Fellow wins inaugural Young Person of the Year Award for advancement in global space landscape & youth advocacy
On October 30, Fellow Lily Asongfac (Cameroon, 2023) won the inaugural Young Person of the Year distinction by the Cameroon Youth Awards presented at Cameroon International Tech Summit (CITSCM) held at the Palais des Congrès in Yaoundé. This distinction recognizes her passionate dedication to advancing the global space landscape and advocating for youth empowerment. Lily is an International Account Manager for SpaceVrse and founder of the Aerospace Baby Project, which drives youth interest in aerospace and STEM. She has lent her technical expertise to support significant projects, such as the design of a nanosatellite mission for the Gabonese Space Agency.
Lily has garnered a multitude of prestigious honors and opportunities this year in recognition of her contributions to the aerospace industry this year. The International Astronautical Federation (IAF) recognized Lily as an Emerging Space Leader, which earned her an invitation to the 75th International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy. She was also announced as a 2024 African Space Leader Award winner by the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), which will take her to the upcoming African-Pacific Space Generation Workshop in Abuja, Nigeria November 20 to 21. Additionally, she was named one of the 2024 Women Engineers You Should Know by the Magazine of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE).
“This recognition is a testament to the power of dreaming big, pushing boundaries, and staying committed to making a difference. The sky is NOT the limit—it’s only the beginning,” Lily shared in a celebratory post.
Lily plans to attend the TechWomen Alumnae Summit in Morocco this December where she hopes to connect with other leading women in aerospace who are pioneering advancements and innovations.
