GOLD Ad Astra Alumni Award

Abbigale Smith ’23 works as an aeronautical engineer at Northrop Grumman, designing aircraft structural parts and assemblies using metallic and composite materials.

She first joined the company as an intern on the Product Support Engineering Team for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye during the summer before her senior year and continued through graduation. Upon receiving her degree, she moved into a full-time structural designer role and was promoted to a technical level II engineer within two years.

In her three years at Northrop Grumman, she has been recognized as employee of the month and has received two BRAVO awards for performance that exceeded expectations. Smith also volunteers with the company’s High School Involvement Program, mentoring students into becoming the next generation of engineers. One memorable assignment has required her to don a motion-capture suit and serve as a case-size participant inside Northrop Grumman’s Highly Immersive Virtual Environment.

Prior to graduation, Smith led her Florida Tech senior design team, META (Mobile Engine Testing Applications), as project manager of 11 aerospace and mechanical engineers. The team designed, built, and tested a mobile testing structure used for a liquid bi-propellant rocket engine.

Raised in Tallahassee, Florida, Smith chose Florida Tech for its strong aerospace program and proximity to the industry. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Department of Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences in 2023. While employed full-time, she completed a Master of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in May 2026.

At Florida Tech, she was active in Phi Eta Sigma, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Rocketry Club. She spent three years as a student ambassador giving campus tours for the Office of Admissions and one year as a student assistant in Career Services, where she produced social-media content and coached peers on résumé writing.

Abbigale also served as coxswain of the Women’s Rowing Team, guiding the team to win the 2021 Sunshine State Conference Championship and finish third place at the NCAA National Rowing Championship that same year. Her athletic honors included selection as a 2021 Pocock All-American Athlete and recognition as a CRCA National Scholar Student-Athlete in 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Additional university distinctions include the 2021 Potter Physics Award, Distinguished Student Scholar in 2022, and Outstanding Student of the Year for Aerospace, Physics, and Space Sciences in both 2022 and 2023.