2026 Aeronautics & Astronautics Commencement
The Aeronautics and Astronautics 2026 Commencement Ceremony was held on Sunday, June 14, 2026 at Cemex Auditorium, at the Graduate School of Business.
2026 Aero Astro Commencement Photos
Aero/Astro Commencement Awards 2026
Undergraduate Research Excellence Award
Vale Rasmussen
This award recognizes exceptional undergraduate achievement in research—students who not only thrive in the classroom but also contribute meaningfully to the advancement of aerospace knowledge through hands-on, original work.
Nicholas J. Hoff Award For Outstanding Master's Degree Student
Sevan Vlieghe and Griffin Weaver
This award is funded by the Nicholas J. Hoff Scholarship, generously supported by Bernard Ross MS '59 Eng, PHD '65 Eng.
Professor Nicholas J. Hoff received his PhD degree from Stanford in 1942. In 1957, he was asked by Stanford Provost Frederick Terman to return to Stanford and start an independent department of Aeronautics & Astronautics. The Award named after him is presented annually to the AA student identified as the top student based on the excellence and rigor of the student's Master's program.
Ballhaus Prize for Best Ph.D. Thesis
Faisal As'ad
Thesis: Mechanics-Informed Neural Networks for Data-Driven Constitutive Modeling
Advised by: Professor Charbel Farhat
Dr. William Ballhaus was educated at Stanford University and the California Institute of Technology. His distinguished career in industry included the position of Chief Designer and Vice President of Northrop Grumman, and President of Beckman Instruments. The prize named after him is presented annually to recognize the graduate student who created what is judged by the faculty committee to be the best PhD dissertation for that year.
Robert Cannon Award
Pranit Mohnot
Although he joined the Department in 1959, Professor Robert Cannon served from 1966 until 1968 as Chief Scientist of the US Air Force at the Pentagon, from 1970 until 1974 as Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Research and Development, and from 1975 until 1979 as the Dean of the School of Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. In 1979, he returned to Stanford and taught in the Department until he retired in 1995. The award named after him was created by the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics in recognition of his service as Chairman from 1979 to 1990. Its sustainability was made possible thanks to the Chiang Family Endowment. The award was created to assist students in their pursuit of the highest standards of academic leadership, cooperation, and research.
Sharon Kay Stanaway Award
Jade Babcock-Chi
Dr. Sharon Kay Stanaway was a PhD student in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics from 1982 to 1988 and the beloved wife of Professor Ilan Kroo. Established in her memory, this award consists of a scholarship given to support the summer research activities of a woman engineering student in Aeronautics and Astronautics, reflecting Sharon's belief in the importance of graduate education and women's role in engineering. It is presented annually to an exceptional graduate student who shares Dr. Stanaway's interest and enthusiasm for aerospace.
Jim and Anna Marie Spilker Award
Grace Kim
The award named after James and Anna Marie Spilker is presented annually to recognize our commitment to fostering a welcoming environment and upholding the highest standards of education and research. James Spilker, Jr., was a central figure in the technical development of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University. Spilker made many technical advances during his long career, but he may be best known for developing the GPS coarse/acquisition (CA) signal in the 1970s, which is today the gateway for all the estimated 4 billion users of GPS. His wife, Anna Marie Spilker, MBA, is an investor, entrepreneur and philanthropist. She is a licensed real estate broker and the founder and president of New Pacific Investments Inc. She has been a highly successful real estate investor and manager in Silicon Valley.
2026 Staff Award
Jenny Scholes
This award is presented annually by the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics to recognize a staff member for exceptional contributions to the Department.
Stanford AIAA Award Excellence in Teaching
Professor Somil Bansal
This award is presented annually by Stanford's chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to recognize a faculty member for their outstanding contributions in teaching.
Stanford AIAA Award Excellence in Advising
Professor Mykel Kochenderfer
This award is presented annually by Stanford's chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to recognize a faculty member for their outstanding contributions in advising students.
Stanford AIAA Award Outstanding Course Assistant
Nishant Shah
This award is presented annually by Stanford's chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics to recognize a student for their outstanding contributions in teaching.