be ready for them,” said Jim Green, Director of Planetary Science, at NASA Headquarters.

Hubble’s identification of a site which appears to have persistent, intermittent plume activity provides a tempting target for the Europa mission to investigate with its powerful suite of science instruments. In addition, some of Sparks’ co-authors on the Hubble Europa studies are preparing a powerful ultraviolet camera to fly on Europa Clipper that will make similar measurements to Hubble’s, but from thousands of times closer. And several members of the Cassini INMS team are developing an exquisitely sensitive, next-generation version of their instrument for flight on Europa Clipper.

SOURCES | NASA

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Education

Dr. Jessica Henlon Honored During Women’s History Month for Leadership in Education, Community and the Arts

Published

1 month ago

March 28, 2026

Willie David

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — During Women’s History Month, leaders across the United States are recognized for their contributions to progress, equity and community empowerment. Among them, Florida National News (FNN) recognized Dr. Jessica Henlon, an educational psychologist, executive consultant, and systems builder known for blending strategy, creativity, and community impact in everything she does.

With more than 26 years of experience in student, youth, family and talent development, Dr. Henlon’s professional journey bridges higher education, civic leadership and the creative arts. Her work focuses on designing inclusive systems that foster belonging, equity and purpose — from the classroom to the stage, and from policy development to podcast conversations.

Founder and Principal: Dr. Jessica Henlon Consulting Co.

Dr. Henlon is the Founder and Principal of Dr. Jessica Henlon Consulting Co., a consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and organizations build cultures of belonging through strategic leadership and storytelling.

Through her company, she has delivered keynote presentations and leadership workshops for organizations including Capella University, the Parikh Giving Alliance and American InterContinental University in Atlanta.

At American InterContinental University, Dr. Henlon presented research on campus belonging and student retention, while at Capella University she served as a panelist during the Virtual Professional Resource Conference discussing careers in applied psychology.

Her presentations, including “Mental Wealth: Wellness Without the Woo” and “Events with Purpose: Student Engagement That Sticks,” have reached audiences across education, business and the arts. She regularly facilitates sessions on student motivation, culturally relevant engagement, crisis leadership and inclusive program design.

Regional Director of Student Success, Valencia College

Dr. Henlon currently serves as Regional Director of Student Success for the West Region at Valencia College, where she leads student success initiatives across three campuses.

In this role, she oversees a cohort-based coaching model aligned with meta-majors, integrating academic advising, career development and institutional redesign strategies. Her leadership has contributed to record-breaking student engagement during early registration events, helping students access resources and remain on track toward their academic goals.

In January 2026, she co-presented at the NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference, representing Valencia College in a session titled “From Silos to Synergy: A Collegewide Approach to Student Success Coaching.” The presentation highlighted how centralized coaching structures and cross-functional partnerships strengthen student outcomes.

Dr. Henlon also contributes to campus well-being through her service on Valencia College’s Care and Concern Committee and Behavior Assessment Team (BAT), supporting proactive student support and campus safety initiatives.

24 Years of Leadership at Full Sail University

Prior to joining Valencia College, Dr. Henlon spent 24 years at Full Sail University, serving in leadership roles including Director of Student Development and Director of Academic Advising.

In 2018, she founded the Student Development Department, which included programs for:

Care & Concern support services
Community involvement and volunteerism
Co-curricular student engagement
Leadership development initiatives

She also launched the First-Generation College Student Program and helped establish more than 40 student organizations.

Under her leadership, participation in campus and virtual programming surpassed 60 percent of the student population.

Dr. Henlon also led student conduct and crisis intervention initiatives, facilitated Title IX-related hearings, and co-authored institutional policies focused on student wellness, inclusion and success.

As Chair of the President’s Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Social Impact Committee in 2024 and 2025, she spearheaded cross-campus initiatives connecting faculty, staff, students and alumni.

