Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  Laura Cutchens July 24, 2017 Chairman Execu�ve Vice President External Affairs Lisa Schott  Vice Chairman Scholarship Founda�on

Michael Neukamm Office: 407-403-5907 Secretary Vincent Cimino Cell: 407-474-3196 Treasurer [email protected] Kevin Chilton  Tammy Sudler President & CEO James Lovell  Chairman Emeritus Astronaut Mike Collins to Give Keynote Address at the Innovators Gala

Scott Altman  Apollo 11 astronaut to remember and John Blaha  welcome 2017-2018 Astronaut Scholar Class Larry Bradley   Richard Covey   Apollo 11 command module pilot, astronaut Mike Collins, will be the keynote Chris Ferguson  Orlando, FL – Fred Gregory  speaker at the Innovators Gala to be held September 16, 2017 at the JW Marrio� in Washington, Joseph Han  Jeffrey Hoffman  D.C. Collins will headline the event introducing the 45 members of the 2017-2018 Astronaut Scholar Charles Precourt  class and the first recipient of the Neil ArmstrongTM Award of Excellence. Brewster Shaw  Kathryn Thornton  Al Worden  A�endees at the Innovators Gala will have the unique opportunity of hearing from Collins, who

BOARD OF TRUSTEES served as pilot for the Gemini X mission in 1966 and command module pilot for Apollo 11 in 1969. Laura Shepard-Churchley Chairman Andrew Allen  The event is highlighted by the presenta�on of the 45 members of the 2017-2018 Astronaut Scholar Rick Armstrong class who represent the best and brightest of college students pursuing science, technology, Ann Brown Ed Buckbee engineering and math. In addi�on, the inaugural Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence will be Patricia Carpenter presented to Astronaut Scholar, Patrick Biltgen. Suzi Cooper Richard Garriott Robert “Hoot” Gibson  Rebecca Griffin “I am pleased to have this opportunity to honor the legacy of my dear friend Neil Armstrong,” Seth Jonas  Collins said. “I am only sorry that Neil is not here to honor Patrick directly, as the two of them, I am Jarret Lafleur  James Long sure, would enjoy knowing each other." James Mault Joseph Mayer Lawrence McGlynn The Astronaut Scholarship Founda�on (ASF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organiza�on established by the Harvey Miller Mercury in 1984. The Founda�on's mission is to aid the United States in retaining its Dirk Raemdonck Thomas Stafford  world leadership in technology and innova�on by suppor�ng the very best and brightest scholars in Carol Fitzgerald Tyler science, technology, engineering, and mathema�cs while commemora�ng the legacy of America’s HONORARY TRUSTEES pioneering astronauts. LeVar Burton Tom Hanks  Henri Landwirth ASF awards 45, $10,000 scholarships to outstanding college juniors and seniors na�onwide with support from astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shu�le and Space Sta�on Founder  programs who par�cipate in this educa�onal endeavor. Astronaut  Scholar  ###

EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE OF KNOWLEDGE 651 Danville Drive, Suite 101 | Orlando, FL 32825 | 407-362-7900 [email protected] | www.astronautscholarship.org