Kyle Hampton, a junior pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Kentucky, is the recipient of a Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship.
The Fellowship is a highly selective summer internship and executive mentorship program. It connects exceptional college juniors, seniors and graduate students with paid internships, mentors and networking opportunities in the commercial spaceflight sector.
This year, the program received applications from more than 200 students from more than 90 colleges. The applications underwent a rigorous process — evaluating academic excellence, relevant experience and a demonstrated passion for innovation, entrepreneurship and commercial space. Hampton represents one of 30 students chosen to participate in the distinguished program.
He will intern at Rocket Lab — an industry leader in launch and space transportation. The company provides launch services, spacecraft, satellite components and on-orbit management.
“The reason I have focused on aerospace engineering is, I believe it grants me the best ability to make the biggest impact on the world, while also allowing me to do the coolest things I can imagine — like working on rockets,” Hampton said.
Hampton was previously a mechanical engineering intern at Thermal Equipment Sales and a civil engineering intern at AGE Engineering. This semester, he is a "test and launch" intern for Firefly Aerospace in Austin, Texas. “I am working for their launch and test operations team, and it’s allowing me to get my first taste of aerospace engineering and gain valuable industry experience,” he explained.
Hampton is a first-generation college student from Waynesburg, Kentucky. Throughout his time at UK, he has been a member of SpaceLex — a peer mentor for UK Engineering living learning program and a volunteer for the Special Olympics Club.
Hampton is also a Pigman Scholar.
In 1999, L. Stanley Pigman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in mining engineering from UK in 1981, determined he would close a gap in the field of engineering and began funding scholarships for students whose financial situations would prevent them from attending UK. Since that time, he and his wife, Karen, have financially supported and mentored more than 120 students through L. Stanley Pigman Scholarships.
Students majoring in any of UK’s engineering disciplines are eligible to be Pigman Scholars. Candidates must be a resident of Kentucky and have financial need. Interested students can learn more online.
Through various scholarship and internship opportunities, Hampton hopes to inspire children from underdeveloped areas to pursue careers in STEM. “I have been zeroed in on engineering ever since I shadowed a civil engineer for a day when I was in fifth grade.”
About the Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship
The program is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization honoring the memory of Matthew Isakowitz, an extraordinary engineer and entrepreneur. His passion for commercial space exploration led to great strides in the industry. The program seeks to instill that enthusiasm into the next generation of commercial spaceflight leaders by providing career training to those who embody Matthew’s drive for exploring our universe to help better humankind.
About the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards
The UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external fellowships scholarships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the office's director, Pat Whitlow, well in advance of the scholarship deadline.
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