Astronaut Scholarship Foundation

Join us at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from August 24-28 for an opportunity to meet veteran NASA Astronaut Fred Gregory! 👨‍🚀

Attendees will learn about Fred Gregory’s experiences living and working in space, engage in a live Q&A session and have the opportunity to receive an autograph.

Learn more and register today: https://ow.ly/BQqL50SWnHV

Last week, we learned of the sad loss of Captain Jon A. McBride – astronaut (member of the “TFNG”), aviator, and naval officer. Jon was admired by all for an esteemed and successful career. However, for over two decades, he served as the astronaut “on duty” for the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Countless visitors from across the country and around the world encountered Jon’s passion for space exploration and STEM education when visiting KSCVC. We are all truly grateful for his unwavering passion to educate, encourage and inspire those around him. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation extends our heartfelt sympathy to Jon’s family and friends.

We are excited to welcome SAIC as our Character Sponsor for the 2024 Innovators Symposium & Gala this week!

As a corporate sponsor since 2017, we’re grateful for your generous support and dedication to advancing excellence for our .

We’re thrilled to have Amazon.com and Solarcore as our Achievement Sponsors for the 2024 Innovators Symposium & Gala.

Thank you for supporting excellence and celebrating the achievements of our 2024 !

Tune in to the latest T-Minus Space Daily podcast featuring our President & CEO Caroline Schumacher! Don't miss out on this stellar conversation about our mission and future: https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/328 🚀🎙️

We are honored to announce Space Center Houston as our Integrity Sponsor for the 2024 Innovators Symposium & Gala in Houston, TX!

As we prepare for , we want to recognize Space Center Houston for supporting our mission and helping to create a memorable experience for our Class of 2024 . This year’s Innovators Symposium & Gala marks ASF’s debut in Houston, and we are thrilled to celebrate in the heart of Space City!

P.S. Space Center Houston even has a very special surprise planned for our Astronaut Scholars during the Innovators Symposium! Keep an eye on our stories during the event to find out what it is. 🤩

Last week, the ASF team partnered with the Astros Foundation and joined the Houston Astros for their game against the Pittsburgh Pirates!

During the game, veteran NASA Astronaut and retired U.S. Army Col. Bill McArthur was recognized during Military Appreciation Night. During Bill’s time as an astronaut, he flew on three Space Shuttle missions and an expedition to the International Space Station via the Russian Soyuz capsule.

Special thank you to the Lovell Family for their collaboration with the Houston Astros Foundation to make this a homerun experience!⚾⭐

We’re excited to announce our Impact Sponsors for the Innovators Symposium & Gala event - ASRC Federal, Griffin Communications Group, GEN Financial Management, INC. , Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Steve & Jill Wirth!

Thank you for celebrating with us and supporting our 2024 .

We are excited to welcome Ayrshire Corporation as our newest Inspiration Sponsor for the 2024 Innovators Symposium & Gala! Thank you for joining us in celebrating our 2024 .

Remember to register for our virtual Live Chat with veteran NASA Astronaut Mike Fossum, moderated by 2023 Sarah Stamer on August 7 at 3 pm ET! During this FREE virtual chat, Fossum will share his journey as an astronaut and the importance of in his career.

Register today: https://ow.ly/9SHZ50SJFzB

Excited to have Jacobs Solutions Inc. and Space X as our Inspiration Sponsors for the 2024 Innovators Symposium and Gala! Join us as we welcome the 2024 Class of and honor the 2024 Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence Recipient in Houston, Texas, during our scholar-centric signature event taking place August 14-17, 2024.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/Pwek50SJFq9

Join us for Aviation Weekend at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex from August 2 – 4, 2024! Attendees will hear from veteran NASA astronauts and pilots as they share their journeys in aviation and engage in interactive activities. Plus, our Josh Baston and Vikas Patel will give insightful presentations in the Journey to Mars exhibit theater at 1 pm and 4 pm ET.

Register today: https://ow.ly/Wiah50SJFjm

We are excited to announce the exhibitors participating in our Professional EXPO on August 16 during the Innovators Symposium & Gala - ASRC Federal, Jacobs Solutions Inc., Amentum, Valkyrie, Blue Origin, McWane, Inc., Astraeus Space Institute, Carba, LJA, Space X, KBR, Rice Space Institute and others.

