AOE Ambassadors

Carly Krokosz (Co-Lead)

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Wall Township, New Jersey

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team at Virginia Tech, Marching Virginians

Internships:  Safran Aerosystems, Boeing

Research:  Hydroelasticity Lab

Favorite thing about VT:  The beautiful campus and amazing school spirit

Favorite thing about major:  Lots of opportunities to work with exciting hands-on projects

Advice:  Never be afraid to ask for help!

Isabella Kuminka (Co-Lead)

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Mickleton, New Jersey

Professional/Student Organizations:  Chi Omega (FSL)

Internships:  The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company

Study Abroad:  Spring/Summer 2024 in Hamburg, Germany

Favorite thing about VT:  The Hokie community

Advice:  This is demanding yet rewarding major. If you have the passion, don't let a few hard classes steer you away from your dream.

Aleem Ahmed

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Las Vegas, Nevada

Professional/Student Organizations:  Rocketry at Virginia Tech

Internships:  Northrop Grumman Space Systems

Favorite thing about VT:  Gorgeous landscapes paired with dreamy sunrises and sunsets.

Advice:  Upon arriving at a crossroads, say yes! New opportunities, new friends, new experiences, and new memories await you on the other side.

Lana Asaad

Majors:  Aerospace Engineering & Chemistry,  Class of 2027

Hometown:  Springfield, VA

Minor:  Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations: Orbital Launch Vehicle Team, Archimedes Society, Team Astra, Galipatia LLC, Art Club

Internships: Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC)

Research: English to Engineering (E2E) undergraduate research group -  Alternative Engine Cycles team. I work on determining the viability of a variable aircraft engine to assist in the development of sustainable aviation.

Favorite thing about VT: There are so many extracurriculars and communities to get involved in! With over 800 student organizations it is impossible to not find something enjoyable to do outside of classes. 

Fun Fact: I animate and am a webcomic creator!

Lance Ayers

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Franklin County, Virginia

Minor:  Business

Professional/Student Organizations:  RockSat-X

Internships/Co-ops:  NASA Langley Research Center, Peraton/NASA Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC IV)

Favorite thing about VT:  The many opportunities to gain practical experience through design teams, research, and internships.

Advice:  Invest time in defining your goals early on and use them as a driving force to propel yourself forward in the exciting and sometimes challenging journey of aerospace engineering.

Jaden Bailey

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Alexandria, Virginia

Internships:  DoD - Defense Threat Reduction Agency, DoD - Naval Surface Warfare Center

Favorite thing about VT:  My favorite thing about Virginia Tech is the people I have met and the friends I have made!

Advice:  Make sure to stay on top of your assignments and to utilize the resources given to you by your teachers like office hours.

Fun Fact:  I am currently a SMART Scholarship recipient.

Juan Barreto Jerez

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Richmond, VA

Minors:  Mathematics, Physics

Professional/Student Organizations: Sigma Gamma Tau, Tau Beta Pi, RockSat-X

Internships/Co-ops:  Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Research:  Soft Materials & Structures Lab

Favorite thing about major: Learning the scientific principles and current challenges behind the technology that keeps humanity interconnected and allows us to explore the universe is very cool. 

Fun Fact: I am a big fan of classical music—especially opera.

Trevor Bradshaw

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Hershey, Pennsylvania

Minors:  Nuclear Engineering, Naval Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations:  Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)/American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), American Nuclear Society (ANS)

Internships:  Fincantieri, NSWC Carderock

Favorite thing about VT:  The tight-knit community feel, even at such a big school I see people I know everywhere I go.

Research:  Nuclear Materials and Fuel Cycles Laboratory 

Maggie Campbell

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Norfolk, Virginia

Minors:  Naval Engineering, Nuclear Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations:  SNAME/ASNE at Virginia Tech, American Nuclear Society (ANS), Human Powered Submarine Design Team, Outdoors Club

Internships:  NAVSEA Combatant Crafts Division of Carderock through the Naval Research Enterprises Internship Program 

Favorite thing about major:  I get to study ships and watercraft and learn how they work all day. I've been fascinated by ships for as long as I can remember and I've always loved to be on the water.

Fun Fact:  I'm open-water SCUBA certified and was the pilot for my design team's latest submarine, Kraken. I piloted it across the finish line to a third place finish in our class at our competition over the summer.

Victoria Carpe

Majors:  Ocean Engineering & Music Performance, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Bear, Delaware

Minor:  Naval Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations:  SWE, SNAME & ASNE, SAME, Tau Beta Pi, Global Engineering Ambassador

Internships:  Newport News Shipbuilding

Study Abroad:  Rising Sophomore Abroad Program in Australia/New Zealand; Spring Semester 2024 in Glasgow, Scotland

Fun Fact:  I’ve been a sailor for over 11 years.

