Satsha Burden of Tupelo to be honored for the Northwest Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award at the Northwest Soiree: A Garden Gala
Senatobia, MS (02/17/2026) — The Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation announces Satsha Burden of Tupelo as the recipient of the Young Alumni Professional Achievement Award. A Northwest Cheerleading Alumnus, Burden now works as a Test Engineer and Test Manager for the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC), Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee.
The Tupelo native says he remembers his time at Northwest fondly. As a part of the Northwest Cheerleading squad, he said one inspiring figure from his past is Brandon Casey, Northwest Head Cheer Coach. Skills he learned in the gym have translated into more than just a workout; they have helped inspire his success as an engineer and continue to encourage him. While at Northwest, Burden was recognized as HEADWAE Student of the Year, Outstanding Student, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, which reflects his leadership, work ethic, and commitment to excellence.
After Burden's time at Northwest, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Mathematics at Mississippi State University. While there, he wasn't only an exceptional student but a D1 athlete on the university's coed cheerleading squad and a member of the Space Cowboys rocketry team. In 2024, he completed his Master of Science in Professional Science with a concentration in Engineering Management from Middle Tennessee State University.
In 2022, Burden quickly established himself as a leader in his civil service career at AEDC. Within the first year of his service, he was appointed Test Manager Lead, and has now logged over 1,000 tunnel user occupancy hours, while managing over $12 million in test programs. His work helps support the next generation of aerospace.
Under a decade into his career, Burden said he feels honored to receive this award. Beyond his profession, he is a licensed private pilot and aspires to fly across the country to inspire and educate others about aviation. He and his wife, Kayla, reside in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Burden will be honored at the Foundation's annual fundraising event, the Northwest Soiree: A Garden Gala, on April 18, 2026, at the Heindl Center for the Performing Arts. The evening will include a social hour, an awards ceremony, and a live performance by Dave Barnes. Funds raised through the Soiree, which is presented by Mini Systems, Inc., help move forward the Northwest vision of transforming students' lives, enriching our communities, and striving for excellence in our educational programs and services. Last year, the Soiree raised over $140,000 for students.
If you would like to be part of this impactful event, you may purchase your tickets online: https://www.heindlcenter.org/soiree2026. For more information about the Northwest Soiree, please visit https://www.northwestms.edu/about/foundation/northwest-soiree
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Andrew Dale, Associate Vice President of Community Relations, adale@northwestms.eduShare this Story
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