Among the committee’s notable community projects was a collaboration with the Wells’Built Museum of African American History and Culture, where Full Sail students restored historic images of the Tuskegee Airmen, helping preserve local Black history while expanding student learning opportunities.

Creative Leadership:
Fierce Entertainment and Orlando International Fashion Week

Dr. Henlon’s influence also extends into arts and culture through her involvement with Fierce Entertainment and Orlando International Fashion Week (OIFW).

OIFW is a nonprofit organization that hosts biannual fashion showcases and cultural events aimed at strengthening Florida’s creative economy while promoting international tourism and multicultural representation in fashion.

Through these initiatives, Dr. Henlon has helped support programs that highlight:

Emerging designers
Student creative talent
Multicultural representation in fashion and media

She also co-hosts the “Fierce Entertainment Live” podcast alongside Rob Henlon and Starr Dalton, a platform dedicated to elevating diverse creators and civic voices.

Her community involvement includes judging the Miss Winter Park Scholarship Competition, a preliminary event to Miss America, and supporting community cultural events such as Orlando Carnival Downtown.

Fierce Entertainment’s work has also been recognized locally, with site visits and community engagement initiatives supported by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

Academic Credentials and Leadership Development

Dr. Henlon holds:

PhD in Educational Psychology
Master’s degree in Counseling with a specialization in School Counseling
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology

Her doctoral dissertation examined virtual learning experiences of first-generation college students, focusing on how digital communities support motivation and persistence.

Her professional development credentials include:

Harvard ManageMentor certification
Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) training
Behavioral coaching certification through Behavioral Essentials

She is also a graduate of Leadership Winter Park, Class 34, and a member of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Henlon is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Impact on Women and Future Leaders

Raised in a military family and shaped by her Panamanian and Afro-Caribbean heritage, Dr. Henlon brings cultural awareness, compassion and mentorship into every leadership role she holds.

Through her work in education, consulting and the arts, she continues to mentor young professionals, support women in leadership and champion inclusive systems that help people feel seen, valued and empowered.

Her leadership philosophy centers on radical belonging and collective empowerment, ensuring that individuals — particularly those from historically marginalized communities — have opportunities to succeed.

A Legacy of Belonging

Dr. Henlon’s voice and perspective were featured in the exhibition “A Peace of My Mind” by photographer John Noltner, hosted at the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center of Florida, where she reflected on the meaning of belonging.

“Peace means knowing that your needs are met, you have value, and you belong… so much that you strive to share that feeling with others,” Henlon said.

Key Achievements and Milestones

More than 26 years of leadership in higher education and student development
Founder of Dr. Jessica Henlon Consulting Co.
Regional Director of Student Success at Valencia College
Founded Full Sail University’s Student Development Department
Established 40+ student organizations and a First-Generation Student Program
Co-presented at NASPA Florida Drive-In Conference (2026)
Community cultural leadership with Fierce Entertainment and OIFW
National conference presenter and leadership consultant

_____________________________________________________________________________________

About the Florida National News Women’s History Month Series

Each March, Florida National News proudly celebrates Women’s History Month by highlighting the achievements, leadership, and impact of women across Florida and beyond. This special editorial series spotlights trailblazers in arts, culture, and fashion; business and entrepreneurship; education and academia; government and public service; media and communications; military and veterans; nonprofit and community leadership; philanthropy; and sports and athletics—women whose stories inspire progress and empower future generations.

Education

Mentorship Is the Best Superpower: Lessons from the NFL’s “Champion” Super Bowl Ad

Published

2 months ago

February 16, 2026

Dr. Jessica Henlon

By Dr. Jessica Henlon | Education Contributor for Florida National News

A Super Bowl Spotlight on Mentorship

During Super Bowl LX in 2026, the National Football League (NFL) aired a powerful 60-second commercial titled Champion, a heartwarming tribute to youth coaches and the lasting power of mentorship (National Football League [NFL], 2026). The spot, created by agency 72andSunny LA, features a young boy giving a fiery pep talk to an audience of superhero action figures. Spider-Man, Optimus Prime, and The Thing line up as his “team.” What makes the scene especially moving is that the boy is mimicking a real locker-room speech delivered by his coach. As his voice builds to a crescendo, he repeats the words, “I am a champion,” a message first given to him by his mentor. The ad closes with the line, “Belief is a superpower. Thank you, coaches.”

