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New flight simulator lab for engineering education

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 18 May 2026 18:39:35 +0000

New flight simulator lab for engineering education Jeff Zehnder Mon, 05/18/2026 - 12:39

Jeff Zehnder

The flight simulators in use, including one with virtual reality goggles. In the background, a discussion with Schaden (seated).

Flying the (virtual) skies

Jackson Clark pushes to full throttle, pulls back on the yoke, and eases into the right rudder pedal as he soars through the sky on a clear day – all without leaving the Aerospace Building.

In a room packed with the latest in flight simulator technology, students are testing out virtual aircraft, not to become licensed pilots, but to study the engineering of aircraft design.

The Undergraduate Flight Simulation Studio is a new facility at the 91��Ҹ� 91��Ҹ�, giving students in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences hands-on aeronautical experience.

“You can teach with a book or on a MatLab plot, but students don’t really understand until they fly it,” said Charles Hoke, an associate teaching professor who led development of the center.

Funded with major support from aerospace engineer, attorney, and passionate CU 91��Ҹ� advocate Richard F. Schaden, the facility has seven simulator bays stocked with flight yokes, rudder pedals, and aircraft throttles, complete with the myriad switches, buttons, and lights that comprise actual plane cockpits.

Students also have the option of wearing virtual reality headsets for a 360-degree experience.

“As a pilot, I have flown in flight simulators over the past 35 years to demonstrate compliance with the performance, stability and control of aircraft as they were designed,” said Schaden, who visited the lab for an official unveiling May 7. “Now, here in the lab, students can experiment with design changes to see the effects on the performance, stability and control as modified by them as engineers. This allows the students to experience immediate engineering feedback in ways that may be more precise than they could achieve through wind tunnel tests ”

The lab allows students the chance to test classroom projects and new aircraft concepts. It also offers the ability to show how small changes in existing planes alter their airworthiness.

You can teach with a book or on a MatLab plot, but students don’t really understand until they fly it." - Charles Hoke

“Standard flight simulators are for pilot training,” Hoke said. “That’s not useful for engineers. We want to get into the guts of these things, change the parameters, and learn about aircraft dynamics.”

The lab will be a standard component of sophomore-level courses, impacting over 300 students per year. It will also be available for clubs and other projects.

Students have already been able to use the facility to test plane designs they developed as part of spring semester capstone senior projects. By loading 3D 91��Ҹ� of their aircraft into the simulator, they were able to collect high fidelity data on drag and aerodynamic performance for analysis

“It has been really cool to see senior project teams come in and use the tools,” said Clark, an aerospace master’s student who helped build the facility. “It’s incredibly immersive and shows the vision for this lab is immediately being applied.”

Hoke also emphasized the simulator’s value as a learning tool.

“When teams design an airframe, they get the chance to fly at 91��Ҹ� Model Airfield, but you’re lucky to get 1-2 flights. With this simulator, they could fly their designs for hours and hours and get more data for analysis. When I came to CU 91��Ҹ�, I made it my mission to create a facility like this. It’s very exciting to see it come to life.”

Jackson Clark pushes to full throttle, pulls back on the yoke, and eases into the right rudder pedal as he soars through the sky on a clear day – all without leaving the Aerospace Building...

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LASP celebrates student employees, welcoming some graduates as new colleagues

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:23:30 +0000

LASP celebrates student employees, welcoming some graduates as new colleagues Jeff Zehnder Mon, 05/11/2026 - 09:23

The Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) celebrated a record cohort of student employees graduating from the 91��Ҹ� 91��Ҹ� this spring. More than 50 LASP student employees were recognized in departmental ceremonies across the university last weekend and at the campus-wide commencement at Folsom Field on Saturday, May 2.

While LASP does not confer degrees like an academic department, it is proud to employ nearly 150 CU 91��Ҹ� students who gain hands‑on experience working directly on NASA missions, instrument development, and scientific research, which positions them to enter the aerospace workforce after graduation, sometimes at LASP.

