The Lawrence Sperry Award is presented for a notable contribution made by a young person, age 35 or under, to the advancement of aeronautics or astronautics. This award honors Lawrence B. Sperry, pioneer aviator and inventor, who died in 1923 in a forced landing while attempting a flight across the English Channel.
Note: The recipient must be age 35 or under on December 31 of the year preceding presentation. Because of unique nature of this award, it is presented during the annual AIAA Awards Gala.