Brooke Owens Fellowship 2027: Applications Open for Undergraduate Students Seeking Careers in Aerospace

Applications are officially open for the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2027, an internationally accessible program designed to help talented undergraduate women and gender-minority students launch and accelerate careers across the aerospace and aviation industries.

The 2027 application cycle opened on September 1, 2026, and applications must be submitted by October 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The official application portal describes the program as bringing together exceptional undergraduate students from around the world who are passionate about aerospace careers and want to become future leaders in the industry.

The program goes beyond traditional academic assessment. Applicants are evaluated as complete individuals, with attention given to their experiences, interests, aspirations, creativity, character, service, leadership potential and the contribution they could make to the wider aerospace community.

Official Brooke Owens Fellowship 2027 Application Information

Brooke Owens Fellowship 2027 at a Glance

The application portal opened at 12:00 AM EDT on September 1, 2026 and closes at 11:59 PM EDT on October 4, 2026.

What Is the Brooke Owens Fellowship?

The Brooke Owens Fellowship was created to expand opportunities for undergraduate women and gender minorities who want to become leaders, innovators and contributors within aerospace.

The program is named in honor of Dawn Brooke Owens, an accomplished aerospace professional and pilot whose career included work connected with NASA’s Johnson Space Center, the XPRIZE Foundation, the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation and the White House Office of Management and Budget. The initiative was founded by aerospace leaders who knew Brooke personally and wanted to create opportunities for a new generation of people who could bring similar talent, creativity, determination and commitment to service into the industry.

Today, the program focuses on providing career opportunities, mentorship, professional development, industry connections and a strong community for undergraduate women and gender-minority students interested in aerospace.

The organization is a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has developed a substantial network of aerospace professionals, executives, mentors, host organizations and alumni.

Applications for the Class of 2027 Are Now Open

The Class of 2027 represents the 11th group of Brooke Owens Fellows, marking more than a decade since the program’s first fellowship class.

Applications opened on September 1 and will remain open until October 4, 2026. The latest official announcement confirms that the opportunity is available to women and gender-minority undergraduate students from all college majors who are interested in careers in aerospace and aviation.

This broad academic approach is important because aerospace is much larger than aerospace engineering alone.

Professionals working in the sector may come from backgrounds including:

• Aerospace engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Electrical engineering
• Computer science
• Artificial intelligence
• Data science
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Earth and environmental sciences
• Business
• Finance
• Communications
• Public relations
• Art and design
• Law
• Public policy
• International affairs
• Government
• Education
• STEM outreach

The program’s FAQ explicitly states that applicants do not have to major in aerospace engineering. Students from engineering, science, business, communications, art, law, policy and other academic fields may apply if they are seriously interested in building a career in aerospace.

What Will Selected Brooke Owens Fellows Receive?

The Brooke Owens Fellowship combines industry exposure with mentorship, community and professional development.

For the Class of 2027, the official announcement states that successful Fellows will:

• Participate in a summer internship with a host company.
• Receive one-on-one mentorship from professionals aligned with their areas of interest.
• Attend a professional development summit with the other Fellows in their class.

The Brooke Owens Fellowship also describes its broader program as providing access to paid internships and executive-level mentorship from senior aerospace figures, including executives, astronauts and industry leaders.

Summer Aerospace Industry Experience

A major element of the program is meaningful exposure to the aerospace industry.

The 2027 program announcement states that accepted Fellows will participate in a summer internship at a host company. This provides students with the opportunity to move from classroom learning into professional aerospace environments and develop practical experience in the sector.

Past Fellows have worked across areas such as:

• Rocket propulsion
• Satellite operations
• Mission planning
• Aerospace policy
• STEM outreach
• Engineering
• Software
• Space systems
• Research
• Communications
• Other aerospace-related functions.

The fellowship is therefore relevant not only to students pursuing highly technical engineering careers but also to those interested in the business, policy, communications and social dimensions of aerospace.

One-on-One Professional Mentorship

Mentorship is another central feature of the Brooke Owens Fellowship.

Each Fellow is connected with experienced professionals who can provide guidance as the Fellow enters or develops within the aerospace sector.

