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Aerospace engineering students and scholarship recipients attend Wings Over Houston Airshow

November 5, 2019 By Felysha Walker

Engineering News
Texas A&M University Aerospace Engineering students gather for a group photo in front of Sean D. Tucker's Team Oracle Challenger III biplane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.
Texas A&M University Aerospace Engineering students gather for a group photo in front of Sean D. Tucker's Team Oracle Challenger III biplane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow. | Image: Brad Worsham

Aerospace engineering students traveled to Houston in October to experience one of the top air shows in the United States in its category, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wings Over Houston Airshow.

More than 90,000 festival-goers from around the globe attend the annual airshow to see a showcase of vintage World War II aircraft, meet aviation legends and watch aerial performances.

This year, Brady Allen and Jacob Collins, undergraduate students in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Texas A&M University, attended the airshow as recipients of the 2019 CAF Wings Over Houston Scholarship.

Texas A&M University Aerospace Engineering student, Brady Allen, poses with Debby Rihn-Harvey in front of her plane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.
Brady Allen stands with Debby Rihn-Harvey, scholarship committee chair, in front of her plane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow. | Image: Brady Allen

Allen interned with CAF the summer of his freshman year, where he provided maintenance on World War II aircrafts and shared their history with visitors during tours. His internship experience is what inspired his decision to pursue a future career in naval aviation. Now a junior, Allen is an undergraduate researcher in the Multifunctional Materials and Aerospace Structures Optimization (M2AESTRO) Lab, where he has studied such diverse topics as morphing radiators for NASA and solid-liquid metal composite actuators for the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Texas A&M University Aerospace Engineering student, Jacob Collins, poses with Debby Rihn-Harvey in front of her plane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow.
Jacob Collins stands with Debby Rihn-Harvey, scholarship committee chair, in front of her plane at the Wings Over Houston Airshow. | Image: Jacob Collins

Collins, a senior, has conducted research for both the National Aerothermochemistry and Hypersonics Laboratory and the Texas A&M Cybersecurity Center. He has also served as the commanding officer in his unit in the Corps of Cadets and as a member of the Ross Volunteer Company. Outside of Texas A&M, Collins recently spent time at NASA’s Johnson Space Center working with Northrup Grumman. He has already accepted an offer to return following graduation to continue his work in mission systems. Eventually, Collins’ plan is to pursue his aspirations of being a pilot.

“These are very impressive students and we are proud to be able to help them with their future endeavors,” said Debby Rihn-Harvey, chair of the Wings Over Houston Scholarship Committee.

Allen and Collins will each receive $5,000 for their demonstrated academic potential, leadership and extracurricular involvement.