Tag: AIAA News

Three Outstanding Teachers Honored with 2026 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington and Reston, Va. (March 23, 2026) – Challenger Center and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announce Laurie Hamzik, Kenji Nomura, and Lillian Reynolds as the winners of the 2026 Trailblazing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Educator Award. Each teacher and their respective schools will be awarded $5,000. Additionally, each teacher will receive free access to up to $3,000 in Challenger Center STEM programming and a trip to NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida, provided by Blue Origin’s Club for the Future.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of the Trailblazing STEM Educator Award. AIAA and Challenger Center launched this prestigious award to celebrate K-12 educators who go above and beyond to inspire the next generation of explorers and innovators in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Each year, nominations for this award from across the country demonstrate the incredible creative efforts teachers make every day to empower students in STEM, both in and out of the classroom.

The three recipients of the 2026 award are:

Laurie Hamzik
Middle school science teacher at Saint Ambrose Catholic School (Brunswick, Ohio)
For over 35 years, Laurie Hamzik has helped students gain STEM experience beyond the classroom. She helps her students participate in a variety of STEM events throughout the year, including St. Ambrose School science fairs, the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair, Ohio State Science Days, and Young Astronaut Day. She regularly organizes tours of NASA Glenn Research Center, and provided insight on NASA’s “Sound Off Engineering Design Challenge” before the activity went nationwide in 2023. Hamzik has received the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Crystal Apple Award and the 2024 Ohio Academy of Science’s The Governor’s Thomas Edison Award for STEM Education and Student Research.

Kenji Nomura
STEM educator at Virginia Space Flight Academy (Wallops Island, Virginia)
Kenji Nomura is a STEM educator dedicated to expanding access to hands-on STEM learning and helping students see a future for themselves in the aerospace industry. With experience teaching math, astronomy, robotics, computer science, and engineering, Nomura engages students through project-based experiences that build curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving skills. An Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow supporting NASA Science Activation, Nomura creates makerspaces and engineering projects – from building data loggers to launching rockets and analyzing flight data – to help his students see themselves as explorers, innovators, and future STEM professionals.

Lillian Reynolds
Middle school STEM teacher at Voyager Public Charter School (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Lillian Reynolds connects STEM learning to real-world space exploration by building lessons around current events and research. Selected for NASA’s Astronomy Activation Ambassador program and the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Teacher Innovator Institute, Reynolds brings cutting-edge space science into the classroom. Her students tackle projects grounded in real science – from rover and solar design to analyzing Mars landing sites – and participate in initiatives such as the International Astronomical Union’s Exoplanet Naming Campaign, Challenger Center missions, and NASA’s TechRise Challenge, helping them see themselves as capable problem-solvers and future innovators.

“Great STEM educators do more than teach concepts. They spark curiosity and help students see themselves as part of humanity’s future of discovery,” said Mike Kincaid, President and Executive Director of Challenger Center. “Laurie Hamzik, Kenji Nomura, and Lillian Reynolds each bring extraordinary creativity, dedication, and real-world relevance to their classrooms. Through hands-on learning and authentic connections to science and space exploration, they are inspiring students to ask big questions, solve complex problems, and imagine the role they can play in shaping the future. We are proud to celebrate their impact and partner with AIAA to recognize educators who are truly trailblazing in STEM education.”

“This year’s Trailblazing STEM Educator Award winners exemplify what it means to go above and beyond. They are breaking barriers to access, connecting students to real careers in aerospace, and giving young people the confidence to envision themselves as the scientists and engineers our industry needs,” said Clay Mowry, AIAA CEO. “AIAA is thrilled to partner with Challenger Center to put meaningful resources behind their remarkable work. These three educators are building the STEM-literate workforce that will power the next era of aerospace innovation, and we are honored to support them.”

The 2026 Trailblazing STEM Educator Award recognizes the achievements and commitment of these educators and highlights the important role our teachers play in preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and explorers. Through this partnership, Challenger Center and AIAA remain committed to supporting teachers who bring innovative STEM experiences to students and inspire young people across the country to pursue discovery, exploration, and problem-solving in the classroom and beyond.