The Fellowship’s current mentor structure pairs Fellows with hand-selected mentors, with relationships beginning before Fellows start their summer positions. Mentors support Fellows as they prepare for professional roles, navigate workplace challenges and make decisions about their longer-term careers. Many mentor relationships reportedly continue beyond the official summer program.

The program’s mentors have included senior aerospace professionals, astronauts, executives, engineers and other industry leaders.

For a university student preparing to enter a highly specialized sector, this kind of direct professional access can help with:

• Career planning.
• Understanding aerospace industry pathways.
• Developing professional networks.
• Navigating early-career decisions.
• Preparing for internships and employment.
• Learning directly from experienced aerospace leaders.
• Building professional confidence.
• Identifying future areas of specialization.

Brooke Owens Professional Development Summit

Selected Fellows also participate in the annual Brooke Owens Summit, which brings members of the fellowship class together for professional development.

The 2027 announcement confirms that successful Fellows will attend a professional development summit alongside their cohort.

The summit adds an important cohort component to the program. Rather than completing an internship independently, Fellows become part of a community of students pursuing careers across different parts of aerospace.

This can create valuable relationships that continue as participants move into graduate education, industry, government, entrepreneurship, research and other aerospace careers.

A Long-Term Aerospace Community

The Fellowship is designed to create more than a one-summer experience.

The official Class of 2027 application describes Fellows as joining a lasting community of:

• Peers.
• Mentors.
• Aerospace professionals.
• Industry leaders.

This community-based model can be particularly valuable in aerospace, where professional relationships, specialized knowledge and industry networks can play an important role in career development.

The goal stated by the program is not simply to help students obtain their first aerospace opportunity, but to help develop people who may eventually shape the future direction of the industry.

More Than 400 Fellows Have Joined the Program

The Brooke Owens Fellowship has grown significantly since its creation.

According to the program’s September 2026 announcement:

• 418 undergraduate students have been accepted since the program began.
• Fellows have come from nearly 40 U.S. states and territories.
• Participants have represented 10 countries.
• 124 companies have hosted Fellows for summer internships.
• 105 mentors have helped support Fellows during their early careers.
• Fellows have represented 147 schools.

These figures demonstrate that the fellowship has developed into an established pathway connecting undergraduate talent with the aerospace industry.

Detailed Eligibility Requirements

Before beginning an application, candidates should carefully confirm that they satisfy every current requirement.

The official Class of 2027 application page lists four principal eligibility conditions.

1. You Must Be an Undergraduate Student

Applicants must currently be undergraduate students.

They must have completed at least one year of coursework toward a bachelor’s or associate degree by the time they apply.

This means the program is aimed at students who have progressed beyond the very beginning of their undergraduate education.

2. You Must Be Interested in an Aerospace Career

Applicants must demonstrate genuine interest in pursuing a career in the aerospace industry.

Engineering and non-engineering career pathways are both accepted.

Candidates therefore should not assume that admission is restricted to:

• Aerospace engineers.
• Mechanical engineers.
• Scientists.
• Technical majors.

Students from other disciplines are encouraged to apply when they can demonstrate a credible connection between their interests and an aerospace career.

3. Applicants Must Identify as a Woman or Gender Minority

The Fellowship is specifically designed to increase opportunities for people underrepresented in aerospace because of gender.

The formal Class of 2027 eligibility criteria require applicants to identify as a woman or gender minority.

The organization’s FAQ specifically notes that this includes women and other gender minorities, including nonbinary and gender-nonconforming individuals.

4. Applicants Must Be at Least 18

Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.

Students From All Academic Majors Can Apply

One of the strongest features of the Brooke Owens Fellowship is that it recognizes the multidisciplinary nature of aerospace.

Students do not have to study aerospace engineering.

The official FAQ specifically welcomes applicants from academic backgrounds such as engineering, science, business, communications, art, law and policy, along with other disciplines.

The critical factor is whether the applicant has a genuine ambition to build a career and create an impact within aerospace.

Is There a Minimum GPA?

No minimum GPA is stated.

The Fellowship deliberately uses a broader approach to identifying talent.

The official application guidance notes that past Fellows have included students with very high GPAs as well as students whose academic records were considerably lower. The organization states that GPA represents only one imperfect way of assessing an applicant’s abilities and potential.

