Sophia Karako is an Aerospace Engineering student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she was awarded the Gold Scholar merit scholarship. Her fascination with human spaceflight is rooted in a broader passion for scientific exploration in extreme environments. For Sophia, studying the stars goes hand-in-hand with understanding our own world, bridging planetary science, polar research, and deep-space missions.

At Georgia Tech, Sophia engineered human-factors components, including steering, pedals, and brakes, for GT Motorsports, helping design an FSAE race car that secured 5th place in an international competition. Outside the lab, she is an active wilderness explorer skilled in canyoneering, caving, backpacking, and technical rappelling. She holds an Advanced Wilderness First Aid certification and serves as a Cascading Instructor in Training. Alongside her technical work, Sophia instructs youth STEAM programs through Georgia Tech CEISMC and remains deeply committed to community service, student mentorship, and advocating for individuals with disabilities.