Rising Stars in Aerospace
The mission of AIAA Rising Stars in Aerospace, formerly known as the Diversity Scholars Program, is to provide opportunities for underrepresented minority 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. Funding preference will be given to females, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and underrepresented ethnic and racial minorities, which include American Indian or Alaska Native, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Mixed Race, or Asian. Beginning in the calendar year 2025 with the AIAA SciTech Forum, this program will be available to undergraduate students only.
Watch Now
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 you previously attended an in-person event as a Diversity Scholar or as a participant in the International Student Conference, you are ineligible to apply
- 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
- Gender identity
- Racial or ethnic identification
- Age
- 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 an AIAA Diversity Scholarship will receive the following, covered by the Diversity Scholarship 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
AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher speaks with SciTech Diversity Scholars. Orlando, FL, January 2024.
AIAA SciTech Diversity Scholars speak with Corporate Partner, the Boeing Co. about opportunities for students. Orlando, Fl, January 2024
The Rising Stars in Aerospace program is made possible by
SciTech 2024 Diversity Scholars
Testimonials
Sabrina Nicacio Gomes, ASCEND 2023 Diversity Scholar
“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 Diversity Scholar
“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 Diversity Scholars