Patrick Corrigan

Graduate Degree: MS in Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2024

Hometown:  McLean, Virginia

Internships:  Flight Dynamics Intern at NASA Langley Research Center, Trajectory Software Engineering Intern at CACI

Research:  Nonlinear Systems Laboratory

Advice:  Talk to professors early on to find your interests and niche in aerospace.

Jacob Davis

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Christiansburg, Virginia

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team, Marching Virginians, Hokies Pep Band

Internships:  Pathways Intern at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

Favorite thing about major:  I love solving complex problems, studying the most interesting physical phenomena in nature, and using that to design some of the most impressive vehicles we have ever made to fly, explore, and learn about the universe.

Fun Fact:  I play clarinet in the marching band and guitar in the basketball pep band!

Anushka Devarajan

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Anaheim, California

Minors:  Green Engineering, Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations:  Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Diversity (CEED), Wind Turbine Team

Internships:  Collins Aerospace, Boeing

Advice:  Don't be afraid of being wrong or asking too many questions. Chances are other people are wondering the same thing, so just speak up and make sure to ask for help if you need it! Professors don't bite, they are there to help you.

Fun Fact:  I have lived in 4 other states in the US and have travelled to over 15+ different countries!

Joel George

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Folsom, California

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team

Internships:  Boeing - Systems Engineering 

Favorite thing about major:  Aerospace deals with some of the most complex engineering challenges out there, like making rockets and planes fly. Getting to learn the science and engineering that goes into these products is super interesting! Now, when I get in a plane, my brain is thinking about all the concepts I've learned in class. 

Advice:  Reach out and make friends as much as you can! Forming a good study group with students in your major can make or break you since classes get really tough and it's always helpful to have a group of people who know what you're facing, who can help you overcome those challenges together.

Roy Gichuru

Major:  Aerospace Engineering,  Class of 2026

Hometown:  Richmond, VA

Minor:  Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations: Engineers Without Borders - Virginia Tech Chapter, CEED, BMEN

Research:  VT National Security Institute - Mission Systems Division

Advice:  Do not forget what drives you to be an engineer. Do not live in a bubble, ask for help and utilize programs established for you. Chat with professors and faculty. They can be the 1 connection away from your dream internship.

Fun Fact: My childhood home is 0 degrees, 2 minutes, and 14 seconds north of the Equitorial line

Carl Hayden

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Amherst, Virginia

Minor:  Cinema

Professional/Student Organizations:  Galipatia

Internships:  Virginia Tech National Security Institute

Favorite thing about major:  The challenge and wonderful people I've gotten to work with along the way!

Advice:  Perseverance and being able to pick yourself up after a stumble is what makes one successful. College is hard, but it is not impossible.

Fun Fact:  I have pet chickens!

Landon Hendrickson

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Springfield, Missouri

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team

Internships:  Ozark Aeroworks (T53 Turbine Engines), Lockheed Martin (PrSM Missile Program)

Favorite thing about VT:  The beautiful campus!

Favorite thing about major:  The tight-knit community!

Fun Fact:  I love to run and play piano in my free time!

Brittany Hoffman

Majors:  Aerospace Engineering & Spanish, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Fort Collins, Colorado

Minor: Naval Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations:  Defense Civilian Training Corps (DCTC) Scholar, Alpha Omega Epsilon, Marching Virginians, Dean's Team, Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Society of Women in Aviation and Space Exploration (SWASE), Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE)

Internships:  Federal Aviation Administration 

Favorite thing about VT:  I love the community and being able to be involved in many different organizations on campus!

Advice:  Don't be afraid to ask for help from professors - it's great to make connections with faculty and they want you to succeed!

Ava Kerrigan

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2027

Hometown:  Wallingford, Connecticut

Professional/Student Organizations: SNAME/ASNE, Comedy Conglomerate

Internships:  NREIP at Carderock The Combatant Craft Division (CCD)  

Research:  Dr. Gilbert's Hydroelasticity Lab and her Manta Ray research

Advice:  Doing THE best and doing YOUR best are two different things; take one day at a time!

MaKenzie Kidd

Graduate Degree: MS in Ocean Engineering, Class of 2025

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2024

Hometown: Abingdon, Virginia

Internships:  Royal Caribbean Group, General Dynamics Mission Systems, The Lane Group Inc.

Research:  Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization for Naval Surface Ships

Advice:  Get involved in clubs, projects, activities as soon as possible!

Leo Kovatch

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027

Hometown:  Basking Ridge, New Jersey

Minor:  Japanese Studies

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team (OLVT), Club Soccer

Favorite thing about major:  You meet lots of hardworking and driven people who motivate you to be a better person

Advice: Explore the various clubs offered on campus and find the one where you fit in. These are the people who you will form lifelong bonds with. 

