UCLA Career Center

Apply by October 15th to become a Patti Grace Smith Fellow in the Class of 2024! We created this program to be *the best way* for Black and African-American undergrads to get started in their aerospace careers. The Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is designed to give our Fellows everything they need to succeed in aerospace. Our "Patties" Fellows get: ☑️ a paid internship in aviation or aerospace (Engineering, science, biz, policy, and more) ☑️ one-on-one mentorships from senior execs / leaders AND from folks slightly senior to our Fellows ☑️ a community of similarly talented and passionate Black undergrads who are also just starting their aerospace journeys ☑️ scholarships of ~$2,500 that can be used for tuition, textbooks, software, professional attire, et cetera. Our Fellows get to do some pretty dang incredible things, because they are pretty dang incredible people. I'm not saying that *all* of them get to meet with the Vice President or to experience weightlessness... but all of them get incredible, life-changing opportunities and experiences. At the core of the Patti experience: paid summer internships. Our Fellows work at the coolest companies in aerospace! We know many students don't really know the full breadth of companies / job types in industry, so we match Fellows to potential positions that best suit their skills and interests. Between their internships, their time with their mentors, and their interactions with their PGSF classmates, our Fellows develop a ton of new skills while at the same time growing their understanding of the aerospace world and making their first meaningful contributions to the success of real missions. The program is specifically for students who are looking for their very first job in aerospace -- so you don't need to already have a fully loaded resume to apply. We also know that talent is displayed in many different ways, so we don't have GPA thresholds. Our application process is program is quite competitive -- it's not easy to get into, but we do give applicants lots of opportunities to show their skills and their potential *in the way that makes the most sense to them*, not just in one very static, formulaic way. In my 20+ years in aerospace (academy, commercial, and non-profit sectors), I have not had nearly as many Black colleagues as the level of talent, grit, and interest in the Black community would indicate. Our community needs to do better. Thankfully, many people recognize that; hence the great support the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship has received. I'm grateful to all who have helped us enable & celebrate Black excellence in aerospace by apply, hiring, recommending, mentoring, donating, & simply spreading the word! pgsfellowship.org