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Two undergraduate students in the��Paul M. Rady Department of Mechanical Engineering have solidified themselves amongst the future leaders of aerospace.

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First-year mechanical engineering student and 2025 Patti Grace Smith Fellow Caleb Woldemichael at Lockheed Martin.

Third-year student�� and first-year student�� were selected as Patti Grace Smith Fellows. The prestigious program is designed to help accelerate the careers of high-achieving Black students across the nation–a population that statistically remains underrepresented throughout the aerospace industry.

This year’s class of fellows featured 176 top-rated students from twenty-four different universities. Recipients of the award receive networking opportunities across the industry, personalized mentorship, a valuable summer internship at one of America’s leading aerospace companies and their share of nearly $500,000 in total scholarships.

“I’m honored to be a Patti Grace Smith Fellow,” said Woldemichael. “Breaking into aerospace can feel impossible and I definitely know what it’s like to be the only person of color in a room full of STEM students. This fellowship gives us a chance to get technical, hands-on experience and connect with other successful fellows throughout the industry.”

The Patti Grace Fellowship selection process is often described as one of the most rigorous in the country. Multiple rounds of screening and interviews with the nation’s most sought after aerospace employers ensures the candidates exhibit extraordinary professional aptitude and proven leadership qualities.��

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Third-year mechanical engineering student Asaiah Gifford during a Summer Program for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) presentation.

The program’s applicant pool nearly doubled this year, as well, creating an even more competitive landscape than ever before. But Gifford believes the difficulty is what made the process memorable and inspiring.

“During one of my interviews I spoke with one of the fellows from a past class,” she said. “I was able to ask her a few questions about the fellowship and the difference it can make in the industry. She explained the hardships of being a Black engineer and shared how the program helped her push forward. Hearing that really just excited me and helped me have fun with this whole process.”

In 1963, Patti Grace Smith was a plaintiff in a landmark Supreme Court case that integrated public schools in Alabama. She would later go on to have an illustrious aerospace career, leading the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and earning the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, one of the highest honors awarded to aerospace professionals.

Her perseverance helped break barriers and usher in a new era of educational inclusivity, a legacy that today’s fellows are looking to uphold.

“There have been times where I’ve wondered if I’m good enough. I know what it’s like and I’m only a freshman, so I know I will face more difficulties,” said Woldemichael. “I hope future engineers can see this fellowship and push past this lack of representation, too.”

“This fellowship has taught me that being multifaceted is not a hindrance,” Gifford added. “A lot of people in engineering tend to prioritize only technical expertise, but the person matters, too. The Patti Grace Fellowship cares about how engineering impacts people, and I hope to expand on that going forward.”