Zach Hilder, Chief Creative Officer at 72andSunny, explained, “For so many kids, volunteer coaches are the first people outside their family who truly believe in them. They teach you how to push through doubt, how to trust yourself, how to keep going when things get hard” (Conway, 2026). The message is clear: coaching and mentorship matter far beyond the game.

Social Learning in Real Time

Psychologist Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory offers a framework for understanding the ad’s message. Children often learn behaviors by observing and modeling the actions of trusted adults (Bandura, 1977). In Champion, the boy’s reenactment of his coach’s speech is a vivid example of observational learning. He does not just hear the words; he internalizes them, replays them, and applies them to his own context.

Bandura (1997) emphasized self-efficacy, one’s belief in their ability to succeed, as a vital piece of motivation and behavior. When the NFL proclaims that “belief is a superpower,” it aligns with this concept. Research shows that youth with strong self-efficacy are more likely to persevere through challenges and achieve personal goals (Tsang et al., 2012). In the ad, that belief begins with a coach who sees something in a child and says so out loud.

Mentors Spark Motivation

The ad’s message resonates beyond the football field. NFL Chief Marketing Officer Tim Ellis noted, “Great coaches don’t just build better athletes… they help inspire and build better human beings… When kids are seen, recognized, and believed in, it’s a superpower” (Fisher, 2026). The child’s affirmation, “I am a champion,” reflects what psychology calls internalized expectation. When youth absorb belief from a mentor, they are more likely to adopt those beliefs as their own (Bandura, 1997).

Recent studies affirm this dynamic. Lee et al. (2022) found that adolescents with high-quality mentoring relationships showed significantly greater self-efficacy than peers with weaker mentor bonds. Notably, younger students experienced the strongest gains in confidence. The study emphasized that early mentorship, especially for low-income youth, can powerfully boost students’ belief in themselves and their potential.

In youth sports, coach-athlete relationships have also been shown to increase confidence, motivation, and academic performance (Gould & Carson, 2008). When a trusted adult believes in a child’s capacity to succeed, it strengthens that child’s own belief system, which in turn supports resilience and goal pursuit.

Research Confirms: Mentorship Lasts

The benefits of mentorship are not temporary. A 30-year longitudinal study from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America found that mentored children were more likely to attend college and earn higher wages later in life (Bell & Petkova, 2024). Mentorship, whether from a coach, teacher, or community leader, was described as one of the most cost-effective strategies for improving educational and economic outcomes.

A recent study by Schenk et al. (2025) found that regular support from university student mentors significantly enhanced secondary school students’ autonomous motivation and engagement. Mentees reported feeling more inspired and capable of reaching their goals, attributing this to the encouragement and role modeling they received, findings that align closely with Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985; Ryan & Deci, 2000).

Beyond the Field

While Champion celebrates sports mentorship, the concept applies across domains. In my doctoral research on first-generation college students in online programs, participants consistently emphasized the role of mentors and supportive peer communities in boosting motivation and a sense of belonging (Henlon, 2025). One student shared, “Seeing someone like me succeed made me believe I could finish.” That belief, planted by a mentor or role model, is powerful.

Bandura (1977) described this as vicarious experience. When young people see others like them succeed, they begin to believe they can too. This holds true in classrooms, community programs, and on football fields.

A Call to Action

The NFL’s ad is more than a thank-you. It is a call to recognize the mentors who helped us, and to become one for someone else. Who believed in you when you needed it most? If you can, thank them. And then ask yourself how you can pass that belief on. Whether you volunteer as a mentor, coach, tutor, or simply offer encouragement to a young person in your life, your words may echo long after you say them.

