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Four Indian-origin students win 20 Twenty award
The winners were selected from 60 nominees representing 20 schools in 13 countries.
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Staff Reporter - Sat, 17, Jan 2026
- 13:16 EST
- 20
(Top L- R) Shreya Chandra, Nishigandha Kelkar (Bottom L-R) Spoorti Nanjamma, Priyanka Vasu / LinkedIn/ (Top L- R) Shreya Chandra, Nishigandha Kelkar (Bottom L-R) Spoorti Nanjamma/ marssociety.org
Four students of Indian origin are among the recipients of the 2026 “20 Twenties” Awards by Aviation Week Network, which recognizes aerospace-bound STEM students in their 20s.
The four recipients are Shreya Chandra of the University of California, Davis; Nishigandha Kelkar of Stanford University; Spoorti Nanjamma of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Priyanka Vasu of the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Also Read: Four Indian-origin students named Schwarzman Scholars
Shreya Chandra is a senior mechanical and aerospace engineering major at the University of California, Davis. “It’s an incredible honor to be named a 20 Twenties recipient,” Chandra said.
“I’m grateful for the recognition and for the people who supported the work behind it. This program raises the visibility of my work within the aviation and space community,” she added.
Nishigandha Kelkar is currently a master's in business administration candidate at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and previously earned degrees in aerospace engineering and management science from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, graduating with top academic honors. She has worked in roles spanning avionics, systems integration and product strategy across companies including Garmin, Collins Aerospace and Joby Aviation.
Spoorti Nanjamma is pursuing a master’s degree in systems engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after completing her undergraduate studies in spaceflight operations.
She has worked as a graduate teaching assistant and on Federal Aviation Administration-funded research and test bed projects focused on next-generation aviation systems.
Priyanka Vasu is a first-year master’s student in aerospace engineering sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, specializing in bioastronautics. Her work focuses on understanding the physiological and psychological effects of spaceflight on humans, and she is serving as health and safety officer for a Mars Desert Research Station crew mission.
“Congratulations to the 20 Twenties Class of 2026! We are so inspired by the achievements and potential of these exceptional students,” said Greg Hamilton, president of Aviation Week Network. “We are looking forward to honoring these rising stars in March and following and supporting their success as they begin their careers in our essential industry.”
John Schmidt, Global Aerospace and Defense industry lead at Accenture, which partners Aviation Week on the program, said the winners form “an inspiring group whose achievements in STEM will help shape the future of aerospace and defense,” adding that Accenture is proud to support a program that “celebrates academic excellence and community impact” while backing the next generation of innovators.
The winners will be honored at a luncheon on March 19 and later the same day at Aviation Week Network’s 68th Annual Laureate Awards and Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.
The 20 Twenties program, launched in 2013, has so far honored 220 students from 192 schools in 39 countries and is part of its broader workforce initiative aimed at building the next generation of aerospace and defense professionals.
This year’s cohort was chosen from 60 nominees representing 20 schools across 13 countries, according to the organization.
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