Three CSE students awarded Astronaut Scholarships

The prestigious award ties back to alumnus Donald “Deke” Slayton, one of the Mercury 7 founders

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (06/11/2026) - Three College of Science and Engineering students were awarded 2026-27 Astronaut Scholarships: Aletta Bartok, Henry Kopp and Ahmed Sharara.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, an initiative of the Mercury 7 astronauts to promote studies in math, science and engineering. The prestigious award provides up to $15,000 in tuition support, mentorship from academic and industry executives and exclusive professional development opportunities.

Astronaut Scholarships are uniquely awarded to students at universities with historic ties to the U.S. space program. Donald “Deke” Slayton, one of the Mercury 7 founders, graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1949 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. As a result of this legacy, the University remains an original partner of the foundation, with 45 University of Minnesota students having been named Astronaut Scholars since 1995.

Aletta Bartok

Aletta Bartok is a Chemistry and Earth Sciences double major from Eden Prairie, Minn. Her research focuses on exoplanet geochemistry. She developed a code to model the atmospheric development of early, carbon-rich planets with resources at the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute. To build the leadership skills necessary for space research, Bartok joined the University’s Rocket Team, earning her Level 1 High Power Rocketry certification. This past spring, she also led a team in designing a viable space mission concept through the NASA L’SPACE Mission Concept Academy. 

On campus, she is a chemistry teaching assistant, has served as president and treasurer of the University of Minnesota Geological Society, and competes nationally on the Club Tennis Team. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering with the ultimate goal of directing large-scale aerospace research initiatives.

Henry Kopp

Henry Kopp is a mechanical engineering major from Chicago, Ill. He has contributed to a diverse array of engineering research, including studying mixed-matrix polymer membranes for carbon capture with professor Jun Li in mechanical engineering, exploring directed energy deposition metal 3D printing during a summer REU at Northwestern University and developing  cardiac implant technology at Boston Scientific. For three years, Kopp has been an active member of the University’s Solar Vehicle Project, where he currently serves as Director of Operations and was previously team manager and logistics lead for the 2025 World Solar Challenge in Australia.

Beyond engineering, he is a competitive figure skater representing the University of Minnesota, including as a two-time collegiate nationals competitor. He plans to pursue graduate studies in biomedical engineering with a focus on novel materials, aiming to lead the development of next-generation medical device technologies and companies.

Ahmed Sharara

Ahmed Sharara is a biomedical engineering major from Arden Hills, Minn. During his first semester, he joined the regenerative medicine lab of Professor Bhairab Singh, helping discover new cryoprotective agents to improve the preservation of donor hearts and engineered tissues. Sharara has since continued his work in the Singh Lab, investigating maturation mechanisms in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and developing an automated tool for accelerated, high-accuracy fluorescent image analysis. He holds a patent for an innovative protocol to mature engineered heart tissue. Recently, Sharara published a study on the progression of sarcomeric disorganization in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a line of inquiry he is currently expanding to determine how mechanical forces drive disease states. 

On campus, he co-founded MEDIC, an organization empowering students to design medical devices through competitive teamwork and volunteers in the Emergency Department at M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital. He plans to earn a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and eventually direct his own university research laboratory.

If you are interested in applying for this scholarship in the future, please contact the University of Minnesota Office of National and International Scholarships.

Read more:

• Astronaut Scholarship Foundation website
• Department of Biomedical Engineering website
• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences website
• Department of Mechanical Engineering website

Scholarship impact

The students on this team are supported by a variety of scholarships from the College of Science and Engineering and the University of Minnesota. Aletta Bartok is the recipient of the 2023-27 Presidential Scholarship and the Robert R. Berg Scholarship in 2025-2026 and 2026-2027. Henry Kopp received a 2025-26 scholarship from the Walter and Margaret Pierce Endowment Fund and the 2023-27 National Scholarship from University of Minnesota Admissions. Ahmed Sharara received the Iron Range Merit Scholarship in 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26 and was a 2026 Goldwater Scholar recipient. 

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