Aerospace Student Award Winners of 2024

University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering students have outdone themselves again as they have been recognized by the College of Engineering for their leadership and academic achievements. Congratulations to four exceptional students from our department who have been announced as 2024 Student Leaders and Honors Award recipients. These students exemplify the academic excellence and outstanding performance of the University of Michigan, as well as the Aerospace Department, and we look forward to watching all of their successful endeavors in the future.

Distinguished Academic Achievement – Undergraduate Award

This award is presented to an outstanding undergraduate student in each degree program within the College of Engineering who excels in areas including academic achievement, exemplary character, leadership in class and activities, and potential for success in future endeavors.

José Luiz Vargas de Mendonça is majoring in Aerospace and Computer Engineering, and is on track to graduate in the spring of 2024. His research interests include computational fluid dynamics, formal verification and quantum computing. Additionally, he has been involved in the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association (MASA) for almost four years, working on the rocket fin design for the Tangerine Space Machine. During the summer and fall of 2022, he served as the Avionics Lead for MASA’s rocket, Clementine, where he founded the group’s software subteam. Vargas De Mendonca has also recently been named one of the winners of the Aviation Week Network’s 20 Twenties class of 2024.

“As I graduate this semester, I see this award as a recognition of my involvement and contributions to the Aero community throughout my undergraduate experience. Ranging from starting the software subteam at MASA, to serving as Academic Chair for Sigma Gamma Tau Honor Society (SGT) and starting the SGT Instagram, to doing research and working on challenging projects for the group-based Aerospace classes.”

Distinguished Leadership Award – Undergraduate Students

The Distinguished Leadership Award is conferred upon undergraduate and graduate students of the College of Engineering who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and service to the College, University and community.

Ashley Carman is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and is the president of the Michigan Sustainability Applications for Aerospace Vehicle Engineering (M-SAAVE) team, as well as a member of the Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics (WAA) student organization. Her experience pursuing research in Professor Chris Limbach’s Photonic Sensing and Flow Interaction Laboratory has affirmed her desire to dedicate her life to sustainable space exploration methods. Whether it be electric propulsion, or sustainability practices to maintain a presence in space, she is committed to the pursuit of making exploration accessible and achievable on all levels.

“I am really grateful for the opportunity, however, I find it fulfilling enough just to participate in the activities I do. I am so honored to be in a position to inspire other students to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and help improve the lives of as many as they can. The ability to be that inspiration for others, and knowing that I am making strides to help others, motivates everything I do. Being President of M-SAAVE this past year has been one of my most rewarding endeavors of my life, as well as watching the new Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics board members fill in my prior shoes from when I was External Vice President.”

Zoe Pizzuti is majoring in Aerospace Engineering and is on track to graduate in the spring of 2024, with plans to return to U-M to pursue a Masters in Aerospace Engineering. Once she receives her Masters, Pizzuti plans on pursuing a career in space systems. Her major leadership involvement has been through WAA, where she previously served as one of the Conference Co-Chairs in 2022, and has been President since December 2022.

“I am so honored and excited to receive the Distinguished Leadership Award from the College of Engineering. Through student organizations and classes in the Aerospace Department, I have been able to serve my aerospace community as a leader, mentor and friend. I am especially thankful for my time as a leader in the Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics organization. WAA has given me a community that I am so thankful for, and I hope to have left a positive impact on our organization and the department as a whole through my time in leadership.”

Tau Beta Pi First Year Student Awards

This recognition highlights exceptional achievements as a first-year student, positioning them among the best and brightest of their peers.

Armaan Kamat is a first-year student majoring in Aerospace Engineering, pursuing research with the Laboratory for Air Transportation, Infrastructure, and Connected Environments (LATTICE), supervised by Professor Max Li. He is also a member of the aerodynamic sub-team of the M-Fly student organization and is a private pilot, mainly flying a Cessna 172. Kamat is interested in the operational/logistical side of the aerospace enterprise and will be interning at Aerodynamic Advisory, an aviation consulting firm, later this year.

“I am very honored to receive the First Year Student Award from Tau Beta Pi and am grateful for this distinction. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to become an Aerospace Engineer and am excited everyday at the opportunity to pursue that goal at U-M. My experience in the department has been everything I had hoped and more. I am eager to expand my knowledge of aerospace