Two North Carolina-based HBCU students have been awarded a top Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) scholarship.
According to a press release shared with AFROTECH™, undergraduate students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (N.C. A&T), Victoria Little, a dual-degree senior studying biology and psychology, and Avery C. Love, a chemistry major with a minor in biology, are among the 2026 Astronaut Scholars.
According to the scholarship’s website, it’s awarded to juniors and seniors in STEM who want to pursue careers in the field after graduation, including research.
Under the mentorship of Antoinette Maldonado-Devincci, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology, Little is researching neuromodulatory signaling.
“Her work integrates experimental biology and data-driven analysis to better understand tumor behavior and neurological signaling,” the press release reads. “At A&T, Little performs laboratory research involving tissue processing and receptor analysis to support ongoing studies in neurobiology.”
Little is also researching tumor resistance through an internship at the University of Virginia School.
Love’s research focuses on brain metabolism, Alzheimer’s disease, and the biochemical composition of marine organisms and bacterial gene expression.
As Astronaut Scholars, the pair will receive scholarships of up to $15,000, per the press release. Little and Love are among this year’s 79 scholarship awardees, and the scholarship website states selected students came from 54 universities across the U.S.
“The College of Science and Technology is committed to advancing scientific discovery while preparing students to excel in graduate education, pursue impactful research careers, and become the next generation of STEM leaders,” College of Science and Technology Dean Abdellah Ahmidouch, Ph.D., commented, per the press release. “Avery and Victoria’s recognition as Astronaut Scholars reflects the strength of our academic programs, the dedication of our faculty mentors, and our shared mission to position N.C. A&T students at the forefront of innovation and scientific leadership.”
The pair are also College of Science and Technology honors students and Cheatham-White Scholars, which is an N.C. A&T scholarship that fully funds tuition, student fees, housing, meals, and textbooks, according to the university’s website.
“Our mission in the Honors College is to cultivate students who excel academically while engaging deeply in research, leadership, and service,” Honors College Dean Margaret I. Kanipes, Ph.D., explained in the press release. “Avery and Victoria embody that mission as Cheatham-White Scholars who have maximized the opportunities available to them and translated those experiences into nationally recognized achievements. Their success reflects the intentional support structures and high expectations that define the Honors College at North Carolina A&T.”