The FAQ similarly states that applications are reviewed holistically, with consideration given to factors including the applicant’s:

• Personal statement.
• Creative submission.
• Recommendation.
• Character.
• Leadership.
• Creativity.
• Service.
• Alignment with Fellowship values.

Students should therefore not automatically rule themselves out because they do not have a perfect academic record.

Documents You Need to Prepare

The application requires several supporting materials.

Applicants should start preparing these well before the October deadline because the process includes both conventional application documents and original creative work.

Updated Resume or CV

Applicants need their most recent resume or CV.

The Fellowship recommends making sure the document is accurate, polished and carefully proofread.

Relevant experience may include:

• Academic activities.
• Internships.
• Paid employment.
• Volunteer activities.
• Independent projects.
• Leadership positions.
• Clubs.
• Extracurricular activities.
• Relevant community involvement.

Applicants should use the resume to show not merely academic performance but evidence that they could contribute effectively as a teammate and member of the aerospace community.

Academic Transcript

Applicants must submit their latest transcript.

Importantly, an unofficial transcript is acceptable, and the Fellowship actually encourages students to use unofficial versions when obtaining an official transcript would require paying a fee.

The transcript submitted must contain completed, graded coursework. The application guidance says it needs to include at least one full semester of completed grades, rather than only midterm results.

Applicants studying at a new institution who do not yet have an appropriate transcript there may use a transcript from their previous institution where applicable.

Note that the formal Class of 2027 eligibility section separately states that an applicant must have completed at least one year of coursework toward an associate or bachelor’s degree. Applicants should therefore ensure they satisfy the formal eligibility requirement, rather than interpreting the transcript-upload requirement as reducing it to one semester.

One Letter of Recommendation

Only one recommendation letter is required.

The recommender should be someone who genuinely knows the applicant and can provide meaningful evidence about their strengths, achievements and character.

Potential recommenders may include:

• Teachers.
• Professors.
• Coaches.
• Mentors.
• Supervisors.
• Club leaders.
• Other appropriate professional or academic contacts.

A family member or personal friend should not be used as the recommender.

The letter should ideally provide evidence of the applicant’s character, creativity, consistency, service and impact in the communities in which they participate.

The official FAQ confirms that applicants need one recommendation and only one will be accepted.

Three Original Application Components

For 2027, applicants are asked to prepare three original works intended to help reviewers understand them beyond their transcript and resume.

These are:

1. A Personal Statement of no more than 600 words.
2. A Mission Alignment Essay of no more than 300 words.
3. A Multimedia Essay in a format other than a conventional written essay.

Together, these submissions are intended to provide insight into three broad dimensions:

• Professional and academic interests.
• Personal character, values and passions.
• Commitment to service, community and creating opportunities for others.

Personal Statement: Maximum 600 Words

The personal statement allows applicants to communicate who they are beyond their academic record.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss the passions, values, experiences, goals and personal qualities that have shaped them and their ambitions.

The objective is not simply to repeat a resume.

A strong personal statement should help reviewers understand:

• What motivates you.
• What experiences have shaped you.
• What matters to you.
• What kind of person you are.
• Where you want your career to go.
• What you would contribute to the Brooke Owens community.

The program specifically encourages applicants to be authentic, specific and reflective.

Mission Alignment Essay: Maximum 300 Words

The 2027 application also includes a Mission Alignment Essay, limited to 300 words.

This component asks candidates to reflect on the Brooke Owens Fellowship’s mission of expanding aerospace opportunities for women and gender minorities.

Applicants should explain why this mission matters to them and how they hope to contribute to it throughout their careers.

Potential themes include:

• Creating more inclusive professional environments.
• Mentoring future students.
• Expanding access to aerospace opportunities.
• Addressing structural barriers.
• Using leadership positions to support others.
• Helping future professionals enter and thrive in aerospace.

The Fellowship encourages applicants to connect their answers with their lived experiences and consider how they could use future leadership or influence to make aerospace more welcoming and equitable.

Multimedia Essay: Show Creativity Beyond a Written Application

The Multimedia Essay is deliberately different from a conventional university application essay.