The graduating students span nearly every division of LASP, including 23 students in Science, 16 in Mission Operations and Data Systems (MODS), 12 in Engineering, and two in Finance and Operations. Within those divisions, the Planetary Science group and Mission Operations each graduated 11 students, followed by Space Physics with six, Mechanical Engineering with five, and Solar/Stellar with four.

On April 21, the students were honored at the LASP Graduating Student Recognition Ceremony, where they received the first‑ever LASP graduation stoles—a new tradition that reflects the students’ LASP affiliation and the pride they take in contributing to space missions throughout their academic careers.

“As the Class of 2026 begins the next chapters of their careers, LASP celebrates their achievements and the lasting impact they have made on the lab’s missions and community,” said LASP Director Bethany Ehlmann. “Long after graduation, their work will continue to shape instruments that fly in space, data that informs scientific discovery, and operations that keep NASA missions running.

One of the year’s standout student achievements was earned by Amy Haft, who was awarded a prestigious Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship for her investigation into how charged spacecraft interact with plasma environments in low Earth orbit. Haft is a third‑year aerospace engineering doctoral student whose research bridges the Autonomous Vehicle Systems Laboratory, where she works with Hanspeter Schaub, and LASP, where she works with senior research scientist Jan Deca.

Additionally, four LASP student employees in Engineering—graduate students Jocelyn Lafyatis and Sierra Vesey and undergraduate students Mia Nemkovich and Noah Sentnor—were nominated for CU 91��Ҹ�’s 2026 Student Employee of the Year Award, reflecting the professional contributions students make at LASP.

“As we plan for the future of space science, engineering and technology, our students are critical to advancing LASP’s endeavors. With the support of Dr. Ehlmann, we are working to both expand undergraduate hiring and enhance the student employee experience at the lab,” said LASP Director of Engagement, Assessment, and Innovation Lynda Duran. “These efforts include fostering a welcoming environment for students, expanding our outreach for student recruitment with intention, and assessing the student experience to inform long-term student engagement.”

Amy Haft, a third-year graduate student in Aerospace Engineering Sciences, was one of five CU 91��Ҹ� students named a 2025-2026 NASA FINESST Fellow. The grants provide up to $50,000 annually for three years to cover tuition, expenses, and student-designed research projects. NASA received nearly 1,500 submissions for the program, with fewer than 9 percent of applicants receiving awards. Credit: CU 91��Ҹ�

This year’s graduating class also highlights a trend that has become central to LASP’s workforce development mission: students don’t just come to LASP to work during their studies, many of them come to stay. Of the 53 graduating students, 19 graduates are transitioning into temporary researcher positions; six have accepted professional staff roles; and 11 are beginning graduate school in the fall, many of them continuing their research at LASP.

Lucia Wittiko—who worked for MODS while pursuing her master’s degree in aerospace engineering and applied computer science on the use of machine learning to detect satellite anomalies—graduated last week and will now join MODS in a full-time professional staff role.

Alex Pichler, now a SmallSat Mission Operations flight director at LASP, began working as an undergraduate student flight controller while studying for his bachelor’s in aerospace engineering. After graduating in 2023, he became a professional flight controller at LASP and later joined the SmallSat Mission Operations team.

According to Pichler, around 40 percent of Mission Operations professionals are former student employees. “We have heavily invested in their training, and they are familiar with the projects, the data, and the operations. It’s quite a pipeline,” he said. “Some may go out and work elsewhere for a while, but many of them end up coming back to LASP.”

LASP additionally has many full-time employees pursuing degrees. For example, Pichler is now pursuing a dual master’s in engineering management and aerospace engineering, aiming to graduate in 2027.

The retention pattern underscores LASP’s role in training the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and mission operators. “Ultimately,” said Duran, “my hope is that we continue to foster a meaningful experience for students, so they remain engaged with LASP as they pursue their professional careers in space exploration.”

