Fueling Maura and Mya's Aerospace Dreams

MatrixSpace Team is organizing this fundraiser.

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https://wgbh.org/news/education-news/2024-06-24/charting-their-own-course-brockton-drone-club-builds-next-generation-of-engineers

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. Let’s get these two talented Massachusetts seniors to college and on their way to pursuing careers in aeronautics.

Maura Barrada and Jamya (Mya) Evans have, despite all conceivable odds, been accepted to Aerospace Engineering Programs in highly respected four-year universities - Embry Riddle and the University at Buffalo, respectively.

But under the current FAFSA (Federal Student Aid), and despite their limited resources, they are unable to obtain enough scholarships and aid to allow them to pursue these opportunities.

They were recognized as outstanding leaders at the New England AUVSI Chapter in 2023 and availed themselves of Honors programs and training from MIT LL, Empower Yourself and other STEM foundation programs. Maura just won the Future in Aerospace Student of the Year award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

The MatrixSpace team has been working with these talented young women every Friday evening. We meet virtually on engineering and hardware design, radar sensing technologies and have taught them about AI/ML. We’ve also covered physics questions and homework to help with their AP classes. We are extremely proud of them.

These dedicated, hard-working young women have overcome challenging circumstances that would discourage most high schoolers and that many of us can’t imagine. Neither receive any family financial assistance and are both the first in their families to have the opportunity to go to college.

Can you help? For one semester, we are seeking to raise $25,000 for each student, $50,000 total ($51,450 to cover GoFundMe transaction fees), to cover tuition, food and lodging, and books. Any contribution helps!

Please share far and wide to all who value the opportunity education offers, and let’s get these two students started with the next critical step in their education.