Scholarships

Scholarships play an important part in furthering students' education. On average, the Department of Aerospace Engineering awards more than $100,000 in student scholarships each academic year. Scholarships in the department are awarded based upon various criteria and reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.

If you are interested in financially contributing to any of the below-listed scholarships, or if you would like to endow one, please contact the aerospace engineering department at aerospace@engr.psu.edu or 814-865-2569.

Available Scholarships

Aero Pioneers Class of 1944 Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For full-time undergraduate students of sophomore standing entering their junior year who are enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering, who have maintained a minimum GPA of 3.0, and who have a record of active participation in student organizations.

In 1942 a group of Mechanical Engineering students were recruited as “Aero Option” students into a new aeronautical engineering curriculum established by Dr. David J. Peery. The Aero Option students, Class of 1944, pioneered aeronautical engineering at Penn State University. During these years, Dr. Peery established and headed the department now known as Aerospace Engineering. With the establishment of this scholarship, the members of the Aero Pioneers (17 classmates, headed by Albert Yackle) wished to honor Dr. Peery and the impact he had on their lives and on aeronautical engineering education.

Lou Borges Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For full-time undergraduate students entering the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering in their junior year who have a proven financial need and a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Lou Borges earned a BS in ME w/Aeronautical Option, 1943/44 PSU. He is an Aero Pioneer Class member.  After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46 he spent over 30 years in government. As a flight test engineer for the US Army, his career included many leadership positions such as the Chief of the Aeronautics Branch R & D Group in Europe, and the Chief of the Airworthiness Branch of the R & D Directorate of the US Army Material Command.  Mr. Borges enjoyed a lifelong interest in flying (his own aircraft) as well as keen interest in Penn State. The Aerospace Engineering Department named Mr. Borges as its Outstanding Engineering Alumnus in 2000. Mr. Borges passed away in 2009.

Brian Chappel and Marion Stone Chappel Scholarship

For all undergraduate students enrolled in Aerospace Engineering who have achieved superior academic records.

Brian E. Chappel is vice president, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program, for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, based in Redondo Beach, Calif. Prior to this, he was the vice president and business manager for Advanced Development Programs, and a member of the Scaled Composites Advisory Board. Earlier in his career, Chappel was deputy director for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program. Prior leadership positions include director of Business Development in TRW Ventures, as well as senior-level new business capture, program management and systems engineering roles on U.S. Air Force and classified satellite programs. Prior to joining the company in 1993, Chappel spent nearly 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he held several leadership positions in program acquisition and management at the AF Space Division and the Ballistic Missile Office. Chappel earned a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering from Penn State in 1983.

Everetts Family Endowed Scholarship

Consideration for this scholarship shall be given to third or fourth-year undergraduate students enrolled full-time in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering who have achieved a grade point average of 3.5 or above on a 4.0 scale, and who have a home address of record in a county located in Western Pennsylvania.

Walter “Walt” Everetts is a 1984 alumnus of the Aerospace Engineering department and is currently Vice President of Satellite Operations and Ground Development at Iridium.  He and his wife, Maria, established this scholarship to recognize an outstanding aerospace engineering student from Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Everetts visits Penn State frequently and continues to enjoy meeting Aerospace Engineering students.

Mary Ilgen Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For outstanding full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering who have a proven financial need and who have achieved positive academic records.

Mary Ilgen was one of the first women to graduate in Aeronautical Engineering from Penn State in 1948.  After graduation, Ms. Ilgen secured a job with Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Santa Monica, CA.  She continued with Douglas through the merger with McDonnell Corporation and retired after 46 outstanding years of engineering work with the corporation.  Most of her career was devoted to the performance groups in aerodynamics and test flights.  She was a representative to the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board and received many awards and honors including the Outstanding Engineering Alumni Award in 1988. Ms. Ilgen passed away on October 8, 1997.  Her vast knowledge and expertise inspired many young engineers over the years, and her mentoring earned her recognition as “a legend in her time”.  

Clay S. Leamer Endowed Memorial Scholarship

For full-time undergraduate students in Aerospace Engineering with at least second year standing and exceptional financial need.

Paul C. Leamer is a 1967 alumnus of the aerospace engineering department and enjoyed a 40-year career with General Dynamics and with Lockheed Martin, involved in the development of the F-111, YF-16/F-16, A-12, F-22 and X-35/F-35 aircraft. He served in numerous management Directorships, heading up various aircraft-related development programs. He served as Director over the Lockheed Martin, Rolls Royce, and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft tri-company team with responsibility to develop the X-35 LiftFan. The LiftFan, a new propulsion machine, gave the aircraft Short Takeoff/ Vertical Landing (STOVL) capability. In 2001, the Team was awarded the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy for the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America. In 2001, Mr. Leamer was honored as an Outstanding Aerospace Engineering Alumni of the Pennsylvania State University, and in 2002 named a Technical Fellow by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. The Clay S. Leamer Endowed Memorial Scholarship was established in 2024 to honor and memorialize Mr. Leamer’s father.

