Serra receives Hugh G. Rumler Prize

Michigan Aerospace congratulates Morgan Serra, the 2023 recipient of the prestigious Hugh G. Rumler Prize from the College of Engineering. The Rumler prize is given annually to a senior who demonstrates “sincerity, integrity, and goodwill.” 

Serra’s contributions across the department also resulted in a coveted Twenty 20’s award from Aviation Week, acknowledging the top twenty up and coming aerospace engineering leaders.

We sat down with Serra to learn more about her and her engineering aspirations.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a Senior, graduating with BSE in Aerospace in May 2023 and hope to finish my MSE in Aerospace through at U-M in May 2024.

What are you studying and why?

I am studying Aerospace Engineering with minors in Sustainability and Physics. I have always been a math and science kid and knew from a young age that I wanted to do something with engineering since I loved my elementary school technology classes. I chose aerospace because I like the added challenge of creating high-fidelity products that needed to succeed in the air with limited prior-ground testing opportunities. Plus, defense jets are super cool. I paired this major with a sustainability minor because I hope to make a positive impact in making the aerospace industry a more sustainable one.

What has been your experience like in Aero?

Aerospace engineering is never boring. I have loved every minute of it and it is such an exciting field. My extracurricular experiences have allowed me to explore many facets of aerospace such as aerostructures, systems engineering, MBSE, project management, aircraft, spacecraft, and real-world sustainability applications. I am fortunate to attend the University of Michigan as I am surrounded by incredibly talented faculty and students who motivate me to be a leader and best.

What do you hope to do?

I am staying at Umich for one more year to get my Masters in Aerospace Engineering. After that, I hope to work for the aerospace private sector in the defense industry. I would like to work on aerostructures/aircraft design or systems engineering roles. I hope to also get my MBA one day as my end goal is to work my way up to more managerial roles. 

How does this award help you?

This award recognizes and validates a lot of my hard work up until this point; it motivates me to keep pushing the boundaries of what I can achieve. The monetary value of this scholarship is extremely helpful in easing the financial burden of higher education and will allow me to continue fulfilling my eagerness to learn with a Masters and MBA.