Our 2024 Class of Astronaut Scholars will have the opportunity to connect with industry professionals and exploring new pathways for their future careers during the Professional Expo. Special thanks to each company for participating and supporting the bright futures of our .

Join us for our next FREE virtual live chat with veteran NASA Astronaut Mike Fossum on Wednesday, August 7!

During the live chat, space enthusiasts will engage in insightful conversations with Mike Fossum as he shares the highlights of his career and personal experiences. Your middle school and high school students will actively participate in discussions, sparking their curiosity about and inspiring them to dream big!

Click the link to register today: https://ow.ly/GMIL50SJ9ue

As we prepare for the 2024 Innovators Symposium & Gala in Houston, TX, we want to recognize our university partner, University of Central Florida!

As one of ASF’s founding university partners, UCF’s support has been key to our success in supporting our since the beginning. Learn more about the Innovators Symposium & Gala: https://ow.ly/6XNB50SHBVz

Thank you for helping celebrate Founders' Day with us and supporting our who will continue the legacy of excellence in exploration, discovery and innovation. Your generosity has helped double the lasting impact on our scholars and raised $69,665 for the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation! We are honored to celebrate these special milestones with Astronaut Scholar Alumni who have stayed engaged with us through the years. 1993 Astronaut Scholar and Board of Directors Member Larry Bradley has witnessed the growth and evolution of the Foundation during the last 31 years and has remained an avid supporter of ASF and our Astronaut Scholars. Check out his quote above!

A special thank you to Laura and Julie Shepard (daughters of ASF founding Chairman, Astronaut Alan Shepard) and our other past ASF Chairmen with their families, Captain Jim Lovell and the Lovell Family, Patty Carpenter, Eve Garriott, Charlie Duke, Dan Brandenstein and Curt Brown, for joining the Shepard’s in matching every donated dollar up to $40,000.

“The Eagle has landed.” 🌙 On July 20, 1969, more than half a billion people watched on television as Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. In this photograph, astronaut Buzz Aldrin takes his first step onto the surface of the Moon.

Celebrate the 55th anniversary of Apollo 11 and relive the moon landing at Visitor Complex. All weekend, enjoy activities and presentations as we look forward to NASA's next giant leap - the Artemis missions.

Exactly 55 years ago, Neil Armstrong became the first human to step foot on the lunar surface, delivering one of the most iconic lines in history, “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is proud to continue Armstrong’s legacy through the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence. This award recognizes an Astronaut Scholar Alum who exemplifies personal character, professional achievement and leaves a lasting impact in their field.

Learn more about our 2024 Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence recipient: https://ow.ly/HScO50SG0aR

📸: NASA

Happy Founders' Day to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation! We send our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported us over the last 40 years. Here's to the next 40 years!

Learn more about our : https://ow.ly/Z9p550SFZK3

Veteran NASA Astronaut Rick Hauck reflects on the importance of our mission as we celebrate our 40th Anniversary:

“The incredible contributions of our Astronaut Scholars, in a wide variety of STEM fields, continue to honor the bravery and forward thinking of the original Mercury astronauts. This is why we have worked diligently to increase the number of Astronaut Scholarships over the past 40 years.” - Rick Hauck, veteran NASA Astronaut, STS-7, STS-51A & STS 26

Photo Context: NASA Astronaut Rick Hauck presenting Lauren Wielgus with $10,000 ASF Scholarship during an Astronaut Scholarship Award Ceremony at Tufts University in 2010.

Learn more about our : https://ow.ly/1fXW50SCmmb

On July 10, 2024, astronaut Joe Engle passed away. A remembrance wreath is located inside Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame to honor his life and legacy.

As we celebrate 40 years of ASF, we are excited to spotlight JoAnn Morgan, the first female NASA Engineer! We are thankful for her passion and dedication in supporting our Astronaut Scholars.

Photo Context: Veteran NASA Astronaut John Herrington (left), 2023 Montana State University Astronaut Scholar Amanda Haab (center), and JoAnn Morgan (right) at the Montana State University Astronaut Scholar Award Ceremony.

