Two NC A&T Students Win Elite Astronaut Scholarships

Two students at North Carolina A&T just earned one of the most prestigious scholarships in American science, proving that hard work and curiosity can open doors to the stars.

Victoria Little and Avery Love have been selected as 2026 Astronaut Scholars. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation created this award to ensure America maintains its leadership in science and technology by supporting the very best college students in STEM fields.

Little, a senior from Greensboro studying both biology and psychology, conducts research in neuromodulatory signaling. She's examining how tumors behave and how neurological signals work in the brain.

Her research includes tissue processing and receptor analysis in labs at A&T. She also completed a competitive internship at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where she studied how glioblastoma tumors respond to immunotherapy treatments.

Love, a senior from Harrisburg studying chemistry, earned the scholarship for the second year in a row. His research focuses on developing new ways to analyze the metabolic composition of organoids using advanced laboratory techniques.

His work has applications in understanding brain metabolism and Alzheimer's disease. He's also conducted research at Yale University and the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying everything from marine organisms to bacterial genes linked to disease.

Both students are members of A&T's Honors College and Cheatham-White Scholars. The scholarship provides up to $15,000 each in academic support.

The award also offers something money can't buy: mentorship from actual astronauts and top scientists. Scholars attend an exclusive Innovators Symposium and Gala where they present research and network with STEM leaders nationwide.

Why This Inspires

These two students represent something bigger than individual achievement. They're part of a generation solving problems that matter: cancer resistance, Alzheimer's disease, and the mysteries of how our brains work.

Their university is creating an ecosystem where students don't just learn science, they do science that could change lives. Both Little and Love are proof that when talented students get the right support and opportunities, they don't just meet expectations.

They exceed them, earning national recognition and building research portfolios that rival graduate students. Their success shows what's possible when academic excellence meets genuine opportunity.

The next generation of scientists is already at work, and it looks bright.