Mechanical Engineering Student Grace Morgan Awarded Prestigious SMART Scholarship

Grace Morgan '27, a mechanical engineering student at the University of San Diego (USD), has been named a recipient of the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship.

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service is a highly competitive U.S. government program that funds students in STEM fields. Scholarship recipients receive full tuition, an annual stipend, internships at the Department of War (DoW) research facilities and guaranteed employment after graduation.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for Grace’s professional development, and a well-deserved recognition of her hard work and dedication as a mechanical engineering student,” Assistant Professor Paulina Diáz-Montiel notes proudly.

This merit-based opportunity opens doors to over 100 cutting-edge federal sponsoring facilities across the United States, providing scholars, like Morgan, with hands-on experience in their field to advance critical and emerging technologies for national security initiatives. During their summer internships, scholars are paired with experienced DoW mentors to enhance their technical expertise for key DoW priorities. 

Morgan expresses her gratitude for her peer support within the USD engineering program: “I am proud to share this recognition with my fellow student, Luke Mileski, who first introduced me to this scholarship.”

The SMART Scholarship-for-Service program plays an instrumental role in developing the nation’s future STEM workforce by recruiting and developing top-talent for the DoW. Combined with other federal education and outreach efforts, the program helps to uphold our nation’s scientific and technological edge.

For Morgan, the SMART Scholarship-for-Service represents both a professional milestone and a personal homecoming. She is sponsored by the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest on Naval Base North Island in Coronado — a location that holds significant family history.

“This honor is especially meaningful to me, as I’ve grown up around the military, with my father serving as a Navy SEAL in Coronado, making this opportunity deeply personal.” Morgan continues, “I’m excited for the chance to give back to the community and the place I’ve always called home.”

Upon completing her degree, Morgan will begin her full-time career as a civilian engineer at the Fleet Readiness Center in San Diego: “I am beyond grateful to receive the SMART Scholarship and to see my hard work and dedication recognized. This opportunity brings me one step closer to making a meaningful impact in engineering and preparing to contribute to advancing national security.”