Two AeroAstro Sophomores receive 2025 Patti Grace Smith Fellowships
Sonia Kekeh and Daniel Rojas ‘27 have been selected as Patti Grace Smith Fellows, making them part of the latest class of 35 students to participate in the award-winning program designed to accelerate the careers of future aerospace leaders. The fellows receive a cash grant of $2,500 for education expenses, as well as a summer aerospace internship at one of America’s leading aerospace companies. The program also provides mentorship and community for Black students and young professionals.
Sonia Kekeh:
I am interested in pursuing space governance and space accessibility. My career objective is to leverage my technical expertise and passion for policy development to contribute significantly to the sustainable and inclusive exploration and utilization of outer space. I aim to work at the intersection of aerospace engineering and public policy, advocating for responsible space governance frameworks, fostering international collaboration, and advancing technologies that promote equitable access to space resources and opportunities. I aspire to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration while ensuring its benefits are shared by all of humanity.
The familiar face of the man on the moon and his twinkling companions have always fascinated me, but I did not consider aerospace engineering as a career possibility until my parents showed me [the film] Hidden Figures. I recognized a familiar ambition in Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson. I hope to be a similar source of inspiration for the Black women to follow me. I enjoy challenging traditional perspectives and pursuing positive change, and I believe this field caters to this objective. As a resilient learner eager to be challenged, I know my parents are proud to witness the individual I have grown to be as a result of the reverence for education they instilled in me.
Previously, I conducted research in MIT’s Media Lab in the Space Enabled Group with Dr. Danielle Wood on African space agencies and their policies. I hope to gain more technical experience throughout the rest of my academic career and will likely go into industry post-graduation.
Daniel Rojas:
I’m a first-generation Colombian American majoring in aerospace engineering with a minor in space policy. When I was 5, I was given a Dr. Seuss book about space, and since then, I’ve been hopelessly captivated by the idea of space exploration. I’m motivated by a belief that humanity’s destiny is space exploration, and I believe that the only way we can accomplish that is by being innovative and ambitious. I love to learn, and I believe that what’s gotten me farthest in life has been my curiosity for everything and the unwavering support from my parents.
Currently. I’m a test engineer and fluid systems responsible engineer on the Liquid Propulsion subteam on the MIT Rocket Team, treasurer of the Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS) chapter, student researcher at the MIT Space Propulsion Lab, NASA challenges participant, and executive board member of The Standard, a professional and personal development organization for men of color. Short term, I want to enable Rocket Team to develop a propulsively landed rocket and create a mentorship and tutoring program with local high schools with The Standard members. Long-term, I want to revolutionize the aerospace industry by starting my own rocket/satellite company and create a non-profit mentorship organization dedicated to supporting high schoolers who want to go into aerospace engineering. I will be interning at SpaceX this summer on the Raptor Components team in Hawthorne, CA.
My professional interests include propulsion, test engineering, space telecommunications, and politics. I love to play tennis, volunteer, play the piano, read fantasy novels, dance salsa and bachata, and watch basketball.
