Rising Stars in Aerospace
The mission of AIAA Rising Stars in Aerospace is to provide opportunities for underrepresented university students who have an interest in or are pursuing a degree in aerospace to attend an AIAA forum or event, make connections, and form lifelong relationships with colleagues in industry, academia, and government. This program will be available to undergraduate students only.
Applications
Applications open 1 February 2025 – 31 March 2025, 11:59 p.m. US ET.
To be eligible to participate in the AIAA Rising Stars program, student applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements below:
- Must be studying at an accredited college/university in the 50 U.S. states or one of its dependent territories
- Undergraduate students only
- If applying to the ASCEND event, applicants who are younger than 21 years of age will need to be accompanied by a companion 21 years or old
A completed application requires the following information from all applicants
- Basic information about you
- Your university and degree information
- A resume or CV (optional, to help judges learn more about your background)
- Answers to three short-answer essay questions
Applications take an average of 30 minutes to complete.
Students selected for a Rising Stars scholarship will receive the following, covered by the AIAA Rising Stars Program:
- Roundtrip coach airfare
- Conference registration (includes access to all networking events)
- Hotel room for the duration of the conference in host hotel
- A customized schedule
- Special small-group meetings with aerospace industry leaders
- The opportunity to make new friends that will last a lifetime
Upcoming Events
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2025 AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition (AIAA AVIATION Forum)
21 July 2025 - 25 July 2025
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
The AIAA AVIATION Forum is the only aviation event that covers the entire integrated spectrum of aviation business, research, development, and technology. -
2025 ASCEND (Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery)
22 July 2025 - 24 July 2025
Las Vegas, Nevada
Join us 22–24 July 2025 to access inspiring sessions and premium content, develop valuable business leads, and make meaningful connections. More details on 2025 ASCEND will be available soon. -
2026 AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (AIAA SciTech Forum)
12 January 2026 - 16 January 2026
Orlando, Florida, USA
The AIAA SciTech Forum program covers the science, technologies, and policies that are shaping the future of aerospace. The forum is the largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology in the world.
AIAA SciTech Rising Stars mingling at the Awards Recognition Ceremony. Orlando, FL, January 2025.
AIAA SciTech Rising Stars enjoying their time at the conference. Orlando, FL, January 2025.
The Rising Stars in Aerospace program is made possible by
SciTech 2025 Rising Stars
Testimonials
Sabrina Nicacio Gomes, ASCEND 2023
“Attending ASCEND gave me deep insight into the post-undergraduate options within the space industry. Whether that is graduate school or industry, I learned endless valuable advice and feel better prepared for the future!”
–Sabrina Nicacio Gomes, ASCEND 2023 Diversity Scholar
Duha Bader 2022
“The AIAA Diversity Scholars Program was truly a life-changing experience. I got to meet with multiple industry leaders and had the opportunity to listen to their journeys navigating the aerospace field as well as the projects they're working on. Their stories have inspired me to take a closer look at the projects I'm working on and realize the benefits it has on our aerospace community. The Diversity Scholars Program opens up the doors of networking and opportunity and the connections made are definitely ones that will last a lifetime. -Duha Bader, 2022 Diversity Scholar ”
–Duha Bader
2024 AVIATION + ASCEND