Six Promising Students Awarded Aerospace Scholarships to Pursue STEM Studies

In support of the company’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the space sector and strengthening the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline, The Aerospace Corporation awarded scholarships to six students in the regions of its major offices: El Segundo, Calif.; Huntsville, Ala.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Chantilly, Va.; and Hill, Utah.

Each year, the Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship and up to five Aerospace Future STEM Leaders Scholarships are granted to high achieving students from underrepresented populations who are studying STEM disciplines.

Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship

Bryan Ovidio Chun is the recipient of this year’s Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship. It includes a $10,000 grant per year, renewable for four years, as well as a paid internship at Aerospace. Chun is the 2022 valedictorian for Montebello High School in Montebello, Calif. He plans to continue his studies this fall in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Through his passion, academic excellence and dedication to serving others, Bryan is the type of promising young technical leader our nation will rely on,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO. “We are proud to support Bryan and all of our scholarship recipients as they continue their academic journeys, and we remain committed to ensuring students from all backgrounds have opportunities to pursue careers in STEM fields and shape the future of space.”

Chun’s interest in space began in third grade when he read a book about the planet Neptune, which led to an academic STEM pursuit. He has excelled in rigorous Advanced Placement (AP) courses to become an AP Scholar and helped launch a dual-enrollment program collaboration with a local community college, opening the door to academic opportunities for not only himself, but his peers. His passion for service was exemplified in his participation at local food distribution drives, school beautification projects, and beach cleanup efforts. Chun will be a first-generation college student and hopes to inspire the next generation of STEM leaders through future potential discoveries in astronomy.

Aerospace Future STEM Leaders Scholarship

The Aerospace Future STEM Leaders Scholarship provides professional mentorship from Aerospace employees throughout each recipient’s senior year of high school, as well as a one-time $5,000 scholarship for each recipient’s public or private four-year college or university.

Francisco “Franny” Galvan is a rising junior at Eldorado High School in Albuquerque, N.M. While maintaining an impressively high GPA with Honors, AP, and taking classes at the University of New Mexico, Franny also helps and supports his classmates by ensuring that they all feel included and welcomed. His interests and hobbies include photography, fashion, and coding. He aspires to pursue a career in computer science, robotics, or biomedical engineering, while integrating his passion for art and design.

Pyper Aldrich is a rising senior at Thomas B. Doherty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. She was elected student body president of her student council and takes part in the National Honors Society, Link Crew, SkillsUSA, Robotics, Science Olympiad, Aerospace Club, and the CONRAD Challenge. She is also on her school’s varsity softball team. She plans to study aerospace engineering and atmospheric environmental science in college.

Misbahou Jalloh is a rising senior at Osbourn Park High School in Manassas, Va. He is currently taking physics courses with George Mason University through dual enrollment. He aspires to become a quantum physicist after he graduates high school.

Rianna Cassibry is a rising senior at James Clemens High School in Madison, Ala. She is a current officer of the Society of Women Engineers at her school and mentors in the Girls Who Code Club at Heritage Elementary School. She is interested in pursuing mechanical engineering as a career path. Brighton Farr is a rising senior at the DaVinci Academy of Science and the Arts in Ogden, Utah. He is excited to take college courses and work toward earning a degree in mechanical engineering starting in the fall of 2022. Both the Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship and Aerospace Future STEM Leaders Scholarship are funded through the Aerospace STEM Endowment Fund, which is sustained solely through employee and trustee donations, charitable organizations, and estate gifts.

About The Aerospace Corporation The Aerospace Corporation is a national nonprofit corporation that operates a federally funded research and development center and has more than 4,500 employees. With major locations in El Segundo, Calif.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the Washington, D.C., region, Aerospace addresses complex problems across the space enterprise and other areas of national and international significance through agility, innovation, and objective technical leadership. For more information, visit www.aerospace.org. Follow us on Twitter: @AerospaceCorp.