Alabama Space Grant Consortium announces scholarship, fellowship winners for 2023-2024

The Alabama Space Grant Consortium, located on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System, has announced the students who have received its scholarships and fellowships for 2023-2024. Each scholarship recipient is awarded $1,500, and each fellowship winner receives $37,000.

With a mission to inspire the next generation of space explorers, the consortium was formed in 1989 when NASA implemented the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. It is a voluntary association of all seven research universities in Alabama along with other community colleges, educational outreach, and industrial and government entities.

For more information on the Alabama Space Grant Consortium and its scholarship and fellowship opportunities, visit uah.edu/asgc.

2023-2024 NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium Scholarship and Fellowship Awardees:

Alabama A&M University
Dr. Aaron L. Adams, campus director

• Undergraduate Scholars:
• Isaiha Arustes Baxter, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Kermit Glen Booker, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Asia Ja’Quera Callens, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Ariel Latrese Croswell, Electrical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Jaylon S. Dixon, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Yosmen A. Foster, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Jaiden Anthony Green, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• *Marquaris Dashawn Jones-Smith, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• *Zaire Sabre Martino, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• *Vanessa Nanyi Nyochembeng, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., December 2024
• *Jordan David Reynolds, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• *Keith Poitier Rivers, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Daylon KeShawn Rooks, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Darias D’Wayne Strickland, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Trevor Lamont Swanson, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., December 2023
• *Tamara Antoinette Thomas, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Graduate Fellows:
• Miahri Anela Jayla Merrell, “PETG and HIPS Optimizations using Tensile Testing post 3D Printing,” Mechanical Engineering, M.S., May 2025. Adviser: Dr. Aaron L. Adams. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
• *Marcus Jajuan Williams, “Aerospace Structures Optimization using Mass Mitigation, Structural Dynamics Synergy, and Strain Frequency Failure Analysis,” Mechanical Engineering, M.S., May 2024. Adviser: Dr. Aaron L. Adams. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

Auburn University
Dr. Brian S. Thurow, campus director

• Graduate Fellows:
• **Avinash Baskaran, “A Novel Neuromuscular Sensing Platform for Intuitive Control of Robotic Exoskeletons in Extravehicular Activities,” Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2025. Adviser: Dr. Chad G. Rose. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
• **Ari David Goldman, “Development of Ultra High Performance, Additively Manufactured Injector Elements for Liquid Rocket and Rotating Detonation Rocket Engines,” Aerospace Engineering, M.S., May 2025. Adviser: Dr. David Scarborough. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

The University of Alabama
Dr. Richard D. Branam, campus director

• Undergraduate Scholars:
• Reid Barnett Leger, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Graduate Fellows:
• Annelia Elsa Anderson, “The Circumgalactic Dictionary: A Machine Learning-Based Tool for Interpreting Circumgalactic Medium Observations,” Physics, Ph.D., May 2026. Adviser: Dr. Jeremy Bailin. NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
• *Lauren Elizabeth Faris, “STAR: Swarm of Tensegrity Autonomous Robots,” Electrical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2025. Adviser: Dr. Kenneth Ricks. NASA Ames Research Center.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Yogesh K. Vohra, campus director

• Undergraduate Scholars:
• Margaret LouAnn Birks, Chemistry and Physics, B.S., May 2026
• Logan A. Burnett, Physics, B.S., May 2024
• Trenton Carter Culverhouse, Physics, B.S., May 2024
• Riley M. Nick, Chemistry, B.S., May 2025
• Jonathan David Perkins, Physics, B.S., May 2024
• James Colten Walts, Biology, B.S., May 2024
• Graduate Fellows:
• *Luke Copeland Moore, “Computational Study of Novel High-Entropy Ceramics,” Physics, Ph.D., May 2024. Adviser: Dr. Cheng-Chien Chen. NASA Glenn Research Center.

The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Dr. Gang Wang, campus director

• Undergraduate Scholars:
• Nicholas Andrew Duffy, Industrial and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• *Emily Robin Jolly, Industrial and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Jared Allen Sauer, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Megan Victoria Shurtz, Chemistry, B.S., December 2025
• *Markus R. Zwahlen, Industrial and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Graduate Fellows:
  • *Benjamin Alexander Campbell, “Investigation of Alternative Satellite Constellation Dispersion Techniques Utilizing Momentum Exchange Tethers,” Aerospace Systems Engineering, Ph.D., May 2024. Adviser: Dr. L. Dale Thomas. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.
  • **Casey Elizabeth Eaton, “Selection and Impact of Technical Metrics in Complex Engineered Systems,” Systems Engineering, Ph.D., December 2024. Adviser: Dr. Bryan Mesmer. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

 

University of South Alabama
Dr. John W. Steadman, campus director

• Undergraduate Scholars:
• Destinie Anne Diggs, Computer Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• *Abby Lynn Mock, Chemical Engineering, B.S., May 2024
• Michael Allen Pitts, Chemical Engineering, B.S., May 2025
• Carly Danielle Ray, Computer Engineering, B.S., December 2023
• Graduate Fellows:
  • *Georgia Elyse Robles, “Development of a Heterogeneous Skin Model to Simulate Heating Effects from Exposure to RF Electromagnetic Energy Above 6 GHz,” Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., December 2023. Adviser: Dr. David Nelson. NASA Johnson Space Center.
  • *Ryan Austin Warren, “Free-Form 3D Printing of Lightweight and High-Strength CFRP,” Systems Engineering, Ph.D., May 2025. Adviser: Dr. Kuang-Ting Hsiao. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

 

• *Denotes one-year renewal of a previous scholarship or fellowship award.
• **Denotes two-year renewal of a previous fellowship award.