UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Allen Nunes, a third-year student majoring in mechanical engineering at Penn State, has been selected as a member of the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship Class of 2026, which connects high-achieving students with leading aerospace companies through paid summer internships, mentorship and financial support.
The national program announced its newest class on Feb. 20 in Huntsville, Alabama, selecting 23 undergraduate students from 20 colleges and universities across 15 states and territories.
“To me, the Patti Grace Smith Fellowship is a pathway,” Nunes said. “It’s a pathway to the aerospace industry I once dreamed of, and a pathway to connect with likeminded individuals with the same goal of revolutionizing the aerospace industry.”
As a class of 2026 fellow, Nunes will receive a cash grant, mentorship from leaders across multiple levels of the aerospace industry, and a paid summer internship with one of the nation’s top aerospace companies. Fellows will spend the summer working on projects ranging from rocket engine and satellite testing to supersonic aircraft development, space debris mitigation and aerospace policy analysis.
Nunes will intern this summer with Blue Origin, a private aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos that develops reusable rockets and spacecraft for commercial and government missions.
“This internship will lay the groundwork for my doctorate in aerospace engineering, allowing me to learn how to navigate both the industry and academic worlds,” Nunes said. “After earning my doctorate, I hope to return to the aerospace industry and contribute to spacecraft guidance navigation and control systems.”
Named for Patti Grace Smith, who led the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation at the dawn of the commercial space era, the fellowship has become a prominent pathway into the aerospace industry. Since its founding in 2020, 199 students have been named fellows, receiving more than $540,000 in grants.
Candidates are selected through a rigorous, multi-round process that evaluates professional aptitude, creativity, leadership and commitment to service. The program is designed to support students before they secure their first major aerospace internship, creating a structured pathway into the industry.
At Penn State, Nunes is part of the College of Engineering community and is connected with the Multicultural Engineering Program (MEP) and the Penn State Chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), both of which support students pursuing engineering disciplines.
“Allen’s leadership in the SHPE at Penn State is defined by consistency, empathy and a deep sense of responsibility to his peers,” said Lauren Griggs, director of MEP. “Being named a Patti Grace Smith Fellow will be pivotal in shaping his career in the aerospace industry, providing him with the mentorship, leadership development and professional exposure needed to thrive. Just as importantly, this fellowship will strengthen Allen’s ability to give back, ensuring he continues to uplift and create opportunities for the communities that helped shape him.”