Auburn aerospace engineering students, alumni receive AIAA Greater Huntsville Section awards
Published: Jul 27, 2026 1:15 PM
By Dustin Duncan
Aerospace engineering students and alumni recognized at the AIAA Greater Huntsville Section’s annual awards banquet pose with their awards. From left are Cade May, Chris Crumbly, Mark Miller, Thomas Teasley, Melissa McDaniel, Tim Keeter and Griffin DiMaggio.
Auburn aerospace engineering students Cade May and Griffin DiMaggio received the undergraduate and graduate Student of the Year awards, respectively, from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Greater Huntsville Section at the section's annual awards banquet.
Five Auburn aerospace engineering alumni also received awards recognizing scientific achievement, technical management, education, professional leadership and early career excellence in the aerospace community.
Brian Thurow, chair of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, said the range of honors reflects the continued impact of Auburn aerospace engineers at every stage of their careers.
“To see our students and alumni recognized for achievements spanning research, education, technical leadership and professional service speaks to the strength of Auburn aerospace engineering,” Thurow said. “An Auburn aerospace engineering education gives students the foundation and experiences they need to succeed, and these honorees are outstanding examples of that success.”
May, who graduated from Auburn in May with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, conducted research in aerodynamic modeling and aircraft configuration analysis. He presented a paper at the 2026 AIAA SciTech Forum and served as program manager for Auburn's COSMIC Capstone Challenge team, which placed second nationally for its conceptual design of an autonomous lunar rover capable of constructing a landing pad using lunar soil.
DiMaggio, a doctoral student whose research combines computational fluid dynamics and machine learning, has authored more than 10 journal articles and conference papers and received two AIAA Solid Rockets Best Paper Awards. His research experience also includes multiple internships at NASA Langley Research Center.
May and DiMaggio were mentored at Auburn by Roy Hartfield, professor of aerospace engineering. His commitment to mentoring students earned him Auburn's Mark A. Spencer Creative Mentorship Award in 2023 and the section's Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year Award in 2024.
Mark Miller, who earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1984 and 1985, respectively, received the Hermann Oberth Award, which recognizes outstanding individual scientific achievement in astronautics or the promotion and advancement of the aeronautical sciences.
Tim Keeter, who earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1991, received the Holger Toftoy Award for outstanding technical management in aeronautics and astronautics.
Chris Crumbly, who earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1988 and 1995, respectively, received the Konrad Dannenberg Educator of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding service to education and the promotion of math and science within the community.
Melissa McDaniel, who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering in 2000, 2002 and 2016, respectively, received the Earl Pearce Professional of the Year Award for extraordinary dedication, creativity and leadership through professional work in the aerospace community.
Thomas Teasley, who earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering in 2018, received the Ed Pruett Young Professional of the Year Award. The honor recognizes an AIAA Greater Huntsville Section member 35 or younger who has demonstrated extraordinary technical skill and dedication to the aerospace engineering profession.
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