Patti Grace Smith Fellowship 2027 | Paid Aerospace Internship for Black Undergraduates

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Class of 2027 is now accepting applications from talented Black undergraduate students seeking to launch their careers in the aerospace industry.

The fellowship is designed to help extraordinary students gain their first meaningful work experience in aerospace, while providing mentorship, financial support, professional connections and a supportive community of peers and industry professionals.

Students interested in aviation, space, engineering, science, business, policy, journalism and other aerospace-related fields are encouraged to apply.

About the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship celebrates and supports Black Excellence in Aerospace by helping talented undergraduate students who have not yet entered the aerospace workforce access career opportunities and professional networks.

Through the programme, Fellows can be connected with aerospace employers for paid summer internships and receive ongoing mentorship and community support. The fellowship also provides a cash grant and an annual leadership summit.

Benefits

Selected Patti Grace Smith Fellows can receive:

• Paid summer internship opportunities with leading aerospace companies, startups and institutions.
• $2,500 or more cash grant to support tuition, school fees, professional development and other academic or career-related expenses.
• Two mentors, including an experienced aerospace industry leader and an early-career professional.
• Leadership development opportunities, including the fellowship’s annual summit.
• Professional networking opportunities with aerospace companies, industry leaders and fellow students.
• Lifelong community and alumni support from talented Black professionals pursuing careers in aerospace.

The programme is open to students interested in areas beyond engineering, including business, policy, communications and other fields relevant to the aerospace industry.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Class of 2027, applicants must:

• Be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme or an associate’s degree programme.
• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, U.S. national, qualifying refugee or qualifying asylee and legally permitted to work in the United States.
• Not yet be part of the aerospace workforce. The fellowship typically serves students seeking their first paid aerospace internship, although certain exceptions may apply.
• Demonstrate strong moral character and commitment to the mission and community of the fellowship.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare the following:

1. One-Page Résumé

Submit an updated one-page résumé highlighting your education, projects, clubs, work experience, internships, leadership activities and other relevant achievements.

The résumé should be submitted as a PDF and named:

2027PGSF_Lastname_Firstname_Resume.pdf

2. Latest Transcript

Applicants must provide their most recent school transcript. Unofficial transcripts are accepted at the application stage.

File name:

2027PGSF_Lastname_Firstname_Transcript.pdf

3. Two Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation.

One letter should discuss your aptitude, skills, passion and potential in your chosen field.

The second should focus on your character, creativity and consistency.

Both recommendation letters must be submitted by the application deadline.

4. Written Essay

Applicants must submit an original 500–750 word essay addressing the following question:

What can the global aerospace industry do to better serve communities who currently feel unconnected to and underrepresented in aerospace?

Applicants should include at least one specific, achievable idea that could make a difference for an underserved community.

The essay should be submitted as a PDF using:

2027PGSF_Lastname_Firstname_Essay.pdf

5. Multimedia Essay

Applicants must also submit a multimedia response addressing:

“GPAs and college transcripts don’t paint a complete picture of a person. What else do we need to know about you?”

Applicants can choose a format that reflects their personality and creativity, such as a video, spoken-word performance, song, animation, fiction, comic or another suitable format.

The submission must be reviewable within approximately five minutes and should preferably be below 250 MB.

6. Additional Essay or Multimedia Response

Applicants must answer one additional question from the fellowship’s selection of prompts. The response can be submitted as either a written essay or multimedia piece.

The prompts explore areas such as:

• Personal decision-making when dealing with difficult industry situations.
• A project you started independently.
• A technology, policy or business model that could transform aerospace.
• An act of service that has had a meaningful impact.
• How you would help develop an aerospace startup.
• An aerospace topic you could passionately explain.
• How you have grown since a previous fellowship application.

7. Previous Aerospace Experience

Applicants who have already worked in aerospace but believe they would still benefit significantly from the fellowship may explain their circumstances in a 250–500 word essay.

Applicants without previous aerospace employment can skip this section.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship is particularly suitable for talented Black undergraduate students who:

• Want to build a career in aerospace, aviation or space.
• Are looking for their first paid aerospace internship.
• Want to gain practical industry experience.
• Are interested in engineering, science, business, policy, journalism or related fields.
• Want access to mentors and a strong professional network.
• Want to connect with other talented Black students and professionals in aerospace.

Application Deadline

Deadline: October 4, 2026

Applications must be submitted by 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Both recommendation letters must also be submitted by the deadline.

How to Apply

Interested students can submit their application through the official online application portal.

Apply here: Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Class of 2027 Application

Applicants can also access free application guides and join the fellowship’s applicant community for additional guidance and support.

Conclusion

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship provides talented Black undergraduates with an opportunity to gain valuable experience, mentorship, financial support and professional connections as they begin their aerospace careers.

If you are an eligible undergraduate interested in aviation, space, engineering, science, business, policy, journalism or another aerospace-related field, consider applying for the Class of 2027.

Don’t wait until the deadline to begin preparing your application.

Application Deadline: October 4, 2026.

Discover more fellowship opportunities on the OFY Webpage.