LASP offers several other opportunities for undergraduates to become involved in space exploration, including the summer-long 91��Ҹ� Solar Alliance 91��Ҹ� Experience for Undergraduates program; the Barth Scholarship; and the Student Flight Controllers Program, which certifies and hires undergraduates to work as operators for NASA missions. Additionally, LASP employs CU 91��Ҹ� graduate students as Graduate 91��Ҹ� Assistants from many departments, including Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, Geological Sciences, Physics, Aerospace Engineering Sciences, Computer Sciences, and Mechanical Engineering.

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Successful student-built liquid rocket engine test

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 07 May 2026 15:00:44 +0000

Successful student-built liquid rocket engine test Jeff Zehnder Thu, 05/07/2026 - 09:00

Jeff Zehnder

Fire, smoke, and roar of a rocket engine blasted the Colorado prairie – the Ablative Mark 1 test was an exciting victory.

A student club project at the 91��Ҹ� 91��Ҹ�, the static firing of the liquid-fueled engine is the culmination of thousands of hours of work by dozens of students.

”It’s the most powerful liquid rocket ever at CU 91��Ҹ� and the test was a massive success,” said Matthew Startsev, an aerospace junior.

Startsev is the president of Project Big Dumb Rockets (BDR), so named for their goal of making the world of liquid-fueled rockets more approachable.

“We started this entire project because we felt that collegiate liquid rocketry seemed overly complex and as a freshman it seemed difficult to grasp. We wanted to dumb it down and provide opportunities for people to get into it without being intimidated,” Startsev said.

Multiple Triumphs

The test is latest triumph for BDR, after successes earlier this year with a first spark torch hot fire and a static fire test of a regeneratively cooled liquid rocket engine.

“We’ve been able to validate and improve our computational 91��Ҹ�, manufacturing techniques, and test infrastructure. It’s all in the goal to move towards more ambitious projects,” Startsev said. Most student rocket designs use solid fuel; the technology is simpler and more reliable. BDR decided on liquid because it is more common in commercial rocket launches.

“We’re matching what industry does,” Startsev said. “Our members become more marketable when they work on systems that are fairly similar to what they’ll encounter in the real world.”

Static fire test of the regeneratively-cooled engine in February.

Hot fire test of the first spark torch, held in the Aerospace Building Test Cell.

From the Ground Up

Their efforts started from nothing, with the design and construction done in-house, much of it in the Aerospace Building machine shops.

In mapping out their plan, team members sought guidance from other rocketry teams across the U.S. as well as working engineers, including at sponsor Ursa Major, and at companies like SpaceX and Stoke Space.

“The test stand, the engine, the ground station equipment, we made all this happen and the way we structure the team gives everyone the opportunity to take ownership” Startsev aid. “It’s not just four people in leadership. New members and freshmen can bite off more than they can chew and then figure out how to get through it.”

A ground fire test is a critical step for any rocket, whether made by students or NASA planning a mission to Mars.

“You need sensor data to know that your model reflects reality. We use pressure transducers, thermo couples and load cells to get that information and make sure the rocket is producing the 1,100-foot pounds of force we predicted,” Startsev said.

National Recognition

The team’s work has not gone unnoticed, even before their recent tests. In January, they took part in the 2026 Liquid Propulsion Symposium in Southern California, and returned to Colorado with a Rookie of the Year Award.

“It’s so cool to see this thing and the dozens of members learning from the project,” Startsev said. “Everyone is really excited.”

Fire, smoke, and roar of a rocket engine blasted the Colorado prairie – the Ablative Mark 1 test was an exciting victory. A student club project at the 91��Ҹ� 91��Ҹ�, the static firing of...

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Six students earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowships

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 04 May 2026 16:51:23 +0000

Six students earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowships Jeff Zehnder Mon, 05/04/2026 - 10:51

Jeff Zehnder

Six aerospace students have earned prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate 91��Ҹ� Fellowship Program awards.

