Student in aerospace engineering named AIAA Undergraduate of the Year
Published: Oct 20, 2022 8:00 AM
By Joe McAdory
Sean Bowerfind, a first-year graduate student in aerospace engineering, was named 2022 Undergraduate Student of the Year by the Greater Huntsville Section of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).
Bowerfind recently earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from Auburn and is yet another recipient in an accomplished line of Auburn aerospace engineering students to win this award. The purpose of this recognition is to honor undergraduate student members for their notable technical accomplishments, active engineering research, outstanding service to the AIAA student section, and/or active STEM outreach in the local community.
“I am extremely honored to have been selected for this recognition,” said Bowerfind, a Fort Collins, Colorado, native who was last year’s recipient of the Robert G. Pitts Outstanding Senior Award. “My success is a direct reflection of Auburn’s highly competitive aerospace engineering program and the exceptional engineers that it produces.”
Bowerfind, who plans to focus his master’s degree on mathematical optimization with specific aerospace applications including spacecraft trajectory and flight control systems design, interned with AFWERX, a technology directorate within the Air Force Research Lab’s Agility Prime program, over the summer. There, he was imbedded with a flight test engineering team focused on developmental problems associated with new electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
On campus, Bowerfind works with Auburn Engineering Student Services to help create academic support content specifically tailored to better prepare students progressing into some of the demanding undergraduate aerospace engineering courses.
“Auburn Engineering has played a huge part in shaping my success because there’s not an easy class in the aerospace program,” he said. “You must have a strong drive and work ethic if you’re going to succeed in anything. Every time you think you’ve got an easy week you get slammed with assignments – but that’s just where you’ve got to dig in and show what you’re made of.
“I would also like to extend the utmost gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Joseph Majdalani (the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in aerospace engineering), who recognized my potential and encouraged me to apply my engineering skills to solve some of our nation’s toughest engineering problems.”
Bowerfind serves as cadet vice-wing commander in Auburn’s Air Force ROTC detachment and has been selected to attend Air Force pilot training upon the completion of his master’s degree.
“It’s not very often that students are in a position to chase after their dreams, but I’m in that position – where I might not have a normal desk job,” he said. “I think that’s pretty cool.”
Media Contact: , jem0040@auburn.edu, 334.844.3447
Sean Bowerfind, right, was named the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics Undergraduate Student of the Year by the organization's Greater Huntsville Section. He is photographed with Joseph Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in aerospace engineering, who directs Auburn's Advanced Propulsion Research Laboratory.
