• Patti Grace Smith Fellow, Class of 2025

• University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, Mechanical Engineering, ‘28

• Host Institution: Astroscale

“Not only do we live among the stars, the stars live within you” – Neil deGrasse Tyson. To live intelligently, one must recognize the value of their own worth and knowledge. From this acknowledgment, I have derived a passion: a passion for learning and challenging my creativity. I have channeled this passion through a love and fascination for engineering, which drove me to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez. Since my early academic years, I have cultivated this fascination, combining technical innovation with community impact. As an active volunteer and leader in multiple service activities, I contributed to patient care at Auxilio Mutuo Hospital and participated in holiday gift drives for underprivileged families. My commitment to education extended beyond my studies, as I provided free academic tutoring to students while serving as Regional President of the National Honor Society of Puerto Rico. Over three consecutive years in this role, I developed national-level activities focused on promoting leadership, teamwork, service, and STEM. To hone my technical skills, I participated in the AirScouts Program in collaboration with the FAA. Here, I worked with air quality sensors, drone flight, and robotic assembly—skills that solidified my interest in engineering. This technical foundation led me to the NASA RASC-AL competition team at my university, SPARC, where I currently serve as a Structural Design Engineer. Through this team, I acquired expertise in computer-aided design, problem-solving, and collaborative development, providing me with a real-world perspective on engineering projects. This experience motivated me to identify a specific branch of engineering that excites me: sustainable space exploration. Driven by this newfound passion, I began developing my own project, for which I now seek guidance from my peers and mentors. This initiative, alongside my technical and leadership experiences, prepared me for an incredible opportunity: my first aerospace internship with Astroscale U.S. I am honored and excited to join the forefront of space sustainability, a field that aligns greatly with my aspirations. My long-term goal is to contribute directly to space exploration—whether behind mission control or aboard a spacecraft. I am determined to go above and beyond to accomplish this lifelong dream and am proud to have completed the first crucial steps in this journey. I owe my progress to the unwavering support of those who believed in me, and I strive to honor their trust by becoming a more innovative and impactful leader. As a Pattie Grace Smith Fellow, I am committed to continue applying the foundation’s mission to my life. By leveraging my technical background, leadership experience, and genuine passion for creating positive change, I hope to inspire others and leave a lasting impact. My diverse experiences in STEM education, environmental conservation, and community service align seamlessly with the foundation’s goals, empowering me to continue advancing both my community and the future of space exploration.