Two U-M Students Named Aviation Week Network’s 20 Twenties Winners of 2025

Every year, Aviation Week Network inducts 20 of the brightest, most driven aerospace-bound STEM students into their 20 Twenties program. This year, two University of Michigan students have been added to the esteemed list, boosting U-M to 13 students who have been a part of this prestigious recognition since its inception in 2013. Congratulations to Elijah Simpson (BSE Aerospace Engineering) and Sinan Abdulhak (MSE Industrial and Operations Engineering ) on being recognized for this outstanding achievement. 

Since its inception, the 20 Twenties program has honored 200 students. These students are top-ranked in academics, have articulated the value of their research and design projects, dealt with personal challenges and established a record of giving back to their communities.

As an active member of his community and former president of the Black Students in Aerospace student organization, Elijah Simpson has certainly made his mark within the Aerospace Engineering community. After previously receiving numerous awards through U-M, the College of Engineering and the Department of Aerospace Engineering, he can now add this award to a growing list of achievements during his undergraduate career. 

Meanwhile, Sinan Abdulhak works closely with Professor Max Li in the Laboratory for Air Transportation, Infrastructure, and Connected Environments (LATTICE) and actively participates in research related to large language models (LLMs) and their potential applications and benefits to the current aviation infrastructure.

All of the recipients of the 20 Twenties class of 2025 will be recognized at an awards luncheon on March 6, 2025 and honored during Aviation Week Network’s 67th Annual Laureate Awards and Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.