The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship helps undergraduates enter the US aerospace workforce through a paid summer internship, mentoring, leadership development, and a professional community. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Foundation runs the annual program with American aerospace companies and institutions, matching candidates to roles in aviation or space. The program celebrates Black excellence and has a strong record of serving Black and African-American students, while the current published eligibility checklist sets four requirements covering enrollment, US work status, career stage, and character. Internships span engineering, science, business, policy, journalism, and other aerospace-related work.
Benefits & funding
- A competitively sourced summer internship of approximately 12 weeks at a participating US aerospace company or institution, paid at a living wage.
- A flexible cash grant of at least US$2,500 for tuition, school fees, or academic and professional resources.
- Two mentors: one established aerospace leader and one early-career professional.
- A four-day leadership-development summit with the fellowship cohort.
- Lifelong access to an active community of aerospace peers and leaders.
Eligibility
- Be currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program or in any year of an associate degree program.
- Be a US citizen, US permanent resident, US national, a refugee admitted to the United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or an asylee in the United States under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, and be legally permitted to work in the United States. Individual host companies may impose additional work-eligibility requirements.
- Not yet be part of the aerospace workforce. This usually means seeking a first paid aerospace internship, though the program may consider explained exceptions such as military service or experience in an unrelated aerospace role.
- Demonstrate strong moral character and commitment to the program and its community.
- Any major may qualify, including engineering, science, business, policy, communications, and journalism, provided the applicant is interested in an aerospace career.
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Application process
- 1Review the current eligibility rules and application instructions on the official apply page.
- 2Prepare a one-page résumé and the latest school transcript; unofficial transcripts are accepted at the initial stage.
- 3Arrange two recommendation letters, one focused on aptitude and potential and one on character, creativity, and consistency.
- 4Explain job interests and preferences so the fellowship can identify suitable host-company matches.
- 5Submit the required original work: a written essay, a multimedia essay, and a third written or multimedia response.
- 6Complete the online application through the SurveyMonkey Apply portal when the next cycle opens.
- 7Shortlisted candidates interview with fellowship reviewers; finalists may then complete each host company’s normal interview and assessment process.
- 8The fellowship confirms its class after host-company hiring decisions.
Program timeline
Most recent application portal opened.
25 August 2025
Most recent application deadline.
17 October 2025
Applicants are typically notified of selection decisions.
December
August or September 2026
Class of 2027 application window is expected to open; the official site has not announced an exact date.
Summer
Fellows complete an approximately 12-week paid internship; exact dates depend on the host company.