AIAA and Blue Origin’s non-profit, Club for the Future, have announced that Aalisha Sugur is the recipient of their 2026 Resilient Student Scholarship. A recent high school graduate of Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ, she will attend Purdue University for Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering in the fall.
“Congratulations to Aalisha on receiving the 2026 Resilient Student Scholarship! She is an impressive student. Her belief that ‘aviation and space should not feel distant or unreachable to anyone’ is absolutely correct. We cannot wait to see what Aalisha goes on to do in the future,” said Daniel Hastings, chair of the AIAA Foundation.
During her time in high school, alongside a rigorous AP STEM curriculum, Aalisha pursued every opportunity to challenge herself across aviation, leadership, and service. She noticed that many students were interested in aerospace but lacked a clear pathway to explore it, so Aalisha founded her school’s first aviation club. Through the club, she worked to create more opportunities for students to engage with the field through hands-on workshops, competitions, and speaker panels. Her goal was not only to build interest in aerospace, but to open a door for students who may never have seen aviation as something they could belong to or lead in. Beyond the classroom, Aalisha aims to expand access to aviation and emerging technology through her startup, DronesToMars, by introducing students and communities to uncrewed flight systems and other real-world aerospace applications.
Aalisha’s commitment to aviation also grew through her time as a cadet in Civil Air Patrol, where she was introduced to the responsibility and discipline required in industry projects. Continuing her dedication to serving something larger than herself, she plans to further develop her technical skill and resilience through her enlistment in the 181st Intelligence Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard. With a deep interest in innovative global air and space systems, she has worked to become a well-rounded leader in the field: a student, private pilot, entrepreneur, advocate, teacher, and future policymaker.
As a first-generation Indian American woman entering fields that have historically been male-dominated, Aalisha wants to help create spaces where others feel seen, heard, and capable of leading. To her, representation is not enough on its own; young women and underrepresented students also need access, mentorship, visibility, and the confidence to believe their ideas can change entire industries. As a result, she is passionate about giving people a platform and a voice through her endeavors.
Looking ahead, Aalisha hopes to work at the intersection of international satellite policy and the commercialization of global airspace. She is interested in how satellites, drones, and future space technologies will shape national security, transportation, and international cooperation. Her long-term goal is to help build fair, safe, and forward-thinking policies for the next era of aviation and space exploration. No matter where the skies take her, Aalisha is ready to represent the next generation of women who do not wait for a seat at the table, but help redesign the table for everyone who comes after them.
“Aalisha’s achievements are a powerful demonstration of what it means to build the future,” said Heather Nelson, Director of Club for the Future. “Through her entrepreneurship and advocacy, she is already opening doors and inspiring her peers to reach for the sky. Club for the Future is delighted to partner with AIAA to honor her incredible work with this scholarship, and we cannot wait to see the impact she will have at Purdue and beyond.”
The 2027 Resilient Student Scholarship will be open for applicants in December 2026.