Matthew McCollum

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Lorton, Virginia

Professional/Student Organizations:  Design Build Fly, Solar Car, Gobble Rockets(GRAVT), Vietnamese Student Association, Engineering Volleyball League

Research:  Dr. Saha's research in developing AI models to reduce computing time in solving engineering problems.

Advice:  Get involved with as many design teams, clubs, and extracurriculars in general as much as possible in freshman year to figure out where your interests lie. Afterwards, you can trim down on your commitments based on what you enjoyed the most, but just remember to say yes to new opportunities!

Fun Fact:  I perform in a traditional Vietnamese lion dance group.

Sophie Newman

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027

Hometown:  St. Louis, Missouri

Minor:  Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations: NASA Student Launch Initiative, Society of Women Engineers, and the Catholic Campus Ministry

Favorite thing about major:  The opportunity it gives me to be creative, think outside the box, and get practical hands-on experience.   

Advice:  Get involved in different clubs and organizations on campus!

Fun Fact: I play intramural co-ed basketball for fun!

Aidan O'Connor

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2027

Hometown:  Stormville, New York

Minor:  Naval Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations: Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), Outdoor Club

Research: Fluid Dynamics and Acoustics of Biofouling/Compliant Surfaces for Naval Vessels

Advice:  I love uncovering new opportunities within my major, along with the close-knit ocean engineering community at VT.

Anita Raja

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2027

Hometown:  Singapore

Minor:  Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations: Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

Internships: Republic of Singapore Air Force (Engineering Officer)

Research: English to Engineering (E2E) undergraduate research group - Aerospike team. 

Favorite thing about VT: The beautiful scenery during the fall season. 

Advice: Always ask why until you are able to answer every question. It's easy to 'understand' concepts by memorizing them or reading them off your notes but it is critical to be able to internalize them and truly know what is theory behind what you are studying.

Diego Salazar Jara

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Falls Church, Virginia

Minor:  Organizational Leadership

Professional/Student Organizations:  Human Powered Submarine Team, Orbital Launch Vehicle Team, Pamplin Leadership Development Team, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Galipatia LLC

Favorite thing about VT:  The welcoming community, many opportunities, and scenery (especially sunset at the Drillfield).

Favorite thing about the major:  All the opportunities available, especially in courses, extracurriculars, and research. I'm building rockets, submarines, and flying drones!

Nathan Shune

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Sterling, VA

Minor:  Mathematics

Professional/Student Organizations:  AIAA;  Design, Build, Fly @ Virginia Tech

Internships:  Boeing - Design & Stress Analysis Engineering - 787 Propulsion

Research:  Unmanned Systems Lab - Flight Operations Manager/Chief Pilot

Favorite thing about major:  I get to apply my studies of the coolest vehicles on the world on a daily basis.

Avery Sorce

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Malvern, Pennsylvania

Minors:  Mathematics, Visual Arts & Society

Professional/Student Organizations:  Alpha Omega Epsilon, SWE, CEED, Rince Tech

Internships:  Boeing

Advice:  Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Fun Fact:  I am a competitive Irish dancer!

Andrew Tabor

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Lynchburg, Virginia

Minors:  Computer Science, Math

Professional/Student Organizations:  Orbital Launch Vehicle Team

Internships:  Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division

Favorite thing about major:  The community of AOE students willing to help each other learn.

Advice:  Be sure to make friends early on, and don't wait to pursue research/design team opportunities.

Abrianna Valentin Ferrer

Major:  Aerospace Engineering, Class of 2025

Hometown:  Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Professional/Student Organizations:  RockSat-X, CEED

Internships:  Honda Aircraft Company

Research:  Hydroelasticity Lab

Favorite thing about VT:  The people

Fun Fact:  Some rockets use yo-yos to stabilize!

Eli Willett

Major:  Ocean Engineering, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Burnt Hills, New York

Minor:  Naval Engineering

Professional/Student Organizations:  Human Powered Submarine, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers

Internships:  Newport News Shipbuilding, Alaska Center for Energy and Power

Favorite thing about major:  There's a huge range of projects to work on within the world of ocean engineering. It is a niche major with a very broad coverage.

Advice:  Join organizations both inside and outside of your major. Don't be afraid to apply for internships that takes you far from home or outside of your comfort zone.

Kevin Xu

Majors:  Aerospace Engineering & Mathematics, Class of 2026

Hometown:  Blacksburg, Virginia

Minor:  Chemistry

Professional/Student Organizations:  NASA Student Launch at Virginia Tech (SLVT), Archimedes Society, Team ASTRA

Internships:  Peraton Inc.

Research:  Advanced Propulsion and Power Laboratory, Stability Wind Tunnel

Advice:  Don't wait until the last minute! Start everything early!

Fun Fact:  I have built a spacesuit cooling system that was tested in NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.