Duncan Byrne, Renée DePencier Piñero, Emily Gokie, Aakash Jain, CJ O'Neill, and Alexandria Rhoads are 2026 recipients of the NSF GRFP awards, which recognize and support outstanding grad students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who are pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees.

Awardees receive a $37,000 annual stipend and cost of education allowance for the next three years as well as professional development opportunities.

Find out about their research below

Duncan Byrne

1st Year PhD Student

Advisor: Sean Peters
Lab: Peters Lab

I am developing an orbital radar simulator to forward model the data we expect to see from Europa Clipper's radar sounder instrument (REASON). By creating an efficient simulator which can operate at planetary scales we can form better interpretations and improved inversions of the icy moon's subsurface, helping the mission goal of habitability investigation and planetary exploration.

Renée DePencier Piñero

Incoming PhD Student

Advisor: Torin Clark
Lab: Bioastronautics Lab

My research will broadly focus on human performance and adaptation in aerospace environments. I am particularly interested in studying sensorimotor and physiological responses to altered-gravity conditions, as well as human interaction with autonomous systems in complex operational settings. My work will involve developing experimental and computational approaches to characterize how humans adapt to dynamic environments and collaborate with automated systems, to inform predictive 91��Ҹ� and countermeasures that support astronaut health, decision-making, and operational effectiveness. This research contributes to the development of human-centered aerospace systems for safe and sustainable space exploration.

Emily Gokie

Incoming PhD Student

Advisors: Penina Axelrad and Dennis Akos
Lab: COMPASS Lab and the Radio Frequency & Satellite Navigation Lab

I am interested in enhancing the precision timing abilities of small satellites for reliable positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). There is a current shortfall in timing systems and methods that function with the low operating parameters required of small satellites and also meet the stability performance required for communication, PNT, and networking. These applications range from LEO constellations to cislunar missions. I want to investigate methods to improve performance using compact atomic clocks. In past research, I demonstrated the impact of limiting environmental temperature perturbations for such clocks as well as explored hybrid timing architectures to improve their long-term performances.

Aakash Jain

Incoming PhD Student

Advisors: John Evans and Kurt Maute
Lab: Computational Mechanics and Geometry Laboratory (CMGLab)

My research develops adjoint methods for hybrid particle-continuum solvers used in hypersonic computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Current high-fidelity hypersonic simulations couple continuum fluid solvers with particle-based Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) methods to accurately model flow across all altitude regimes, but no framework exists to efficiently compute gradients for these systems. By formulating an adjoint method for this hybrid solver — and implementing it on GPU-accelerated hardware — the work will enable gradient-based optimization of hypersonic vehicles at a fraction of the cost of traditional approaches, opening the door to high-fidelity multidisciplinary design optimization across the full hypersonic flight envelope for the first time.

Jain has also been awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (CSGP). Federal rules allow honorees to receive only one fellowship. He has chosen the CSGP.

CJ O'Neill

Graduating Senior, attending Caltech in the fall

Advisor: Sean Peters
Lab: Peters Lab

I'm currently using synthetic-aperture radar to study the spread of a tree disease (ROD) in Hawaii by analyzing small changes in reflectivity. At Caltech, I'll transition to planetary geophysics, where I will use synthetic-aperture radar to understand the subsurface composition of icy moons. By observing small crustal deformations using radar, we can use inverse methods to determine the thickness of ice sheets, informing the possibility of life.

Alexandria Rhoads

Incoming PhD Student

Advisor: Vishala Arya
Lab: Space ACCORDS Lab

I will be conducting research under Dr. Vishala Arya in the area of astrodynamics and autonomous space systems. I plan to have a specific focus on trajectory optimization and robust guidance, navigation, and control for space systems. This research aims to develop optimization and control frameworks that improve the resilience, adaptability, and efficiency of future space missions.

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Special college honors for five graduating aerospace seniors

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:40:48 +0000

Special college honors for five graduating aerospace seniors Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/28/2026 - 15:40

The College of Engineering and Applied Science is recognizing five Aerospace Engineering Sciences seniors with Graduating Student Awards.

