U-M AIAA Student Chapter Receives 2025 Membership Development Award
Aerospace Engineering student group recognized for exceptional professionalism
Congratulations to the University of Michigan AIAA Student Chapter who has been awarded the 2025 Membership Development Award from the College of Engineering, recognizing their exceptional professional, communication and soft skill development opportunities for members.
“As engineers, we can only go so far with only having technical acuity, and so as an organization, we strive to equip our members with the foundational professional, communication and soft skills for them to be the best version of themselves in industry. Receiving this award is an exceptional piece of recognition for us as it demonstrates that all the tireless work we do to provide these learning and growth opportunities for our members has been beneficial to so many,” commented the team upon receiving the award.
“As we continue to build a diverse and vibrant community of young professionals, we hope that the recognition of this award will assist us in broadening our horizons even further.”
Founded in 1963, the AIAA student chapter at U-M boasts over 115 members, all dedicated to spreading their passion for aerospace and STEM to others by educating and inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders and professionals. Their mission is to enhance students’ life skills and prepare them for successful transitions to post-secondary education and employment, while showcasing the diverse opportunities within the field of Aerospace Engineering.
Over the past year, the AIAA students pursued an ambitious schedule, full of engaging events to enrich and grow their community of young professionals. From resume reviews with Blue Origin; networking opportunities with professors and professional panels with NASA, Airbus and GM; and essential skill development workshops with Rolls Royce, the U-M AIAA students have collaborated with a multitude of industry experts.
Not only have they encouraged their members to further develop their professionalism, they also have hosted various community building events as well, including Jeopardy! Night, off campus site visits, rocket launch watch parties and a winter ski trip. Additionally, the students have revamped their membership program over the past year, allowing newer students to connect with and gain insight from some of their more senior members.
In addition to furthering their own groups community, the AIAA students have also frequently collaborated with various other student organizations from the Department of Aerospace Engineering and other University of Michigan groups, helping increase their reach to students and their combined impact exponentially.
While working collaboratively, the students have come together to host the annual Aerospace Day event, which took place on April 12, where they welcomed roughly 100 local middle school and high school students, along with some of their parents, for a full day of fun and learning about STEM and aerospace. With over 10 years and counting of this exciting event, it holds the honor of being one of the most anticipated annual outreach events put on within the Aerospace Engineering Department.
Leading up to this year’s event, the AIAA students explained, “This is one of our favorite events of the year because we get to engage with the next generation of scientists and engineers whilst collaborating with many of our fellow student orgs on campus!”
Additionally, on April 16, the students also collaborated with the Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics (WAA) student organization to welcome members of the Federal Aviation Administration to host a lecture surrounding wake turbulence and ADS-B policies. Finally, the AIAA student group hosted their first annual AIAA End of Year Banquet on April 18, taking the opportunity to look back on all the outstanding things their organization has accomplished over the past year including reflections from outgoing board members, induction of the new board, and of course good food amongst good company.
“We truly believe that our success is inextricably linked to our passion for what we do as an organization. Not only does the culmination of all of the experiences and programs assist our members in becoming more well-rounded engineers, but our deliberate goal to help foster meaningful connections for students has helped them grow as individuals. Through our collaborative spirit, we have, and continue to strive to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment that makes students feel valued and guides them on their journey through college and into the industry.”
While the majority of members being within Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, the group welcomes students from across the university, stating that aerospace is a multifaceted discipline and as they continue to expand, they hope to engage more students from other majors who are interested in aerospace.