Oliva was self-admittedly the “average” high schooler in Avon, OH. She wasn’t remarkable, she thought, even though she’d long dreamed of space exploration. But to her, those ambitions belonged to “people born to be the next leaders” and she didn’t make that cut.

Still, she had her sights trained on college. After high school, she enrolled at Lorain County Community College, fully intent on continuing at a four-year university. But while she was there, something changed.

“I found that being able to achieve your dream career and being the person you’ve always dreamed of being ties more into what you choose to do and how you approach the environment around,” she said.

Her hopes weren’t so far flung anymore. Now, they were within reach, and Olivia decided to go for it. She put in the work. Started getting involved. Joined an aerospace program, where she became a STEM education specialist. And then, after her time at LCCC she set out for Cleveland State University.

Before she enrolled, she got her award letter detailing the scholarships she received. Among them was the Doug Peacock Scholarship, funded by TransDigm. Headquartered in Cleveland, TransDigm is a leading global designer, producer, and supplier of engineered aerospace components used on nearly all commercial and military aircraft platforms worldwide. Through the Doug Peacock Scholarship at Cleveland State, TransDigm invests directly in the next generation of engineers and aerospace professionals right here in Northeast Ohio.

TransDigm has committed $750,000 for student scholarships and also invested $700,000 to establish the CSU-TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center, a hands-on training and industry-collaboration hub in CSU’s Washkewicz College of Engineering that is preparing students for manufacturing career readiness.

“Thanks to TransDigm’s commitment, Cleveland State is able provide students with the scholarships they need to pursue their dreams and launch their careers,” CSU President Laura Bloomberg said.

“In addition to financial support, students can access critical resources like the Advanced Manufacturing Center to learn the skills they need from the region’s engineers and partners in the industry. TransDigm’s philanthropic support is a signal to students that their education is valuable to the region and worthy of the investment."

For Olivia, the Peacock Scholarship would offset any expense for her and her family, of course. But what it meant to her ran much deeper.

“I felt both a big sense of relief…but also really proud too…that my hard work kind of paid off,” she said.

Here was a young woman unsure whether she even belonged in aerospace. And then, an aerospace company—one of the most consequential in the industry—told her through scholarship dollars that she did. That kind of recognition does something a tuition check alone cannot. It builds confidence. It says: your hard work is seen, your ambitions are valid, and this field has a place for you.

“The Doug Peacock Scholarship was one of the things that helped me learn more about Cleveland State, who its sponsors are, and how it's connected to the local industry, and who the players are that are helping students like me not only pursue our degree but get involved in the local aerospace industry.”

Though she’s only in her second year in the Washkewicz College of Engineering at Cleveland State, she’s already a leader. She assumed the presidency of the newly formed Rocketry Club which has grown from 7-8 members to over 30 today.

“We have so many deserving students who not only excel in the classroom but also beyond the classroom,” said Richard Schoephoerster, dean of the Washkewicz College of Engineering.

“Olivia is a perfect example of that. We have been promoting students to engage in and start new student organizations, and Olivia stepped up to the plate.”

The Rocketry Club has its sights set on competing nationally at NASA’s Student Launch Initiative in the spring. It’s a tall order; the design team will construct rockets that will propel 5,000-10,000 feet, and Olivia admits it will be daunting at the helm. But she’s confident—in her team and herself.

She’s hoping getting to a national stage can put the spotlight on CSU as a worthy competitor in the big leagues, but even then, her motivations run deeper. This is more than just fanfare and prestige. She’s there to encourage her peers that they also are worthy and capable.

“I want to expand access to opportunities so nobody would be in the position I was in before and help them to have that same realization — that you too can do cool aerospace things or be a local leader. You just have to choose to.”