The Alaska Space Grant Program allowed me to go to NASA Langley VA to pursue linked drone research on a team of 12 students from across the US. At the academy, I was exposed to work involving different types of engineering disciplines and worked under an incredible adviser, Liz Ward, who gave me invaluable mentoring, both for my professional life as well as personal. I also learned a lot about leadership from Alex Denis, my roommate and our team lead. I am now definitely more interested in drone research but am also way more confident in my own engineering, problem-solving, and leadership abilities that will definitely help in whatever career path I feel called to.

The Alaska Space Grant Program has supported me through their undergraduate scholarship program and multiple undergraduate research fellowships which helped make becoming a NASA aerospace engineer possible. The Alaska Space Grant Program supported me during my first NASA experience as a student researcher with the 2014 Langley Aeronautics Academy. This was pivotal in my professional development, and helped lead to a co-op position at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. These opportunities made it possible to become a NASA civil servant. Additionally, the Alaska space Grant Program supported me with an undergraduate research fellowship that allowed me to collaborate with NASA professionals while attending the University of Alaska. Thank you!