AIAA Student Branches provide students with opportunities to connect with the aerospace community, build their professional networks, develop leadership skills, and stay engaged with AIAA throughout their academic journey. This year, AIAA reached an exciting milestone with 36 student branches returning to active status. These reactivations represent renewed student interest, stronger connections with faculty and AIAA, and new opportunities for students to become involved in the aerospace community.
Behind each reactivated branch is a unique story. Some campuses are rebuilding after several years of inactivity, while others are being led by a new group of students ready to bring fresh energy to their branch. Here are three stories of students bringing their branches back to life.
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez: A Branch Rebuilt
After more than five years of inactivity, the AIAA Student Branch at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez has made a strong return.
After AIAA reached out to the university to gauge interest in reactivating the branch, new student leadership and faculty have successfully brought the branch back to active status, growing it to 50 members. The branch has built an online community of 300+ Instagram followers and hosted more than eight events on campus. This growth and engagement demonstrate how reconnecting with an inactive branch can create new opportunities for students to become involved with AIAA and build an aerospace community on campus.
University of Mississippi: Rebuilding Through Student Interest
After three years of inactivity, the AIAA Student Branch at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is active again, driven by a new group of students interested in rebuilding the organization on campus. The students generated interest through the university’s Rocket Team and recruited incoming freshman, providing the branch with a new cohort of students ready to get involved and build momentum for the future. Now, the branch is taking another step forward by forming a team to participate in the 2027 AIAA Design/Build/Fly (DBF) Competition.
The Ole Miss story demonstrates how reactivating a student branch can build on existing student interests and open the door to greater participation in AIAA programs and competitions.
Carleton University: Reconnecting and Reaching the Community
After four years of inactivity, the AIAA Student Branch at Carleton University in Canada has been reactivated with support from Walter Gordon of the Niagara Frontier Section. The branch has already held three events and is planning a kickoff celebration to mark its return and recruit additional members.
The students are also looking beyond campus. In spring 2027, the branch plans to partner with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) to engage younger students through a demonstration of its Design/Build/Fly (DBF) project.
Carleton’s reactivation shows how collaboration between students and AIAA’s broader community can help rebuild a branch while creating new opportunities for outreach and future growth.
Looking Ahead
The success of these three branches is part of a larger story. Across all 36 reactivated AIAA Student Branches, students are rebuilding campus communities, creating new opportunities for engagement, and strengthening their connection with AIAA.
AIAA looks forward to supporting these branches as they continue to grow, develop new student leaders, and build lasting connections with the broader aerospace community. For more information on reinvigorating or starting a new student branch, reach out to Carla Soto, AIAA University Relations Manager, at [email protected], or visit our website to learn more.
Join us for an AIAA New Student Branch Application Info Session!
We’ll cover the application process, requirements, next steps, and answer your questions about getting a new branch started. Register for the session that works best for you:
• 22 October | 7–8 p.m. ET – https://bit.ly/4i8hPKy
• 4 November | 7–8 p.m. ET – https://bit.ly/3TY1rUA
• Spring application deadline: 10 November
