Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship
Haley Duncan from El Segundo, Calif., and Angel Santana from Inglewood, Calif., are Aerospace’s first co-recipients of the Dr. Wanda M. Austin Scholarship. Duncan and Santana will receive mentoring, an Aerospace internship, and an annual $5,000 scholarship for up to four years. The Dr. Wanda M. Austin Scholarship program was created in 2016 to offer funding and internships to support high achieving student leaders from underrepresented areas.
Duncan, a recent graduate from Da Vinci Science (DVS) High School, will begin her studies in engineering at Harvey Mudd College this fall. Since 2020, Duncan has been a student leader for Team 4201: The Vitruvian Bots and in DVS’s National Society of Black Engineers. During her internship at Aerospace, Duncan will work in the Systems Engineering Division.
Santana, 2024 Valedictorian of Lennox Academy, will attend Stanford University this fall to study mechanical engineering. At Lennox, Santana was Associated Student Body vice president, cofounder of STEM Fair and the Robotics Club, and the captain of the academy’s varsity soccer team. Santana will intern in the Vehicle Systems Division at Aerospace this summer.
“At this exciting time in space, there is immense opportunity for the next generation of engineers and scientists to lead the way forward as we shape the future and develop innovative ways to use space to benefit our society,” said Steve Isakowitz, Aerospace president and CEO. “We are delighted to recognize Haley and Angel’s impressive academic success through the Dr. Wanda M. Austin Scholarship. Haley, Angel, and our Future of STEM Leaders recipients all have bright futures ahead of them, and Aerospace is proud to support them as they continue their academic journeys.”
Future STEM Leaders Scholarship
Five high school students from Aerospace locations across the nation have been awarded the Future STEM Leaders scholarship. Future STEM Leaders are matched with an Aerospace mentor to help them navigate college and the workforce and will receive a one-time $5,000 scholarship toward a four-year college or university.
The aim of the Future STEM Leaders Scholarship program is to provide incoming first-generation college students with opportunities at Aerospace’s national locations. Awardees are chosen based on their leadership, community participation, and pursuit of an undergraduate STEM degree.
Zadie Boyd is a rising senior at New Century Technology High School in Huntsville, Ala. She plans to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering with a focus on additive manufacturing and a minor in marketing.
Genesis DeHann is a rising senior at Mitchell High School in Colorado Springs, Colo. She enjoys math, choir, and theater and hopes to one day become a teacher.
Tanya Sanchez-Dominguez is a rising senior at DaVinci Academy in Ogden, Utah. She plans to pursue a chemistry degree in fall 2025.
Zachary Roberts is a rising senior at Alexandria City High School in Alexandria, Va. He volunteers at his local animal shelter and regularly participates in robotics competitions and Model UN simulations. He plans to pursue a mechanical engineering degree, with a concentration in aerospace engineering.
Graciela Rodriguez is a graduating senior from VISU Cleveland High School in Albuquerque, N.M. She is a member of the Storming STEM team, Science Olympiad, Key Club, speech and debate, and her school orchestra. She will study physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, starting this fall.
ABOUT THE DR. WANDA M. AUSTIN 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. The Dr. Wanda M. Austin STEM Scholarship was named after Aerospace’s former CEO and president for her dedication and support of STEM education. Visit the Aerospace STEM Endowment Fund to help provide support and resources to underserved students pursuing academics in STEM.
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 4,600 employees. With major locations in Chantilly, Virginia; El Segundo, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, 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 LinkedIn.