Aerospace student lands new fellowship

2/26/2018 Debra Levey Larson

Written by Debra Levey Larson

Sara Legg
Sara Legg
Sara Legg Dopico has been selected to be one of 24 fellows in the 2018 inaugural class for the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program.

Dopico is currently a junior in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Illinois. She was chosen from more than 100 applications from 47 colleges in 21 states. From that list, program coordinators rigorously screened the applicants for academic excellence, relevant experience, and a demonstrated passion for innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercial space. 

The program pairs exceptional college juniors, seniors, and graduate students pursuing aerospace careers for a paid summer internship with one of 20 commercial space companies across the nation.

Dopico has been paired with Altius Space Machines in Broomfield, Colorado for her summer internship. She expects the work she’ll be doing will focus on mechanical/structural design and analysis.

Fellows also receive one-on-one mentorship from aerospace industry executives for a full year. The program culminates in a two-day summit during which the fellows will network with leaders in the industry, visit space start-ups, and develop entrepreneurial skills.  

The program was created to honor the memory of Matthew Isakowitz, an engineer and entrepreneur whose passion for commercial space exploration led to great strides in the industry.


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This story was published February 26, 2018.