This year marks a decade of Aerospace’s STEM Endowment Fund, which was founded by its Board of Trustees in 2015 and has since supported a total of 38 students in their academic efforts to pursue STEM degrees. 

“Our STEM scholarships are an investment in the future of our industry and in the communities where our people work and live. With each year, the impact of our programs grows as we welcome more of these talented individuals to the Aerospace team,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO. “This summer, we are excited that Ephrem will be bringing his passion for coding to Aerospace’s mission as an intern in our Engineering Technology Group. We look forward to supporting the growth and development of Ephrem and the Future STEM Leaders in the years ahead.”

Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship

Due to his outstanding achievements in STEM and his leadership experience, Ephrem Adugna from St. Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey, Calif., is this year’s awardee of the Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship. This scholarship was named after Aerospace’s former CEO and president for her dedication and support of STEM education. As this year’s winner, Adugna will receive a summer internship, an Aerospace mentor and $10,000 towards his education renewable for four years.

Adugna’s passion for computer science developed in high school; however, it began in eighth grade when he designed his first app to help Type 1 diabetics track their blood sugar and dosage data. This desire to help others through computer science continued as he created Menu Master, an online platform that allows students at St. Bernard to pre-order their lunch, and Orate.ai, an app that uses AI to help people improve their language skills.

To support his community, Adugna founded Invert LLC, a company that places digital advertisement screens in the windows of small businesses to help them earn additional revenue. He also taught Amharic to teenagers and acted as one of his school’s ambassadors. Adugna held several leadership positions in high school, including Associated Student Body school president, National Honors Society (NHS) president and Coding Club founder, president and teacher. This fall, he will attend the University of Southern California to study computer science and business.

Future STEM Leaders Scholarship

Six high school students from across the nation have been selected as recipients of this year’s Future STEM Leaders Scholarship. This scholarship is given to students who excel academically, demonstrate leadership skills, and give back to their community through volunteer efforts. Awardees receive an Aerospace mentor and a one-time allotment of $5,000 to use toward their college or university education.

Adam Ballard recently graduated as valedictorian from Ogden High School in Ogden, Utah. Ballard was a member of his school’s volleyball team, debate team, and Flying Tigers aviation club. This fall, he will attend the University of Colorado Boulder in their Engineering Honors Program to pursue aeronautical engineering.

William Hester is a rising senior at Liberty High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. Hester is a member of the Boy Scouts, Knowledge Bowl, NHS and Latin NHS. After high school, he plans to pursue a degree in physics.

Anthony Moretto is a rising senior at DaVinci Academy in Ogden, Utah. Moretto participates in his school’s band and community service club and was recently selected as one of the two Most Outstanding Juniors at the DaVinci Academy. This fall, he plans to take Chemistry, AP Calculus and AP Biology to help him achieve his goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Jesse Pittman is a rising senior at West Mesa High School in Albuquerque, NM. Pittman is currently his class's valedictorian and is a member of his school’s Naval ROTC program, air rifle team and cross-country/track team. He plans to study engineering in college with a focus in mechanical or aerospace engineering.

Jyot Sahni recently graduated from Washington Liberty High School in Alexandria, Va. He has conducted research on ligament regeneration using self-created robotic prosthetics. Sahni will major in mechanical engineering and minor in business at The Pennsylvania State University.

Jared Smith recently graduated from Oakwood Adventist Academy in Huntsville, Alaba. Smith was senior class president, NHS president and student body Sergeant-at-Arms. Smith will attend Alabama A&M University this fall to pursue mechanical engineering.

About the Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship

The Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship is an invitation-only scholarship, where recipients receive a paid internship from Aerospace and a combined scholarship of up to $10,000 per year, renewable for up to four years. Scholarship recipients are required to pursue undergraduate studies in a STEM field at a four-year college and maintain a 3.0 or above grade point average. Visit tht Aerospace STEM Endowment Fund to help provide support and resources to students pursuing academics in STEM.

About the Future STEM Leaders Scholarship

The Aerospace STEM Endowment Fund was established in 2015 to support students pursuing careers in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. The purpose of this scholarship is to provide a professional mentorship opportunity for high school students during their senior year, and to provide financial assistance to promising students studying STEM disciplines at a public or private four-year college or university. Selection is based on academic performance, community service and leadership potential.