Learn more about our : https://ow.ly/kGJe50SCllZ

We’re so excited to have 2021 The University of Arizona Roberto Peralta moderate our Live Chat with veteran NASA Astronaut Hoot Gibson this Friday, July 19!

Join us for a FREE virtual chat with veteran NASA Astronaut Hoot Gibson as he shares the story of his space career and inspires students of all ages to pursue a future .

Register today: https://ow.ly/zbz250SBGJs

With 5 days left to , we’re so excited to announce that we’ve reached our $40,000 goal! These funds will provide scholarships, mentoring, professional development and other programs that are important to helping advance our Astronaut Scholars. Thanks to everyone who has been celebrating our 40th Anniversary.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/Qn2N50SzYjG

We are delighted to share the special memory of Joe Levanduski and his son meeting Mercury 7 Astronaut Scott Carpenter, which sparked his passion for space exploration. Thank you for your support of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation!

"My story revolves around my son, Matt, who was fascinated with space exploration at a very young age. I was introduced to ASF after meeting with Buzz Aldrin in a hotel lobby after a scrubbed launch of STS-130. I remember buying two platinum tickets for the following year's U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame and Gala, which gave me the honor of picking an astronaut who would sit at our dinner table. I chose Scott Carpenter, who spent the dinner sitting next to Matt talking about going to Mars. That evening he met 6 of the 12 men who walked on the Moon as well as other Apollo astronauts. Today, Matt is finishing his second year at the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University desiring a career in finance, and his passion for space exploration is as strong as ever. This past March, he spent his spring break going to Los Angeles where he toured SpaceX. I still think some day he will figure out a way to combine his two passions to be part of the mission to Mars and I will think back to Scott Carpenter talking to my son. Thanks, ASF for making such a special memory for me and my son, and for being such an influence on Matt." - Joe Levanduski

Front Row: (L to R) Buzz Aldrin, Thomas Stafford, Gene Cernan, Alan Bean, and Fred Haise
Back Row: (L to R) Jim McDivitt, David Scott, Charlie Duke, Edgar Mitchell, and Richard Gordon

Learn more about our : https://ow.ly/Kn2m50SAUrN

We want to spotlight Jessica Blomberg for her role within the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Her journey began as an Astronaut Scholar in 1996 & 1997, and now, as an ASF Board of Directors member and an Astronaut Scholar mentor. She has played a significant role in advancing our mission and guiding our scholars with a dedication to !

Picture Context: Jessica Blomberg (left) with 2014-2015 Astronaut Scholar Jillian Yurcich (right).

Learn more about our : https://ow.ly/eBEs50SxgxR

We are saddened to share the passing of Astronaut Joe Henry Engle; he was a U.S. Air Force pilot and at the time, the youngest man to become a NASA astronaut. Engle was selected as a NASA astronaut in 1966 with spaceflight already under his belt. Engle flew the X-15 above 50 miles, which qualified him for astronaut wings in 1965 during a joint program between the U.S. Air Force and a NASA research program.

He, along with Dick Truly served as one of the two crews who executed the test flights for the Shuttle Approach & Landing tests aboard Enterprise. He then flew with Truly again on his first Space Shuttle mission as the commander of Columbia during STS-2 in 1981, the only time a winged aerospace craft was manually flown from orbit through landing. His final flight was as commander of Discovery during STS-51I in 1985.

Engle was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® in 2001 along with Bob Crippen, Rick Hauck and Dick Truly. Joe Engle is honored with the distinction of being the only astronaut to have flown into space in two completely distinct winged vehicles; the X-15 and the Space Shuttle.

We will miss this incredibly highly decorated aerospace pioneer whose achievements are out of this world and truly appreciate his dedication to our country, our space program and to our foundation; God Speed Joe Engle.

Join us at the 2024 Professional Expo on Friday, August 16, during the Innovators Symposium and Gala weekend in Houston, TX.

During the Expo, organizations can connect directly with our new class of 2024-25 and Astronaut Scholar Alumni to share internships, job opportunities and graduate program information. Our Astronaut Scholars are remarkably driven and are ready to make lasting contributions to American companies across all STEM fields. Don’t miss this chance to build your workforce pipeline by connecting with the future leaders, our Astronaut Scholars!

Secure your organizations spot today: https://ow.ly/Hnj850SzT3c