Reuben H. Fleet Scholarship FAQs
Questions?
Points of Contact: AIAA Council
When are applications due?
Applications for the 2025 scholarship will be due April 2025.
May an AIAA member sponsor more than one student?
No, an AIAA Professional Member may only sponsor one student per scholarship.
If my instructor is also an AIAA Professional Member, and is my sponsor, will the letter of recommendation count for both?
No, you must have letters from different people. In this case you would need to seek out another instructor to write a letter on your behalf.
Do I need to submit official transcripts?
Yes. Please upload all documentation using our electronic form. Please contact Chris Root if online submission is not possible.
Are graduate students eligible for this scholarship?
Yes.
I'm a high school student. Must I be a registered student member of AIAA?
Yes. Visit www.aiaa.org to find out more about the benefits of a high school student membership.
Who can write a letter of recommendation on my behalf?
You must submit two letters; one is from a high school teacher (for high school seniors) or university instructor and one from an AIAA Professional Member. It is highly recommended that the letter is written by a science or math teacher (for high school seniors) or from an instructor from the engineering college.
Can letters of recommendation be sent via email?
Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically using the link provided on the RHF Scholarship webpage.
Who is eligible to apply for the scholarship?
The candidate must be a high school senior residing within the San Diego Section, must be in the upper one-third of his/her class, and must be admitted to an accredited university of his/her choice, OR the candidate must be student member of the UCSD or SDSU AIAA Student Chapters.
What makes me a member of an AIAA Student Chapter?
Per the AIAA Student Branch Manual, student membership is obtained by registering as a student member of either chapter via www.aiaa.org. Simply attending student chapter activities, events, meetings, paying event fees, etc., does not grant you membership.
I don’t know any AIAA Professional members to sponsor me. What should I do?
Please contact the section (email above) and they would be happy to put you in contact with an AIAA member who can sponsor your application.
How any letters of recommendation may an instructor write?
There is no limit of letters of recommendations that an instructor may write, but the instructor, if also an AIAA Professional Member, may only sponsor one student per scholarship year.
What are some of the best ways to find an AIAA Professional Member Sponsor?
Get involved with the AIAA at the branch level at SDSU or UCSD, which will allow easy networking of professionals in industry involved with the AIAA.
An internship in the aerospace industry is a good place to find professional members
Attend AIAA Professional Member events during the year for networking opportunities
If I was awarded a scholarship last year, may I apply again?
Yes, and it is encouraged. Prior scholarship recipients may reapply while in college, but must compete with the new candidates.
Must the items required to apply be sent in one entire package or can they be sent separately?
Your application, personal statement, Reuben H. Fleet essay, and official transcripts should be uploaded together via our online form. The letters of recommendation should be uploaded via our online form.