As the NFL reminds us, belief is a superpower. The mentors who pass it on are the real champions.

About the Author: Dr. Jessica Henlon holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Education. She is an Education Contributor for Florida National News. Dr. Henlon can be reached at Education@FloridaNationalNews.com or book.jessicahenlon@gmail.com.

Central Florida News

Lift Orlando and Valencia College Launch Free-Tuition Scholarship for Jones High Graduates

Published

3 months ago

January 23, 2026

Dr. Jessica Henlon

By Dr. Jessica Henlon | Education Contributor for Florida National News

On January 7, 2026, Valencia College and Lift Orlando announced the launch of the Lift Scholars program, offering full tuition and fee coverage at Valencia for every graduate of Jones High School’s Class of 2026 through 2029. Whether pursuing an associate degree or short-term technical certificate, students will now have the opportunity to earn credentials without the burden of tuition.

Lift Orlando CEO Eddy Moratin called the initiative a commitment to removing obstacles: “Cost should never stand in the way of a student’s future” (Valencia College, 2026). Valencia President, Dr. Kathleen Plinske, noted that the program builds on the success of Osceola County’s Prosper initiative and affirmed that “the lives of hundreds of Jones students and their families will be transformed by today’s news” (Valencia College, 2026). Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez described the scholarship as “an extraordinary gift” that “opens doors” for students who might have otherwise seen college as out of reach (Valencia College, 2026).

The announcement was met with tears, cheers, and celebration. Perhaps no moment captured the joy more vividly than when OCPS District 5 Board member and Jones High alumna Vicki-Elaine Felder took the mic, pointing to students proclaiming: “You get a scholarship, and you get a scholarship!” On social media, she shared her pride with fellow alumni, calling the news a “wonderful opportunity for my Alma Mater JHS🧡💚🐅🎉🥳🙌🏾.”

Building on Proven Promise Programs

The Lift Scholars model joins a national movement of place-based Promise scholarships. Since Michigan’s Kalamazoo Promise launched in 2005, more than 400 similar programs have emerged nationwide. These scholarships have shown powerful results: Bartik et al. (2021) found recipients were significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college compared to similar students without aid.

Closer to home, Osceola County’s Prosper program has enrolled over 10,000 students since its launch in 2022 and helped more than 1,100 earn associate degrees through Valencia (Mead, 2025). The initiative raised Osceola’s college-going rate from one of Florida’s lowest to among its highest, a compelling model for Lift Scholars’ potential (Valencia College, 2026).

Cost Is Still the Biggest Barrier

Research consistently affirms that financial strain is the top barrier to college enrollment. A Gallup–Lumina Foundation survey found that 85% of adults who never enrolled or who left college early cited tuition and fees as a major factor (Carrasco, 2024). Removing those costs measurably boosts participation.

Even modest scholarship programs have demonstrated impact. A multi-state study by Mayer et al. (2015) showed that performance-based aid increased both persistence and five-year graduation rates. More recently, Berlanga and Corti (2025) found that scholarship recipients earned higher GPAs and graduated at significantly greater rates than peers.

A Personal Lens: Support Must Follow Access

My doctoral research explored how financial support, when paired with meaningful engagement, drives student persistence. I interviewed first-generation online learners who described how virtual co-curricular experiences boosted their motivation, belonging, and academic follow-through (Henlon, 2025). Financial access opens the door, but relationships, visibility, and mentorship sustain the journey.

A Gift That Multiplies

For Jones High families, this is more than a scholarship. It’s a public affirmation that their children’s futures matter. It’s also a community investment with long-term dividends. As Dr. Vazquez noted, this program will empower students “to pursue their goals with confidence” (Valencia College, 2026).

When students are relieved of tuition burdens, they gain freedom to explore careers in healthcare, logistics, education, or advanced manufacturing. To dream, to plan, and to persist. And when communities like Orlando come together to send a bold message of hope, everyone benefits.