Media Contacts
Julia Austin, Challenger Center, [email protected], 202-827-1575
Rebecca Gray, AIAA, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About Challenger Center
As a leader in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, Challenger Center provides hundreds of thousands of students annually with experiential education programs that engage students in hands-on learning opportunities. These programs, delivered in Challenger Learning Centers and classrooms, strengthen knowledge in STEM subjects and inspire students to pursue careers in these important fields. Challenger Center was created by the Challenger families to honor the crew of shuttle flight STS-51L. For more information about Challenger Center, please visit www.challenger.org or connect on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

About AIAA Foundation
The AIAA Foundation inspires and supports the next generation of aerospace professionals. From classroom to career, the AIAA Foundation enables innovative K-12 and university programming, including STEM classroom grants, scholarships, conferences, and hands-on competitions. Founded in 1996, the AIAA Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt educational organization connected to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Predicting Hypersonic Boundary-Layer Transition on Complex Geometries Virtual Collection Published

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Reliable prediction and control of boundary-layer transition are crucial to the design and safe operation of hypersonic vehicles, such as reusable launch and re-entry vehicles, missile interceptors, and missiles for time-critical strike. This virtual collection comprises experimental and numerical research on hypersonic laminar-turbulent transition among different research groups as part of a coordinated international effort.

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Advancing the Field: Luminary Cloud Announced New Physics AI Models at AIAA SciTech Forum

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Luminary Cloud, an AIAA Corporate Member, announced the release of three new physics AI defense models designed to dramatically expedite U.S. defense technology development while at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026. “The new physics AI models are intended to complement simulation technology, and instead of giving execution times in hours, they will provide answers in less than a second,” said Juan Alonso, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder, Luminary Cloud. “This is a significant acceleration of engineering workflows, which is made possible by the very large data sets we are able to create with GPU-native physics solvers and by the revolution in Physics AI methods.”

Artemis Moon Missions Take Center Stage at Wichita Engineers Week Banquet

FROM THE INSTITUTE
It’s the first mission to bring humans to the moon in more than fifty years, and Alicia Dwyer Cianciolo is leading a team that will ensure the astronauts with the Artemis program land safely and precisely on the moon’s surface. Cianciolo, an AIAA Associate Fellow, spoke with engineers representing a number of societies at the annual Wichita Council of Engineering Societies Engineers Week Banquet in February. The speech detailed the Artemis project, the various missions, and her team’s role in setting the requirements and ensuring the human landing systems meet those requirements.

Faculty Advisor Spotlight: Michael Denn, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Michael Denn, an Instructor of Mechanical Mechatronics Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) who serves as the faculty advisor for the AIAA SIUE Student Branch, was one of six faculty advisors selected to receive the 2025 AIAA Faculty Advisor Award. Denn was recognized for his outstanding and dedicated efforts in establishing and guiding the student branch. He played a pivotal role in supporting the formation process and mentoring the organization through its inaugural semester, laying a strong foundation for long-term success.

AIAA Releases Special Collection Celebrating 100 Years of Rocketry

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Today marks the 100th anniversary of Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s first liquid-fueled rocket test in a field in Auburn, Massachusetts. To commemorate the event that effectively launched the space age, AIAA released a special technical collection drawn from Aerospace Research Central (ARC), “AIAA Collection: A Century of Rocketry.” ARC is AIAA’s digital library spanning more than 200,000 papers and over 90 years of aerospace scholarship and technical excellence. The centennial works will be free to access during 2026.

AIAA Celebrates 100 Years of Rocketry on Anniversary of First Rocket Launch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2026 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) released “AIAA Collection: A Century of Rocketry,” a special compilation of 100 technical papers and articles spanning 90 years of aerospace scholarship. The centennial works will be free to access during 2026. The timing of the release coincides with the 100th anniversary of Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s first liquid-fueled rocket test flight, effectively launching the space age.

The collection includes 100 papers and articles on rocket propulsion drawn from the archival journal literature of AIAA and its predecessor societies the American Interplanetary Society (AIS), American Rocket Society (ARS), and the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences (IAS), including The Bulletin of the American Interplanetary Society, Astronautics, Journal of the Aeronautical Sciences, Journal of the American Rocket Society, Jet Propulsion, Journal of the Aerospace Sciences, AIAA Journal, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, and Journal of Propulsion and Power.

“We are thrilled to honor 100 years of rocketry. Today’s modern space launch vehicles were enabled when Dr. Goddard first launched his liquid propulsion rocket from a snowy field in Auburn, Massachusetts, on March 16, 1926. Goddard’s breakthrough is as significant to space exploration as the Wright Brothers’ first flight is to the aviation industry,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.