Krishna Mehta, Xilor Morin, Namita Nair, Alexander Pfankuch and Erick White are each being honored in four categories for individual accomplishments as students in CU Engineering.

Academic Engagement Award - Recognizes students engaged with academics to an extent that elevates their own and/or others’ learning experiences.
- Honoree: Alexander Pfankuch
Community Impact Award - Recognizes undergraduate students who contribute to improving their department/program, college, university, and/or local community.
- Honoree: Xilor Morin
Perseverance Award - Recognizes undergraduate students who persevere despite adversity – above and beyond the inherent perseverance needed in any engineering major.
- Honoree: Krishna Mehta
91��Ҹ� Award - Recognizes students with demonstrated excellence in research. 91��Ҹ� endeavors could be an extension of academic work or formal research appointments.
- Honorees: Namita Nair, Alexander Pfankuch, and Erick White

Students are nominated for these awards by faculty, staff or their peer students. Nominations are reviewed and chosen by special selection committees at the college level.

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2026 Aerospace Graduation Awards

Jeff Zehnder — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:06:45 +0000

2026 Aerospace Graduation Awards Jeff Zehnder Tue, 04/28/2026 - 09:06

Jeff Zehnder

Flickr Album: 2026 Senior Design Awards Ceremony

Congratulations to the Smead Aerospace Class of 2026! As part of our graduation week ceremonies, we are recognizing outstanding students and teams at the undergraduate and graduate level for special achievements.

Most Outstanding Senior

Erick White

College Awards

CU Engineering Award for Community Impact

Xilor Morin

CU Engineering Award for Perseverance

Krishna Mehta

CU Engineering Award for 91��Ҹ�

Namita Nair
Alex Pfankuch
Erick White

CU Engineering Award for Academic Engagement

Alex Pfankuch

Graduate Student Awards

Graduate Award for Outstanding Service

Zachary Funke

Graduate Award for Outstanding Teaching

Amrita Singh
Gabriel Agostine

Graduate Award for 91��Ҹ�

Adam Wilmer
Peter Amorese

Graduate Award for Outstanding Mentorship

J Flores Govea
Jacob Spagnolli

Senior Design Awards

MMO Aviation Team #1

Excellence in Leadership Award - Tom Graeub
Technical Excellence Award - Michael Muehlbradt
‘Above and Beyond’ Award - William Wallingford
Collegiality & Collaboration Award - Aiden Smith

MMO Aviation Team #2

Excellence in Leadership Award - Aiden English
Technical Excellence Award - Raj Bhattaraj
‘Above and Beyond’ Award - Gabriel Burdan
Collegiality & Collaboration Award - Carter Bergman and Abby Moon

Ursa Major Teams

Distinguished Project Excellence Award - Cole Writer
Distinguished Project Excellence Award - Jacob Schleuger
Distinguished Project Excellence Award - Millie Elekovic
Distinguished Project Excellence Award - Nicholas Kieft
Excellence in Leadership Award - Bryce Smith

RTX Team

Excellence in Leadership Award - Alex Pfankuch
Technical Excellence Award - John “Wes” Alford
‘Above and Beyond’ Award - Laurel O’Brien
Collegiality & Collaboration Award - Peter Mortenson

General Atomics Team

Excellence in Leadership Award - Anthony Storm
Technical Excellence Award - YuKang Kong
‘Above and Beyond’ Award - Shawn Patel
Collegiality & Collaboration Award - Ash Tribble and Matthew Siedlecki

Vantor Teams

Excellence in Leadership Award - Namita Nair
Technical Excellence Award - Leya Shaw
‘Above and Beyond’ Award - Barbara De Figueiredo
Collegiality & Collaboration Award - Nicole Reiner

Congratulations to the Smead Aerospace Class of 2026! As part of our graduation week ceremonies, we are recognizing outstanding students and teams at the...

