Awardees Recognized for Academic Excellence and Space-Related Research
AAMU Students Earn 2025–26 NASA Space Grant Scholarships and Fellowships
Three Alabama A&M University students have been named recipients of 2025–26 scholarships and fellowships from the NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium (ASGC), a prestigious statewide program that supports STEM education and research aligned with NASA’s mission.
The ASGC was established in 1989 as part of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. Based at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the consortium includes eight Alabama research universities, community colleges, industry partners, and educational outreach organizations.
This year’s AAMU honorees include sophomore computer science major Joel Nick Friedman, who received a $1,500 Undergraduate Scholarship in recognition of his academic performance and potential in STEM fields.
Two graduate students, Elijah Kerry Nix and Israel Katari Micah Scott, were each awarded $37,000 Graduate Fellowships to support their advanced research in plant and soil sciences.
Nix earned a one-year renewal of his previous fellowship for his work titled “Transforming Arachis hypogaea for Aflatoxin Resistance.” He is pursuing a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences and is expected to graduate in May 2026. His research is advised by Dr. Xianyan Kuang in collaboration with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Scott received his fellowship for the research project “Exploring the Generational Effects of Ionizing Radiation on Apomictic Plants for Sustainable Space Agriculture.” He is also pursuing a Master of Science in Plant and Soil Sciences, with a projected graduation in May 2028. His work is guided by Dr. Alex Harkess and conducted in partnership with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Gerald Vines serves as Alabama A&M University’s ASGC campus director.
For more information about the NASA Alabama Space Grant Consortium and its student opportunities, visit https://www.uah.edu/asgc.