Apply Now: Patti Grace Smith Fellowship (United States)

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship supports Black undergraduate students in the United States who are seeking their first paid internship in aerospace. Fellows receive a paid aerospace internship, living-wage support, a cash grant, personalized mentorship, and access to a professional network of Black peers and allies.

What Is the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship?

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship was created to honor the legacy of Patti Grace Smith and increase representation of Black professionals in the aerospace industry.

The programme supports undergraduate students who are interested in building careers across the aerospace sector. It combines paid work experience, financial support, mentorship, and community-building to help students enter the industry with professional skills and networks.

The fellowship welcomes students interested in both technical and non-technical aerospace careers.

What Does the Fellowship Provide?

Selected fellows receive a comprehensive package of professional and financial support, including:

A paid aerospace internship
A living wage
A cash grant
Personalized mentorship
Professional development opportunities
Access to a community of Black peers
Connections with allies and professionals in aerospace
Support in developing an aerospace career

The programme is particularly valuable for students who have not yet had an opportunity to gain professional aerospace experience.

Fields Supported by the Fellowship

Applicants do not need to be pursuing only aerospace engineering.

The programme welcomes undergraduate students interested in a broad range of disciplines connected to aerospace, including:

Engineering
Science
Business
Public policy
Journalism
Other aerospace-related fields

This broad focus recognises that the aerospace industry requires professionals with expertise beyond engineering and physical Sciences.

Who Is Eligible?

The fellowship is designed for Black or African-American undergraduate students in the United States.

Applicants must:

Be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree programme.
Identify as Black or African-American.
Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, national, refugee, or asylee legally permitted to work in the United States.
Be seeking their first paid internship in aerospace.
Not have already begun their professional career in aerospace.

The programme is intended for students at the beginning of their aerospace careers.

First Aerospace Internship Requirement

A central feature of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is its focus on students seeking their first paid aerospace internship.

Applicants generally should not already have started a professional career in aerospace.

However, the programme may consider exceptions in unique circumstances, so students with unusual educational or professional situations should review the current programme guidance before assuming they are ineligible.

Why the Fellowship Matters

Entering the aerospace industry can be challenging for students who lack professional networks, previous industry experience, or access to mentors.

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship addresses these barriers by combining:

Paid industry experience
Financial assistance
One-to-one mentorship
Peer support
Professional networking
Career development

The programme also contributes to greater representation in aerospace by supporting Black students who have historically been underrepresented in the sector.

How the Fellowship Works

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Confirm that you:

Are currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Associate’s programme.
Identify as Black or African-American.
Meet the programme’s U.S. citizenship, residency, or work-authorisation requirements.
Have not yet begun a career in aerospace.
Are seeking your first paid aerospace internship.

Step 2: Identify Your Aerospace Interests

Consider the area of aerospace that best matches your academic background and career goals.

Your interests may include engineering, science, business, policy, journalism, or another relevant discipline.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application

Your application should demonstrate your interest in aerospace and explain what you hope to accomplish through the fellowship.

Highlight:

Your academic background
Aerospace interests
Career goals
Relevant projects or experiences
Leadership or community involvement
Why professional aerospace experience would be valuable to you

Step 4: Demonstrate Your Potential

Applicants should clearly communicate their motivation to pursue a career in aerospace.

Rather than simply listing achievements, explain how your experiences have shaped your goals and how the fellowship would help you take the next step.

Step 5: Participate in the Fellowship

Selected fellows receive their internship and participate in the fellowship’s broader mentorship and professional community.

The combination of work experience and ongoing support is designed to help fellows build a strong foundation for a future aerospace career.

Tips for Applicants

Students preparing an application should consider the following:

Be specific about your aerospace interests: Explain what areas excite you and why.
Show your potential: Academic performance is important, but so are projects, leadership, curiosity, and persistence.
Explain your career goals: Connect the fellowship with your long-term professional plans.
Highlight relevant experience: Include coursework, research, engineering projects, writing, policy activities, entrepreneurship, or other relevant work.
Use your personal story: Explain what motivates you to pursue aerospace.
Emphasize learning: The programme is designed for students entering the industry, so demonstrate your willingness to learn and grow.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Applying without confirming their undergraduate enrolment status.
Failing to meet the programme’s Black or African-American eligibility requirement.
Assuming any previous aerospace experience automatically qualifies as a first internship.
Providing vague career goals.
Focusing only on academic grades without explaining aerospace interests.
Leaving out relevant projects or extracurricular experiences.
Ignoring the programme’s work-authorisation requirements.

Key Fellowship Details

Programme: Patti Grace Smith Fellowship
Primary field: Aerospace
Target applicants: Black/African-American undergraduate students
Study level: Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree
Location: United States
Internship: Paid aerospace internship
Financial support: Living wage and cash grant
Additional support: Personalized mentorship and professional network
Career stage: Students seeking their first paid aerospace internship
Work eligibility: Applicants must be legally permitted to work in the United States

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship?

It is a fellowship programme that helps Black undergraduate students enter the aerospace industry through a paid internship, financial support, mentorship, and professional networking.

Who can apply?

Current Bachelor’s or Associate’s degree students who identify as Black or African-American and meet the programme’s U.S. citizenship, residency, or work-authorisation requirements can apply, provided they also meet the aerospace experience requirements.

Do I need to study aerospace engineering?

No. The programme supports students interested in multiple areas of aerospace, including engineering, science, business, policy, and journalism.

Is the internship paid?

Yes. Fellows receive a paid aerospace internship with living-wage support, along with a cash grant.

Is the fellowship only for students with no aerospace experience?

The programme is primarily intended for students seeking their first paid aerospace internship and who have not yet begun their aerospace careers. Exceptions may be considered in unique circumstances.

Can Associate’s degree students apply?

Yes. Students currently enrolled in an Associate’s degree programme can be eligible, provided they meet the other requirements.

What additional support do fellows receive?

Beyond the internship and financial support, fellows receive personalized mentorship and access to a community of Black peers and allies within the aerospace ecosystem.

Conclusion

The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship provides Black undergraduate students with a valuable entry point into the aerospace industry through a combination of paid internship experience, financial support, mentorship, and professional networking. Students pursuing technical or non-technical aerospace careers should consider the opportunity if they are seeking their first paid aerospace internship and meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.