Trailblazing Embry-Riddle Space Physics Student Earns Prestigious Astronaut Scholarship

Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University student Grace Gratton, a junior majoring in Space Physics, was recently named a 2025 Astronaut Scholar by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

Gratton — who recently completed an internship this summer in space weather modeling at the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Albuquerque, New Mexico — said the scholarship is “exciting” because it both reduces her financial burden and connects her to “an amazing community.”

This year, the Astronaut Scholar Foundation awarded 74 scholarships to top undergraduate college students studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The prestigious national award includesa scholarship up to $15,000, membership in the Astronaut Scholar Honor Society, attendance at the Innovators Gala in Houston and mentoring opportunities from astronauts, scholar alumni and space industry executives.

Caroline Schumacher, president and CEO of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, said the 2025 class “brings fresh energy, creativity and determination” that will help fuel meaningful progress across STEM fields.

With interests in heliophysics, plasma physics and solar wind research, Gratton is working with Dr. Samantha Wallace, a research scientist at Embry-Riddle, to examine the impacts of solar wind and how it affects the magnetosphere.

“I believe Grace was awarded this prestigious scholarship because, like the astronauts who established it, she is a trailblazer,” Wallace said. “She forges new paths in the face of obstacles, consistently upholds the highest standards of excellence and integrity, and inspires those around her.”

Gratton was also one of two Embry-Riddle students named a 2025 Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship & Excellence in Education Foundation this spring. A member of the university’s Honors Program, she is a peer mentor for the university’s Office of Nationally Competitive Awards & Scholar Development.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation recognized Gratton at its recent gala in Houston. The prestigious national award includes a scholarship up to $15,000 and mentoring opportunities from astronauts, scholar alumni and space industry executives. (Photo: Embry-Riddle/Samantha Wallace)

"Grace has a rare combination of academic excellence, advanced research achievement and a passion for inspiring younger generations to engage with STEM,” said Jennifer Schaeffer, the office’s director.

Gratton has interned for four years at Nova-Tech Engineering and completed Systems Engineering research under the guidance of faculty mentor Dr. Bryan Watson, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and director of the Biologically Inspired Design for Resilience Lab (BID4R). Her project involved developing a consensus algorithm for multi-agent systems inspired by the synchronous hatching of turtles — an algorithm that can be applied to managing drone swarms or satellite networks. She presented research in March at the Conference on Systems Engineering Research (CSER) in Los Angeles, California.

But Gratton said she was inspired to study space physics after seeing the colorful Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, move across the sky in her home state of Minnesota.

“It was a life-changing event for me to be able to see that,” she said. “Something about all the energy dancing through the sky — I needed to know how that works.”

Gratton said she wants to continue her work in heliophysics research and plans to eventually pursue her Ph.D.

“Space physics has to do with everything in our solar system and that is why I fell in love with it,” she said. “The work I am doing right now directly impacts us.”

For example, Gratton said anything that uses electricity can be impacted by solar winds, such as satellites. Solar flares can impact power systems, she said, likening it to when too much energy flows through a circuit and trips a breaker.

“We need to be prepared for these things,” said Gratton. “I want to protect our assets here and in space through my research.”