Abeni Belay

• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2024

• University of Texas at Dallas, Mechanical Engineering, ‘25

• Host Institution: Sierra Space

Abeni Belay is a junior at The University of Texas at Dallas pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Growing up, Abeni has always been fascinated by the world around her. Since early grade school, she made it a goal to immerse herself in diverse areas of knowledge. Having participated in a variety of multifaceted projects ranging from cellular engineering research to starting a competitive Mars rover club; she has picked up numerous skills during her undergraduate years.

Abeni fell in love with aerospace after joining her school's rocketry club, where she is now an officer and teaches undergraduate students how to build their own rockets. In her free time, she loves to play the piano and violin, listen to music, and experience life with her friends. Abeni is thrilled to be hosted by Sierra Space this summer and is honored to be a 2024 Patti Grace Smith Fellow! In the future, Abeni aims to get her Ph.D. in Aerospace engineering and teach a new generation of engineers.