New Auburn Scholarship Honors Engineer Killed in Crash
Mechanical engineering students who are also Air Force ROTC cadets at Auburn can be considered for the endowed award beginning in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Scholarships
Auburn University mechanical engineering alumni have established the Major Alex Klinner Memorial Endowed Scholarship in memory of Maj. Alex Klinner, a 2016 graduate who was killed in March 2026 when a U.S. military KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. The scholarship will begin awarding students in 2027.
Why it matters
The endowment creates a lasting source of support for mechanical engineering students at Auburn's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. It was established because the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board was moved by Maj. Klinner's life story and passing.
The scholarship is awarded to a mechanical engineering student who is also a cadet in Auburn Air Force ROTC, with first awards beginning in 2027. It is an endowed scholarship that will be awarded in perpetuity.
The players
Auburn University
A large public research university in Auburn, Alabama, whose Samuel Ginn College of Engineering houses the mechanical engineering program that the scholarship supports.
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering
The engineering college at Auburn University, which hosts the mechanical engineering program and the Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board that established the scholarship.
Auburn Air Force ROTC
The Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit at Auburn University whose cadets are eligible for the scholarship.
The details
The Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board established the scholarship within the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering at Auburn University. Eligibility is tied to two criteria: enrollment in mechanical engineering and active service as a cadet in Auburn Air Force ROTC. The Auburn family is invited to contribute to the endowment, which is designed to keep the scholarship funded for future students.
Timeline
2016: Maj. Alex Klinner graduated from Auburn with a mechanical engineering degree.
March 12, 2026: Klinner was killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq, along with five other crew members.
2027: The first scholarship awards are scheduled to be made.
Education Landscape
Endowed scholarships funded by alumni and advisory boards are a common way engineering programs add targeted aid beyond general university funding. This award pairs an engineering major with ROTC service, linking academic support to military commitment.
If you are a mechanical engineering student who is also a cadet in Auburn Air Force ROTC, this endowed scholarship may become available beginning in 2027. Ask the Auburn financial-aid office how to be considered for scholarships tied to your major and ROTC status.
The takeaway
Endowed scholarships like this one create support that continues for as long as the endowment exists. Students interested in mechanical engineering and ROTC service should check with Auburn's financial-aid office about upcoming scholarship opportunities.
Further reading
Explore more Scholarships options for engineering and ROTC students in Auburn.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Opelika Observer.