Applicants must not submit another traditional written essay.

Instead, they should communicate their ideas through a creative digital format.

Past formats have included:

• Short videos.
• Original songs.
• Spoken-word pieces.
• Animations.
• Graphic designs.
• Podcasts.
• Comic strips.
• Other creative digital formats.

Multimedia Submission Requirements

The submission must:

• Be fully digital.
• Require no physical mailing.
• Be accessible through commonly available software.
• Not require passwords or obscure software.
• Be reviewable or playable in five minutes or less.
• Remain below 250 MB in file size.

2027 Multimedia Essay Prompts

Applicants can respond creatively to one of the prompts listed for the Class of 2027.

The themes focus on:

1. A situation where the applicant had to be resourceful and work within constraints.
2. An experience serving a community and the resulting impact.
3. A project or activity in which the applicant became deeply engaged and demonstrated enthusiasm or creativity.
4. A situation where the applicant challenged an established system, norm or assumption.
5. How intentional decision-making has influenced the applicant’s actions and outcomes.

These prompts are designed to reveal qualities such as:

• Resourcefulness.
• Creativity.
• Values.
• Service.
• Teamwork.
• Enthusiasm.
• Courage.
• Independent thinking.
• Leadership.
• Self-awareness.
• Intentionality.

Important File Submission Rules

Applicants should carefully test every file before submitting the application.

The Fellowship specifically warns that an application cannot be edited after submission.

Before submitting:

• Test video links.
• Confirm that file-sharing permissions work.
• Make sure reviewers will not encounter access restrictions.
• Check that all files open correctly.
• Verify multimedia runtime.
• Keep files below the required 250 MB limit.
• Proofread written documents.
• Confirm that the correct versions have been uploaded.

The application page also recommends including the relevant prompt directly with each original work so reviewers can easily identify the question being addressed.

One detail worth noting is that the current page explicitly identifies three original works, including the 300-word Mission Alignment Essay, while its later file-submission checklist lists the resume, transcript, recommendation letter, personal statement and multimedia essay without repeating the mission essay. Applicants should follow the live application portal carefully and prepare the Mission Alignment Essay because it is expressly listed as a required original work earlier on the official 2027 application page.

Are International Students Eligible?

Yes.

U.S. citizenship is not required.

The official FAQ states that students of all nationalities are welcome to apply, while the official application portal describes the fellowship as bringing together undergraduate students from around the world.

There is, however, an important practical qualification for international applicants.

Some aerospace opportunities may be subject to U.S. export-control or International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions. These requirements can limit eligibility for particular jobs or host-company roles based on citizenship or immigration status.

The Fellowship states that it works with Fellows individually to identify opportunities that fit their circumstances.

International students should therefore not interpret ITAR restrictions as a general ban on applying. They are eligible for the Fellowship itself, although the range of specific industry placements available to them may differ.

Virtual Information Sessions for the Class of 2027

The Fellowship is also hosting virtual information sessions for prospective applicants.

The published Class of 2027 sessions, with times given in EDT, are:

• September 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT
• September 19, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT, featuring international students
• September 28, 2026 at 10:00 PM EDT

The session specifically featuring international students may be particularly useful for applicants with questions about citizenship requirements, aerospace placements and participation from outside the United States.

Ask a Brookie Application Support

Applicants who want advice from someone who has previously completed the fellowship process can use the program’s Ask a Brookie resource.

Past Fellows can provide guidance about matters such as:

• Their fellowship experience.
• How they approached application essays.
• Internship preparation.
• Joining the Fellowship community.
• General application strategy.

For formal questions concerning eligibility, applicants are advised to use the Fellowship’s official eligibility information or contact its administration rather than relying solely on peer advice.

How Applicants Are Selected

The program emphasizes holistic assessment rather than relying on one numerical indicator.

According to its FAQ, applications are reviewed by aerospace professionals and Brooke Owens alumni.

The program considers the overall application, including personal and creative materials, recommendations and alignment with the Fellowship’s values. There is no published minimum GPA cutoff and no single factor automatically determines selection.

This makes it important for applicants to submit a coherent application where the different components reinforce one another.