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Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony Information

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 11:09:09 +0000

Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony Information Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/28/2026 - 05:09

Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences will host a commencement ceremony for all graduating aerospace students on May 1, 2026

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Five aerospace grad students earn major NASA fellowships

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:23:03 +0000

Five aerospace grad students earn major NASA fellowships Jeff Zehnder Mon, 04/20/2026 - 11:23

Jeff Zehnder

Five 91��Ҹ� 91��Ҹ� aerospace PhD students have been named 2025-2026 Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST).

James Cannon, Amy Haft, Vidhyarth T.S. Kumar, Rick Marcusen, and Neeti Sonth have each earned the grants, which provide up to $50,000 annually for three years to cover tuition, expenses, and student-designed research projects.

FINESST proposals must address goals relevant to NASA's science mission directorate divisions -- heliophysics, earth science, planetary science, or astrophysics.

NASA received nearly 1,500 submissions for the program. Less than 9 percent of applicants were awarded.

Find out more about each of our awardees and their research below:

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Professor Ali recognized as exceptional mentor

Jeff Zehnder — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:08:22 +0000

Professor Ali recognized as exceptional mentor Jeff Zehnder Fri, 03/27/2026 - 16:08

Hisham Ali is one of twenty-two faculty being recognized with this year’s Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award, the Graduate School announced this week.

The Exceptional Graduate Faculty Mentor Award recognizes the work that faculty mentors do to improve the graduate student experience

These faculty were nominated by students, department or program administrators, faculty or staff for their outstanding contributions either to mentoring individual graduate students, improving the overall climate of graduate education within their program, or improving the graduate program itself.

“The support and enhancement of mentoring is a priority initiative of the Graduate School and that work couldn’t be done without faculty support,” said Scott Adler, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate affairs. “The faculty members recognized by this award have demonstrated their willingness to go above and beyond as a trusted mentor for their students and we’re excited to be able to honor these excellent leaders.”

This year’s recipients include:

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How far can Iran’s ballistic missiles reach? A defense expert explains how the missiles work, and what Iran can and can’t hit

Jeff Zehnder — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:34:12 +0000

How far can Iran’s ballistic missiles reach? A defense expert explains how the missiles work, and what Iran can and can’t hit Jeff Zehnder Thu, 03/26/2026 - 09:34

Recent missiles launches from Iran have flown 2,500 miles. Iain Boyd, a national security expert and professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences answers questions about the deployment, ballistic missile technology generally, and what this new action does, and doesn't mean for the ongoing war, in a new column in The Conversation.

Read the full article at The Conversation...

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News

New flight simulator lab for engineering education

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LASP celebrates student employees, welcoming some graduates as new colleagues

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Successful student-built liquid rocket engine test

Multiple Triumphs

From the Ground Up

National Recognition

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Six students earn prestigious National Science Foundation fellowships

Duncan Byrne

Renée DePencier Piñero

Emily Gokie

Aakash Jain

CJ O'Neill

Alexandria Rhoads

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Special college honors for five graduating aerospace seniors

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2026 Aerospace Graduation Awards

Most Outstanding Senior

College Awards

CU Engineering Award for Community Impact

CU Engineering Award for Perseverance

CU Engineering Award for 91���Ҹ�

CU Engineering Award for Academic Engagement

Graduate Student Awards

Graduate Award for Outstanding Service

Graduate Award for Outstanding Teaching

Graduate Award for 91���Ҹ�

Graduate Award for Outstanding Mentorship

Senior Design Awards

MMO Aviation Team #1

MMO Aviation Team #2

Ursa Major Teams

RTX Team

General Atomics Team

Vantor Teams

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Spring 2026 Graduation Ceremony Information

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Five aerospace grad students earn major NASA fellowships

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Professor Ali recognized as exceptional mentor

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How far can Iran’s ballistic missiles reach? A defense expert explains how the missiles work, and what Iran can and can’t hit

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CU Engineering Award for 91��Ҹ�

Graduate Award for 91��Ҹ