Kick Start your Aerospace Career: Join the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship

Are you a Black or African-American undergraduate student interested in pursuing a career in aerospace? The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is now accepting applications for the Class of 2025.

This comprehensive program is designed to celebrate and support Black Excellence in Aerospace, providing opportunities for students interested in aviation, space, engineering, science, business, policy, or journalism.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Fellowship:

•  you must be Black or African-American,
• a current student pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree or in any year of an Associates Degree program,
• a US Citizen or permanent resident,
• and seeking your first paid summer internship in aerospace.

Preparation:

• Prepare an up-to-date, one-page resume in PDF format,
• and submit your latest school transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted).
• Follow the naming format for your files provided in the application guidelines: 2025PGSF_Lastname_Firstname_Resume.pdf

Make sure you are listing everything that might make you a valuable teammate at an aerospace company – which very likely includes your clubs, side-hustles, and other projects in addition to your coursework and any past jobs or internships.

• Request two letters of recommendation from individuals who know you well. One letter should focus on your skills and potential in your chosen field, and the other on your character and personal qualities. Letters should be submitted by the application deadline. If you never asked for a Letter of Recommendation before, we have prepared a downloadable PDF guide to help you!
• Rather than applying to specific openings at companies, the Fellowship program matches students with paid summer internships at selected host companies that align with their interests and skills.Want some advice about how to think about what host company might be right for you? Our alumni have you covered! Please check out this Guide to Selecting Host Companies.
• Share Your Thoughts with Us in an Essay. Write a 500-750 word essay responding to one of the provided prompts. Emphasize your professional and academic interests, character, critical thinking abilities, and communication skills. Submit the essay in PDF format following the naming convention: 2025PGSF_Lastname_Firstname_Essay.pdf.  Need a little bit of help in crafting your essays? Our alumni have you covered! Please check out this Guide to Creating Essays.
• Flex Your Creative Muscles with a Multimedia Piece. Create a multimedia piece in response to a prompt from the website that reflects your personality, creativity, and way of thinking. Ensure the submission is accessible, relevant to the prompt, and showcases your unique style. Keep the file size below 250 MB.

Deadline:

Apply by October 1, 2024

If you need guidance or support throughout the application process, join the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Applicant Discord for assistance.