For example:

• Your resume shows what you have done.
• Your transcript gives academic context.
• Your recommendation provides an outside perspective.
• Your personal statement shows who you are.
• Your Mission Alignment Essay explains how your values connect with the program.
• Your multimedia project demonstrates creativity, character and perspective.

What Makes a Strong Application?

While there is no guaranteed formula, applicants should pay particular attention to the qualities the Fellowship repeatedly emphasizes.

Be Authentic

Do not attempt to construct what you imagine a stereotypical aerospace candidate should look like.

The application is specifically designed to identify talent that may not always be recognized through conventional recruitment methods.

Demonstrate Service

Community involvement is an important theme throughout the application.

Show what you have actually done for other people, organizations or communities.

Demonstrate Aerospace Interest

You do not need to study aerospace engineering, but your application should make it credible that aerospace is genuinely part of your intended career direction.

Show Creativity

This matters particularly in the multimedia submission.

Use a format that strengthens your message rather than selecting something elaborate simply because it appears impressive.

Explain Your Values

The program wants to understand what motivates your decisions and how your values affect the way you work with others.

Proofread Everything

A creative application can still be weakened by avoidable mistakes, inaccessible links or unclear writing.

Start Early

The application includes several components requiring substantial reflection, plus a recommendation from another person. Waiting until the final day substantially increases the risk of an incomplete or technically flawed application.

Application Timeline

September 1, 2026

Applications officially opened at 12:00 AM EDT.

September 13, 2026

First Class of 2027 virtual information session at 2:00 PM EDT.

September 19, 2026

International-student-focused virtual information session at 12:00 PM EDT.

September 28, 2026

Final listed virtual information session at 10:00 PM EDT.

October 4, 2026

Application deadline at 11:59 PM EDT.

The Fellowship’s FAQ indicates that semifinalists are typically contacted within several weeks after applications close, with finalists subsequently selected through interviews and the complete class announced during the winter.

How to Apply for the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2027

Prospective applicants should:

1. Confirm that they meet the Class of 2027 eligibility requirements.
2. Review the entire official application guide.
3. Create an account in the application portal.
4. Prepare an updated resume or CV.
5. Obtain an appropriate academic transcript.
6. Select one recommender and provide sufficient time for the recommendation.
7. Draft the Personal Statement within the 600-word limit.
8. Prepare the Mission Alignment Essay within the 300-word limit.
9. Select one multimedia prompt.
10. Create an original non-prose multimedia submission.
11. Confirm that the multimedia content is reviewable in five minutes or less.
12. Keep the relevant digital file under 250 MB.
13. Check links, permissions and file accessibility.
14. Review the entire application carefully.
15. Submit before October 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.
16. Do not wait until the final minutes because applications cannot be corrected after submission.

Apply for the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2027

Why Students Interested in Aerospace Should Consider Applying

The Brooke Owens Fellowship offers something difficult to reproduce through an ordinary internship application: a combination of industry experience, structured mentorship, professional development and access to a continuing aerospace community.

The program’s record now includes hundreds of Fellows, more than one hundred host organizations and more than one hundred mentors. Its alumni network extends across aerospace research, engineering, operations, policy, technology, entrepreneurship and other areas.

For students who are serious about aerospace but have not traditionally seen themselves represented in the industry, the program is designed to create both access and a support structure for long-term career development.

Conclusion

Applications for the Brooke Owens Fellowship Class of 2027 provide undergraduate women and gender-minority students with an opportunity to build professional experience, receive mentorship from experienced aerospace professionals, participate in professional development and join an established community of emerging aerospace leaders.

The program is intentionally multidisciplinary. Applicants do not need to major in aerospace engineering, there is no published minimum GPA, and U.S. citizenship is not required. What matters is that applicants meet the undergraduate and age requirements, identify within the gender groups the program serves, and demonstrate genuine interest in pursuing an aerospace career.

The application is more extensive than a conventional internship form. Candidates need to prepare a resume or CV, academic transcript, one recommendation letter, a Personal Statement, a Mission Alignment Essay and a creative Multimedia Essay. Applicants should therefore start preparing their materials early.

Applications close October 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT.

Official Application Page

For more global opportunities, click HERE.