ABOVE: STARS alumnus Jessica Nagasako poses outside Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope headquarters in 2018.
As a high school student, Jessica Nagasako had always taken an interest in space and astronomy. So when her robotics instructor at McKinley High School recommended she sign up for the PISCES STARS program in 2018, she immediately applied and was later selected to participate. During the program, Jessica visited the summit of Maunakea where she caught a glimpse of the Milky Way Galaxy and took a tour inside the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. The experience was a pivotal moment for the young sophomore—an experience that would shape her future for years to come and bring her back to the summit of Maunakea.
“After going through the STARS program and visiting the telescopes, I knew I wanted a physics and astronomy-like job where I could see that view of the Milky Way Galaxy again,” Jessica said.
Jessica became more invested in exploring the sciences after attending STARS and was eager to do research in college. She landed an internship in astro-seismology at the UH Institute for Astronomy testing detection limits of the All-Sky Automated Survey for Supernovae (ASAS-SN). In late 2023, she presented her research at the 241st meeting of the AAS in Seattle and the 2023 CUWiP Conference at Cornell University. That experience further confirmed her desire to work as an astronomer. She went on to take an observational astronomy course where she captured an image of the Flame Nebula, NGC 2024, using the C. E. K. Mees Observatory.

Jessica Nagasako poses with family during her graduation ceremony at the University of Rochester in the spring of 2024.
In the spring of 2024, Jessica graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.A. in Physics and Astronomy, and a Minor in Philosophy of Science. Following graduation she also presented physics education research at the 243rd AAS meeting in New Orleans, The American Physical Society’s March Meeting in Minnesota, and the American Association of Physics Teachers Summer Meeting in Boston.
“It was really inspiring to travel the U.S., give these presentations and meet people in the physics and astronomy community,” she said.
Jessica’s journey has now come full circle. This summer, she was hired as a Remote Observer at Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) on the Big Island. Jessica will be guiding remote observations of the stars from Maunakea—the job she dreamed about during her first visit to the summit.
“I’m excited. I really thank my family and mentors for their support as well as FIRST Robotics and the STARS program for introducing me to CFHT for the first time. I have a photo from STARS of me posing in front of CFHT, and now that I’m working here I get to go back and recreate that picture as an employee,” Jessica said.
CFHT has been a long-time partner of the STARS program, providing presentations, hands-on activities, and summit tours of their telescope.
“We were thrilled to hear Jessica’s success story and the impact the STARS program had on her,” said PISCES Communications Officer and STARS Program Coordinator Chris Yoakum. “It’s rewarding to know that STARS is inspiring young women in STEM studies and careers, and connecting them with local opportunities on the Big Island.”
Looking back, Jessica had this advice for her younger self and other aspiring young women like her: “You don’t need to be perfect and constantly on your game. Just being curious and exploring your interests can take you far and open doors to new opportunities. Exploring and taking life one step at a time really helped me while I was still in high school.”
Jessica said she still keeps in touch with fellow students of the STARS program and they support one another in their academic and career successes. One of the most memorable aspects of the program for her has been the camaraderie.
“We congratulate Jessica on her new position and for all the hard work and dedication she’s put in to fulfill her dream,” Chris said. “We’re excited to find out where her focus on the stars takes her.”