Constellations of Possibilities as an AIAA Rising Star
In the fall, Ava Lewis, a third-year aerospace science and engineering major at the University of California, Davis, was selected as a 2026 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, or AIAA, Rising Star. This honor gave her access to one of the aerospace industry’s most influential conferences and a front-row seat at what a future career could look like.
We spoke with Lewis after she attended the AIAA SciTech Forum, held Jan. 12–16 in Orlando, Florida. In this Q&A, she reflects on career-defining conversations, confronting imposter syndrome and the connections that will shape her path for years to come.
What makes an AIAA Rising Star?
An AIAA Rising Star is someone who has a passion for all things aerospace and the curiosity to sustain their passion by asking questions and seeking out opportunities to learn more.
Why did you apply for the program? What were you hoping to get out of it?
I applied to this program because the professor for whom I am an undergraduate researcher, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Christina Harvey, encouraged me to apply. When I applied for the program, I was nervous about getting accepted but hopeful. I was most excited about meeting the other students in the program and learning more about the opportunities available in the industry.
As a Rising Star, you were able to attend the AIAA SciTech Forum with a curated schedule that included special meet-and-greets, panels and more. Can you tell us about that?
SciTech is one of the largest aerospace conferences hosted by AIAA. AIAA is the top professional organization for those in the aerospace industry or trying to break into the industry. The conference is a mixture of students and professionals, all coming together to celebrate new research and learn more about advancements in the industry. There are technical talks, committee meetings, panels, social hours and so much more, and every event is geared towards bringing people from different companies, schools and backgrounds together to share what they have learned.
What did your week at SciTech consist of?
Every day was a little bit different while at SciTech.
On the first night, prior to the conference, I had a brief orientation to meet the other Rising Stars and some senior members of AIAA. Then, on the first day, I attended a lot of career accelerator program talks. We even had a private session with a Blue Origin Astronaut, Amy Jorge Medina.
The second day was when the Expo Hall opened. I spent most of my time there talking to company recruiters and university representatives — it was not dissimilar to a career fair. On the third day, I went to a speed mentoring session, where I got to talk to and ask questions of professionals from a variety of aerospace companies in a smaller group setting.
Lastly, on the fourth day, we were given the opportunity to go to the Kennedy Space Center by a donor from AIAA. The Kennedy Space Center was really impactful because, sometimes, when I am working on homework or studying, it is hard to see the big picture of what can be achieved. Seeing the space shuttle, Saturn V rocket and so many other amazing feats was really inspiring and motivating.
What part of the program did you find the most interesting or impactful?
I really enjoyed the career accelerator program held on the first day of the conference. It was a program created for students and young professionals to give us a better understanding of the recruiting process and what to expect when transitioning from school to the workforce.
I especially enjoyed a panel of young professionals who talked about the first six months of their full-time jobs and how they balanced work and life. One of the things that stuck with me was one of the panelists' responses to a question about imposter syndrome. She admitted that every day she feels like an imposter, but that you have to figure out how to overcome that feeling and not let it affect your work because you wouldn’t have been chosen for the role if you couldn’t do it.
For me personally, it was impactful to hear someone so successful in their early career talk about imposter syndrome because that is something I have struggled with in my time at Davis. Not only having that feeling validated but also hearing about how someone else handled it, made me feel like that is something I could overcome in my future career.
What kinds of doors does participating in a program like AIAA Rising Stars open?
Participating in a program like Rising Stars opens the doors to so many different opportunities that I never would have believed possible a week ago. It connects you with people from around the world and gives you the resources to explore the different career paths that your major has to offer.
Within the Expo Hall, a lot of the companies had a QR code that you could scan and submit your resume to. Even if the companies weren’t hiring at the moment, they said they would keep them on file for future job opportunities. Two of the companies that I gave my resume to and could foresee a future internship with are Anduril and the Air Force Research Lab. I connected with representatives from both companies during the speed mentoring activity. Both companies hire interns based on specific project needs, and I am hopeful that I will hear back.
On Sunday night, during our orientation for Rising Stars, the CEO of AIAA, Clay Mowry, told us that our fellow Rising Stars present and past will be our best network in the future. This was reinforced when a past Rising Star told us about the companies that the Rising Stars from her class went on to intern and work at. I believe that the friendships I formed with the other Rising Stars will be the most valuable connections from this week.