“Our curated collection highlights the evolution of modern rocketry, bringing together influential works that trace propulsion development from its early foundations through today’s cutting-edge advancements. Together, the articles in the AIAA Collection: A Century of Rocketry reflect how generations of engineers and researchers have advanced the field while building upon the pioneering vision Goddard helped ignite,” noted Jackie O’Connor, AIAA Publications Committee Chair.

The collection was curated by Eun Kim, Systems Director, The Aerospace Corporation, an AIAA Associate Fellow, and former Associate Editor of AIAA’s Journal of Propulsion and Power (2010–2015); Joseph M. Powers, Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Concurrent Professor of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, University of Notre Dame, an AIAA Fellow, and current Editor-in-Chief of AIAA’s Journal of Propulsion and Power (since 2016); and Vigor Yang,Regents’ Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, an AIAA Fellow, former Editor-in-Chief of AIAA’s Journal of Propulsion and Power (2001–2009), vice president for publications, and member of AIAA’s executive committee (2012–2015).

Rather than focusing on historical archives of Goddard’s own work, which are maintained by other institutions, the AIAA Collection showcases the broader technical progress inspired by Goddard’s legacy through the lens of the AIAA community and its enduring body of research. Drawing from ARC’s extensive record, the series underscores AIAA’s role in documenting and advancing modern rocketry across nearly a century of innovation.

“The centennial collection reflects enduring contributions to rocket science and engineering that have inspired generations of researchers and engineers. We hope it encourages future innovators to follow in the pioneering footsteps of Goddard,” added Mowry.

Goddard is an important part of the Institute’s history. He served as a director of the American Rocket Society, one of the predecessor organizations to AIAA. The Institute placed an obelisk in 1960 at the location of Goddard’s first flight, which was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and an AIAA Historic Site in 2000.

AIAA is supporting a weeklong series of commemorative events designed to inspire a new generation of students to embrace science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The public can participate in the celebration by launching a one-fifth-scale model version of Goddard’s original rocket from Estes Rockets. A youth focused celebration was held on the original launch site on 14 March. The launch area is now the 9th hole of the municipal Pakachoag Golf Course, Auburn, Massachusetts. Other launches are set across the country by aerospace companies and participating organizations. Regardless of location, anyone can participate this week by sharing photos of their own rocket launches on social media with the hashtag #Goddard100Launch.

Additional centennial events AIAA is supporting include:

  • “Launching the Next 100 Years: Industry, Innovation & the Future of Space” lecture on Wednesday, 18 March 18, 5:30 p.m., Worchester Polytechnic Institute, Rubin Campus Center, Odeum 3rd Floor, with remarks from AIAA President Dan Hastings
  • “Goddard: Father of the Space Age,” a multimedia event on Sunday, 22 March, 4:30 p.m., at Worcester’s Hanover Theater, featuring Dr. Makenzie Lystrup, former Director of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern; Massachusetts astronaut Al Sacco Jr.; AIAA President Dan Hastings; and Maynard Okereke, host of The Hip Hop Science Show

The Goddard centennial events are supported by industry leaders and organizations including: AIAA, Aerospace Industries Association, Blue Origin, Blue Origin’s Club for the Future, Clark University, MIT, National Association of Rocketry, National Space Society, Space Foundation, Spaceport America, The Aerospace Corporation, The Space Consortium, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Virgin Galactic, Winn Properties, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

For more information: www.thefirstlaunch.org #Goddard100Launch

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With more than 33,000 individual members from 91 countries, and over 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on LinkedIn, Instagram, X/Twitter, and Facebook.

Nominations Open for Member Advancement

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Do you know an AIAA member who has made outstanding contributions to the aerospace industry? Help us shine a spotlight on their stellar leadership and contributions by nominating them for member advancement, and elevate them to an elite class of AIAA members. Full nomination criteria can be found on the AIAA Honors homepage.

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March 2026: The Goddard Centennial

FROM THE INSTITUTE
This March 16th will mark the 100th anniversary of Dr. Robert Goddard’s historic first flight of a liquid propulsion rocket, back in 1926. That flight is rocketry’s closest equivalent of the Wright Brothers’ first flight of an airplane at Kitty Hawk in 1903. And just like the similarly historic Kitty Hawk flight, Goddard’s pioneering first liquid propulsion flight opened the way to a world-changing future that all of humankind benefits from today.