2026 Region II Student Conference 26 March 2026 – 27 March 2026 University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
Abstract Submissions Open | Registration Opens January 2026
Submit an Abstract Student Conference Rules
Conference Host: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Conference Venue: TBD
Conference Dates: 26–27 March 2026 (Tentative)
Take part in AIAA’s Regional Student Conference by presenting your research in a formal technical meeting, exchange ideas, and discuss programs with students from other universities in your region.
Please note: A university student in good standing at their institution who is also an AIAA student member is eligible to submit a paper to the Regional Student Conference. The submitting and presenting author(s) must be AIAA student members. Any student may attend the Regional Student Conference but may be subjected to a higher registration fee if they are not AIAA members. Please click here for more information to join as an AIAA Student Member.
You must be attending a college/university in Region II to participate in the Region II Student Conference.
Region II includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Additionally, it includes students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place winners for each category.
Refer to the Student Conferences webpage for conference rules and FAQs.
Abstract Submissions are open
All papers submitted to the Student Regional Conferences must follow the AIAA Meeting Paper format.
All Region II papers must be approved by the AIAA Student Branch Faculty Advisor. The student author will verify during their abstract and final paper submission that they have gotten approval from their AIAA Student Branch Faculty Advisor.
- Abstract Deadline: January 2026
- Manuscript Deadline: February 2026
The conference’s three categories—Undergraduate, Graduate, and Undergraduate Team— each have three prizes that are funded by the AIAA Foundation. The prizes are as follows:
Prizes
- First place: $500
- Second Place: $300
- Third Place: $250
Region II sponsors additional categories for this student conference. The prizes are as follows:
Freshman/Sophomore Open Topic Competition
- First place: $125
- Second place: $75
- Third place: $50
Outstanding Student Branch Activity
- First place: $200
- Second place: $100
- Third place: $50
AIAA Foundation Categories:
Undergraduate Category
For the undergraduate student category, no more than two student authors may prepare and/or present a paper at any AIAA student competition. Topics submitted may not be the same or a part of any project involving more than two students. Papers prepared jointly by an undergraduate and Master’s student will be scored in the Graduate category.
Graduate Category
For the Graduate student category, no more than two student authors may prepare and/or present a paper at any AIAA student competition. Topics submitted may not be the same or a part of any project involving more than two students. Papers prepared jointly by an undergraduate and Master’s student will be scored in the Graduate category.
Undergraduate Team Category
The Undergraduate Team paper can have 3 to 10 total student authors (undergraduates only), and one listed graduate student or one listed faculty advisor.
For a complete list of AIAA Foundation category rules please visit the rules document .
Region II Categories:
Outstanding Student Branch Activity
The Outstanding Student Branch Activity category allows AIAA student branches to share the details of their most outstanding activity during the last 12 months. Only one paper should be submitted for each student branch. For this category a branch should submit a 1-page talking-paper and prepare a 10-minute presentation.
- The Outstanding Student Branch Activity category is open to all student members.
- This category requires a one page talking paper.
- The presentation of work will be limited to 10 minutes.
Freshman & Sophomore Open Topic Category
The Freshman & Sophomore Open Topic category provides students an opportunity to experience participating in the paper competition without requiring the submissions to be held to the level of depth of the technical paper competition.
Freshman and Sophomore students are welcome to submit their work in the technical paper competition instead if they feel that their work is better suited for that category.
- The Open Topic category is open only to first and second year college students.
- Paper submissions need to follow the same formatting guidelines as the technical paper categories. (Submitting Documents).
- The presentation of work will follow the same guidelines as the technical paper categories .
- No more than two student authors may prepare and/or present a paper in this category.
- Any engineering related topic will be acceptable for this category, including aerospace historical topics.
Agenda coming soon.
Sponsored By
Contact AIAA Student Programs at [email protected].