Richard W. Leonhard Scholars in Aerospace Engineering

For all full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering. Undergraduate students must be in their junior or senior year and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 to be considered.

William and Wyllis Leonhard and their son Richard have endowed this scholarship for Aerospace students at University Park.  William Leonhard graduated with a BSEE in 1936 from PSU and an MSEE from MIT.  After a 14-year career in the Air Force, he spent 24 years with Parsons Corporation.  William passed away in 2008.  William’s son Richard graduated in 1966 with a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from Penn State.  He later earned an MSME and an MBA.  After five years at Sikorsky, Richard went on to become Chairman and President of Southwestern Industries, Inc. 

Kenneth and Leanor Myers Fund

For full-time undergraduate students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering who have a proven financial need and a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Colonel Kenneth “Ken” Myers is a member of the Aerospace Engineering class of 1964. Col. Myers retired from the Air Force after 28 years of service and continued his career as a Manager, Systems Engineering/Technical Fellow National Security Group with SAIC in Chantilly, VA. Among numerous academic degrees and awards/decorations he received while active duty, most notable is the work he did on a team to develop global positioning system technology or GPS. Colonel Myers passed away in 2021. 

James Reynolds Norris Memorial Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For all full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled, or planning to enroll, in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering who have a proven financial need and who show promise of academic success.

James Norris was a 1948 graduate of the Aeronautical Engineering program at PSU, as well as a member of the Air Force ROTC.  He spent most of his career at Pratt and Whitney.  After his death, his widow, Mrs. Betty Norris, established the scholarship in his honor. Mrs. Norris passed away in 2016.

Anthony Parente Academic Scholarship

For full-time Aerospace Engineering students.

Anthony Parente is a member of Aerospace Engineering Class of 2012. He began his career at Pratt & Whitney as an Associate Structures Engineer and later joined the Government and Public Service practice at Deloitte in Washington, DC. Mr. Parente was on board American Airlines flight 5342 when it collided with a US Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, DC: all lives aboard both aircraft were lost. In memory of Mr. Parente his family established the Anthony Parente Fund for Academic Excellence.

David J. Peery Memorial Scholarship

For all students enrolled in aerospace engineering with a junior class standing, who have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and who have a record of participation in organizations such as AIAA, Sigma Gamma Tau, VFS, or similar organizations.

Dr. David J. Peery established the Department of Aeronautical Engineering in 1942/43 and served as its head until 1954.  He was truly a pioneer of this field and had a tremendous impact on the aeronautical engineering education at Penn State.  Dr. Peery returned to industry and was employed by Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. until his death in 1979.  He is best remembered for his popular textbook “Aircraft Structures” published in 1950 and continued in print through 1980.

Carl A. Shollenberger Memorial Scholarship

For all full-time junior and senior students majoring in aerospace engineering in the College of Engineering, who are committed to pursuing a career in aerospace engineering and who have a minimum GPA of 3.6.

Carl Shollenberger earned a BS in Aeronautical Engineering from PSU in 1967.  He went on to earn both an MS and PhD in Aeronautics from the California Institute of Technology.  His career as a Senior Engineer at McDonnell Douglas Corp. was cut short by his untimely death in November, 1985 while serving as a flying instructor aboard an airplane that crashed near Bakersfield, CA.  His sister, Dr. Carol Fought Dickinson, and many colleagues and friends created this scholarship in his memory.

Donald G. and Jayne L. Steva Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For all full-time undergraduate students enrolled in the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering who have exhibited exemplary academic achievement.

Donald Steva received a BS in ME w/Aeronautical option as a member of the 1943/44 PSU Aero Pioneers Class.  After three years in the Air Force, Mr. Steva’s career was with Steva Welding Company (family run business).  He retired in 1988.  In addition to scholarships, he supported our department by attending Aero Pioneer Class reunions. Mr. Steva passed away in 2011.

Anthony E. Wolk Award

For all undergraduate students of senior standing who are enrolled in aerospace engineering, or a successor program, and who have developed the best thesis among aerospace engineering students. An additional award may be given to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated leadership in service to the Department of Aerospace Engineering, or successor academic department.

Dr. Thomas M. York Memorial Scholarship in Aerospace Engineering

For full-time students majoring or planning to major in Aerospace Engineering who have demonstrated financial need and who have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Dr. York earned his BS in Aeronautical Engineering at Penn State in 1960 and began working in space and hypersonic flight at the Cornell Aeronautical Research Lab. He returned to Penn State to complete his MS in 1961, taught at the United States Naval Academy, and returned to graduate school to earn his Ph.D. at Princeton in 1968. Dr. York returned to Penn State, joining the Department of Aerospace Engineering, becoming Professor in 1981. He received numerous awards for teaching, including the Lindback Award in 1979 (renamed the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching). In 1987 he left Penn State to become Chair of Aerospace Engineering at Ohio State. He eventually retired 2007 and returned to State College. Dr. York passed away in 2022.