Inspiring STEM Students During Embry-Riddle Field Trip

The Michaelis Foundation for Global Education, in collaboration with KSCIA – International Space Academy and the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, successfully delivered an immersive educational field trip for a group of outstanding STEM students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The experience provided students with firsthand exposure to one of the world’s leading aerospace institutions, offering insight into academic pathways, research opportunities, and careers in aviation, space, and engineering. Through guided visits, interactive discussions, and mentorship moments, students connected classroom learning to real-world applications in the aerospace sector.

A special thank you goes to Grace Gratton, an #AstronautScholar, who helped make the visit especially meaningful. Thanks to her guidance, students gained an inside look at campus life and the many #STEM pathways available to them.

“We are deeply grateful to Grace Gratton for the generosity, enthusiasm, and leadership she brought to this experience,” said Carla Michaelis, Co-Founder of The Michaelis Foundation. “Grace gave our students an authentic inside view of campus life and the many STEM pathways ahead of them. By proudly representing both the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and Embry-Riddle, she showed our students what is possible when passion, dedication, and opportunity come together.”

This joint initiative reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to high-impact STEM education and empowering students to envision themselves as future engineers, researchers, and space professionals.