From Ocean Lakes to NASA to Georgia Tech, one passion has stayed constant in the life of Maren Kelley ’20: aerospace engineering.
“[I’ve been] interested in aerospace for a long time, since middle school,” Kelley said. “I had been exposed to all kinds of STEM and engineering-oriented programs from a pretty young age, so when I started thinking about what career path I wanted to take, I knew engineering sounded interesting to me.”
Inspired by the constant presence of aviation in Virginia Beach, Kelley attended programs like Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST), Virginia Space Coast Scholars (VSCS) and Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars (VASTS). In addition to these out-of-school endeavors, Kelley took a plethora of AP classes, preparing her for a rigorous college environment.
“There are a couple classes that stand out to me as being more challenging, like AP Chemistry or AP Physics C, that prepared me well for Georgia Tech’s rigorous coursework,” Kelley said. “I would also strongly suggest an AP level English course, as even if you intend to pursue an engineering degree, report writing is an essential skill to develop.”
At Ocean Lakes, Kelley was a part of multiple extracurriculars that directly related to her dream. She participated in the astronomy club, took Magnet Astronomy in her sophomore year and founded the rocketry club. Initially, she was interested in designing rockets, but her career outlook soon changed.
“As I took more classes in my first and second year at Georgia Tech and got involved in extracurriculars and undergraduate research, I started to find aircraft engines really fascinating,” Kelley said. “Now, I am a Graduate Research Assistant at the Aerospace Systems Design Lab, and I intend to pursue a career in engine design and analyzing engine performance.”
Astronomy teacher Michelle Bailey-Hennessey is not surprised at Kelley’s astronomical growth.
“She was always super interested in anything space-related,” Bailey-Hennessey said. “She even 3-D printed Olympus Mons for me.”
Kelley completed her B.S. in Aerospace Engineering in May 2024 and has now moved on to pursuing her master’s degree in the same subject at the same university. With both the VSCS and VASTS programs currently going on, Kelley had some advice for students looking to overcome challenges and succeed in the field.
“It’s always helpful to lean on your support network when you need it,” Kelley said. “Chances are, you’ll be surrounded by many like-minded individuals who relate to what you’re going through and can help you think through any technical challenge you face, and family and friends are always great sources of advice or stability.”
