Aidan Guerra Receives Inaugural Aerospace Fellowship
Aidan Guerra, a fourth-year aerospace science and mechanical engineering double major at the University of California, Davis, has been selected for the inaugural Solastra Fellowship.
The Solastra Fellowship is dedicated to cultivating a strong and dynamic community of Latin American student leaders in aerospace and aviation. The organization’s mission is to empower students to grow as leaders while working to close the diversity gap and uplift underrepresented communities in aerospace.
Guerra is one of four students selected for this first-ever honor. The fellows are recognized for their demonstrated commitment to leadership, technical achievement and community impact.
As part of the fellowship, Guerra and his cohort will receive dedicated mentorship, access to a network of professionals, and a summer internship within the aerospace sector. In addition, they will participate in professional development programs and a community service initiative designed to strengthen both their technical and leadership capabilities.
Guerra will join Blue Origin for his summer internship (his second with the company), where he’ll support the testing of engines like the BE-3U and BE-4 for the New Glenn rocket, as well as the BE-7 for the Blue Moon lunar lander. However, he is most eager to start the community service project, as it touches on an area of his education that is deeply personal to him.
“Solastra’s mission addresses a lonely climb that many Latin American students face in STEM,” he said. “Growing up, I didn’t see aerospace leaders who looked like me or shared my background, which sometimes made my goals feel out of reach. Through the fellowship’s community service project, I aim to mentor students who feel they don’t have leaders to look up to and to show them the opportunities that exist. I’m honored to be part of this inaugural class.”
