Alabama Space Grant Consortium at UAH names scholarship, fellowship winners for 2024-2025

The Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC) has announced recipients of its scholarships and fellowships for 2024-2025. ASGC is located on the campus of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), a part of The University of Alabama System.

The consortium was formed with a mission to inspire the next generation of space explorers 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.

Each scholarship recipient is awarded $1,500, and each fellowship winner receives $37,000. A single asterisk by a student’s name denotes a one-year renewal of a previous scholarship or fellowship award while two asterisks indicate a two-year renewal of a previous fellowship award.

For more information on ASGC and its scholarship and fellowship opportunities, visit uah.edu/asgc.

2024-2025 NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium Scholarship and Fellowship Awardees:

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

Undergraduate Scholars:

Jarrett Emanuel Davis, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Ayanna Tremese Powell, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Tyra E. Ravenell, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Joshua Robert Strickland, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Isaiah Thompson, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Nadiya Janii Wilson, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Baukis Dantonio Wise Jr., Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Graduate Fellows:

Elijah Kerry Nix, “Transforming Arachis hypogaea for Aflatoxin Resistance,” Biology, M.S., May 2025. Advisor: Dr. Xianyan Kuang. NASA Kennedy Space Center.

Auburn University – Dr. Brian S. Thurow, campus director

Undergraduate Scholars:

Cameron Bryce Harris, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Chandler Light Livingston, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026

John David Merithew, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Clayton Pauling Sanders, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Lucas Wayne Sanders, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Graduate Fellows:

Joseph Thomas Ivarson, “Shape-shifting Sailer: Self-foldable Shape Memory Membranes for Entry and Descent,” Aerospace Engineering, Ph.D., May 2026. Advisor: Dr. Davide Guzzetti. NASA Langley Research Center.

Ann Ryan Johnston, “Astronaut Microgravity Recovery Using Hybrid Exoskeletons,” Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2028. Advisor: Dr. Chad G. Rose. NASA Johnson Space Center.

Tuskegee University – Dr. Gregory V. Murphy, campus director

Undergraduate Scholars:

Christopher Nicholas Umeozulu, Electrical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Joseph Lane Wiley III, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2027

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

Undergraduate Scholars:

Sarah Grace Foes, Physics: Astrophysics Track, B.S., December 2025

Sophia N. Kyemba, Computer Science, B.S., May 2026

Benjamin Charles Light, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Graduate Fellows:

**Lauren Elizabeth Ervin, “STAR: Swarm of Tensegrity Autonomous Robots,” Electrical Engineering, Ph.D., May 2025. Advisor: Dr. Kenneth Ricks. NASA Ames Research Center.

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

Undergraduate Scholars:

Lalitha Appana, Biomedical Science, B.S., May 2027

Margaret LouAnn Birks, Chemistry and Physics, B.S., May 2026

Anabel Scarlet Xiaoyu Byars, Neuroscience, B.S., May 2025

Chandlor Davis Dobbs, Biomedical Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Alejandro Gabriel Elizondo, Biomedical Science, B.S., August 2025

Rebecca Marie House, Electrical Engineering, B.S., December 2024

Mercedes Charmaine Ivey, Biology, B.S., May 2026

Graduate Fellows:

Thomas Ethan Herron, “Mathematical Explorations in the Physics of Plasma,” Mathematics, Ph.D., May 2029. Advisor: Dr. Atanas Stefanov. NASA Stennis Space Center.

**Luke Copeland Moore, “Computational Study of Novel High-Entropy Ceramics,” Physics, Ph.D., May 2025. Advisor: Dr. Cheng-Chien Chen. NASA Glenn Research Center.

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

Undergraduate Scholars:

Abigail Rose Bilyeu, Industrial and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Adam Michael Burden, Industrial and Systems Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Gabriel David Campos, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., December 2025

Tristan Lee McGinnis, Computer Science, B.S., May 2025

Joseph Carter Thaggard, Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Kristen Marie Zuzga, Biochemistry, B.S., May 2025

Graduate Fellows:

*Benjamin Alexander Campbell, “Investigation of Alternative Satellite Constellation Dispersion Techniques Utilizing Momentum Exchange Tethers,” Aerospace Systems Engineering, Ph.D., May 2024. Advisor: 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., July 2025. Advisor: Dr. Bryan Mesmer. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

University of South Alabama – Dr. Carlos Montalvo, campus director

Undergraduate Scholars:

Felicity Lane Bryant, Mechanical Engineering, B.S., May 2025

Catherine Chen, Electrical Engineering, B.S., December 2026

Megan Alyssa Jordan, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Caleb Nawin Lopansri, Biomedical Sciences, B.S., May 2024

Madeline Marie Potter, Computer Engineering, B.S., May 2026

Graduate Fellows:

**Ryan Austin Warren, “Free-Form 3D Printing of Lightweight and High-Strength CFRP,” Systems Engineering, Ph.D., May 2025. Advisor: Dr. Kuang-Ting Hsiao. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.