Georgia Tech has nearly 400 Registered Student Organizations (RSO) on campus. It's hard to walk around campus without running into a student group. Many of them promote their group and mission with an information table, free food and handouts, and incredible events. 

So what's all the buzz about? Joining a student organization is a great way to meet other students, explore your career, gain leadership skills, and work on what you're passionate about. Student organizations can you give you access to opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. Below are some of the most popular student organizations in the AE School. Find out more about all of the registered student organizations at Tech.

Katie Gross, SAESAC Chair

SAESAC

​(School of Aerospace Engineering Student Advisory Council)

What did SAESAC do last year that was successful? AE Expo, peer advising, "So You Want to go to Grad School?" (info session for students considering graduate school)

What does SAESAC have planned this year that you are excited about? We are working with SEDS@GT and the Aero Maker Space on the next AeroHacks, to be held in Spring 2019. We are really excited about it and expect it to be even better than last year with new challenges and more participation (AE and non-AE students). We also look forward to welcoming Dr. Costello and working closely with him to have another great academic year full of events and opportunities for everyone in the Georgia Tech Aerospace Engineering community. Find out more. 

Mohit Gupta, Chapter President

​Vertical Flight Society

(Previously the American Helicopter Society)

What did your group do last year that was successful? We hosted very interesting helicopters-related lectures/talk, I myself shot and edited a video lecture on an interesting topic which is available online. We held workshops related to various scholarship opportunities and competitions and we got 4 students to win the prestigious Vertical Flight Foundation scholarships, 4 students to win Bell Flight Fellowships and above all, one student to be a Southeast Region winner in Robert L. Lichten competition where not only students but people from industries like Sikorsky, Bell, NASA and the Army also participate. We also conduct STEM outreach events as well as take students to excursions where we either get to fly a helicopter, participate and learn in maintenance activities, visit Annual Forum of the American Helicopter Society (next in Philadelphia, PA).

What does your group have planned for this year? This year, we are going to carry on with our technical as well as social activities along with participating in the next AHS student design competition in which the concepts are proposed by the students. Find out more. 

Lorenzo Capasso, AIAA Chapter President

American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)

What did AIAA do last year that was successful? We organized several technical tours to exciting aerospace destinations such as NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the Gulfstream Factories and Flight Test Centers, and the Atlanta Airport Maintenance Sites operated by Delta. AIAA also invited once again a group of Lockheed Martin engineers for the annual engineering case study that we organize with them. Along with guest speakers, AIAA helped with STEM Fairs in schools around Atlanta and continued to motivate incoming and prospective students.

What does AIAA have planned for this year? We are thrilled to be looking at even more exciting tour options in the whole Southeast Region. We might be able to go back to last year's wonderful destinations and expand the group sizes but we are looking to diversify those options with new tours to facilities of NASA Marshall, Pratt & Whitney, GE, Boeing and HondaJet. Another thrilling (but harder to organize) possibility is getting a group to see a rocket launch in Florida! Find out more.

Emily Glover, Board Member

Women in Aerospace Engineering

What did your group do last year that was successful? Last year our board organized Aero Maker Space events, mentoring opportunities, and study spaces with the goal of encouraging women in aerospace to support each other and believe in themselves.

What does your group have planned for this year? This year we are planning more inclusive events that will help students become more engaged in aerospace both at and outside of Tech. On Monday, August 27 we're offering tours of the major AE labs - like the Zinn Combustion Lab, the High-Powered Electric Propulsion Lab and the Harper Wind Tunnel. We're also having Tea with the Chair in September. Find out more.

Matthieu Capuano, President

​Ramblin' Rocket Club

​What did your group do last year that was successful? We officially certified 25+ members in High Power Rocketry (HPR) with the National Association of Rocketry. Certified members received both level 1 and 2 certs. We also hosted pre-career fair events to help prepare first and second-year students for recruiting season, and had talks from successful past interns. Many of these first years did not have resumes or cover letters coming in, and were very thankful for the opportunity. We attended about half a dozen launches and let our members meet people from across neighboring states who have built small and large rockets for years! 

What does your group have planned for this year? We're creating two teams to participate in some large scale competitions: the Spaceport America Cup (SAC, formerly IREC), and the Global Space Balloon Challenge (GSBC). For IREC, we're partnering up with graduate students from multiple labs to send a solid fueled rocket with a cubesat shaped payload to 10,000ft. For GSBC, we will be sending a High Altitude Balloon with electronics payloads to 100,000ft, and hope to partner with a research lab or two to get this done. Both competitions usually attract 80+ teams from some of the best AE schools and a few companies across the nation, and (for the GSBC) across continents! We'll also continue certifying members in HPR with the National Association of Rocketry and support them as much as possible if they choose to participate in NAR competitions. We'll do our best to help younger members prepare for recruiting season by holding talks from successful interns, and will also try to welcome guest speakers from multiple labs, departments, and other leaders across the AE and Georgia Tech community!​ Find out more.

Loren Isakson, President

Yellow Jacket Flying Club

What did YJFC do last year that was successful? We flew in to Pensacola, Florida to meet the Blue Angels. (Blue Angels fly-in) this summer. 

What does YJFC have planned for this year? We have two fantastic guest speakers that will be visiting campus early in the semester. I want to encourage anyone and everyone to attend (members and non-members). Find out more.

Dawn Andrews, Co-Founder

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS)

What did SEDS do last year that was successful? SEDS held a Yuri’s Night for the first time at Georgia Tech! I wasn’t there myself (on leave for an internship), but this was one of the main motivators for me and my co-founder when we started SEDS at Georgia Tech. It was an awesome opportunity to encourage and celebrate a passion for space with the whole campus community.

What does SEDS have planned for this year? Across all these organizations, I’m excited to meet our incoming first-year class and hope they will be involved in student organizations to get connected both professionally and socially. Our AE school is awesome for many reasons, but most of all because of the people who are in it. Find out more.

Ian Adams, Team Lead

GT Off-Road Club

What did GT Off-Road do last year that was successful? Last year we successfully reduced the weight of the car by 70 lbs, and made it to two additional competitions than previous years. 

What does GT Off-Road have planned for this year? This year we are excited about drastically increasing acceleration and top speed, reducing more weight, making it out to even more competitions, and also lots of new driver training. We will have four running cars we plan on driving, testing, breaking, and fixing on the weekends to become more competitive against other schools. Find out more.

Sahaj Patel, President

Sigma Gamma Tau

What did Sigma Gamma Tau do last year that was successful? Sigma Gamma Tau organized and hosted the Fall Aerospace Engineering Career Fair where more than 15 companies recruited GT students for internships and full-time positions. We also founded a peer-to-peer mentoring program which connected upperclassmen in the AE School with younger students. This allowed newer students to have an experienced contact within the school as well as a mentor for advice on scheduling, networking, and academics.

What does Sigma Gamma Tau have planned for this year? We are currently organizing the Fall AE Career Fair for Wednesday, September 19 at 8 a.m. We are excited to have companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Aerojet Rocketdyne in attendance. We will continue with last year’s programs and hope to expand them based on student feedback (mentoring and tutoring programs). Find out more.