Changemaker: A new chapter of the National Gay Pilots Association lifts off at MSU De
Sebastian Steele started the group to help support LGBTQ+ Aviation students like him.
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Program Overview
SpaceTech Scholars will increase the recruitment, retention, graduation and career placement rates of underrepresented students (i.e., Hispanic, female-identifying, other minority, low-income, first-generation, and/or student veteran) as aspiring professionals in the domains of aerospace science and engineering. This scholarship is dedicated to creating infrastructure for student success through extensive coaching, peer-to-peer academic support, community building, professional mentorship, and networking with diverse professionals within the field. Additionally, we aim to holistically support our students through opportunities and programming to improve physical and mental wellness, financial literacy, professional communication, and various other areas of student need.
VUELO and FYE Application
Application Closed
Applications for the 2025-2026 VUELO and First Year Experience have closed. All applicants have been notified of their status.
Mission Statement
The SpaceTech Scholars mission is to address the demonstrated need for Aerospace professionals in Colorado (and the United States at large), as well as the lack of diversity in this industry. Within the College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design (C–ACED). SpaceTech Scholars will increase the recruitment, retention, graduation and career placement rates of underrepresented students (i.e. Hispanic, female-identifying, other minority, low-income, first-generation, and/or student veteran) as aspiring Aerospace industry professionals.
Get Involved
SpaceTech has community engagement opportunities for K-12 and MSU Denver students.
Click below to learn more!
Scholarship FAQs
Click Here to access the undergraduate scholarship rubric page which we will be using to assess your application.
All majors of incoming freshman qualify for the FYE. But preference will be given to those pursuing a career in aerospace and show a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
- We are housed within the Aviation & Aerospace Science Department and although we understand that Aviation is a part of the aerospace industry, the scholarship’s primary workforce pathways and efforts are to support students attempting to pursue and access the aerospace industry in an engineering, computing, programming, and manufacturing technology capacity.
- Therefore, students in the pro-flight officer concentration may apply but their application must demonstrate a strong commitment to our mission statement as well as an advocacy for equity and inclusion efforts in aviation.
- Students must have more than 12 credit hours
- A completed FAFSA
- Demonstrated Financial Need
Requirements include:
- Enrolling in the following courses: AVS 190-B (Fall) AES ??? (Spring).
- Completing the FAFSA
- Keeping an active profile on CareerLink
- Attending three events hosted by campus or other professional organizations.
- Checking in with your assigned peer-mentor twice a semester.
Login to CareerLink to keep track of your requirements. Click on Pathways and SpaceTech Scholars will appear listing the 2023-2024 school year. On this page, you will find all requirements for both semesters.
- Maintaining an active interest in the aerospace industry.
- Completing the FAFSA
- Keeping an active profile on CareerLink
- Attending 3 events hosted by campus or other professional organizations.
- Checking in with your assigned Success Coach twice a semester.
Yes, all students are required to re-apply to the scholarship. Although a student’s spot will be taken into account for the following year, there is no guarantee that their spot will be reserved.
FAQs for non-US Citizens
Yes, Non-US citizens are welcome to apply to all programs. This includes VUELO, FYE, and the undergraduate scholarship.
Jobs in the aerospace industry are most often associated with the Department of the Defense. This means that most jobs in this industry require a security clearance. A security clearance authorizes an individual to certain information they otherwise would not have access to. Most often times than not, US citizenship status is required for all clearanced positions.
Therefore, our non-US citizen SpaceTech Scholars encounter more barriers in aerospace and are therefore, encouraged to apply their talents in other related fields.
As an undocumented student pursuing a degree in any of the pathways we support, your career will look like that of an independent contractor. This means that all work that you can pursue is required to fall into the independent contractor territory.
Financial Planning Literacy Workshops with Professor Rey Hernandez-Julian
Resources
- Paid internship and executive mentorship Fellowship for Women: Brooke Owens Fellowship| Deadline is in October for the following summer. Apply Here!
- Paid internship and executive mentorship Fellowship all to apply:Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship| Deadline is in October for the following summer. Apply Here!
- NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory Undergraduate Internships. Apply Here!
- SpaceTech Staff visit classrooms and conferences. Want to join us? Message our our Outreach Coordinator @ [email protected]
- Want to become involved with a community partner? Contact Greggory Cannady to contribute to the OneVoice Project where Greggory is looking for mentors to help his CubeSats projects which have a global impact!
Meet our SpaceTech Team
Roberto De Mata, M.A.
Project Manager
Grant & Program Oversight | Undergraduate Success Coach
[email protected] Schedule a meeting with me today!
Lisa Bertoson
STEM Community Coordinator
Undergraduate Community Building and Campus Liason | Undergraduate Success Coach
[email protected] Schedule a meeting with me today!
Maria Ratliff, M.Ed.
Outreach Coordinator
K-12 Outreach & STEM Collaboration | Undergraduate Success Coach
[email protected] Schedule a meeting with me today!Student Staff
Evelyn Montes Gonzalez
SpaceTech Fellow
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