UNVEILING the NEWEST HEROES JOINING the U.S. ASTRONAUT HALL of FAME! Mark Your Calendars for This Year’S Event May 13 - 14, 2016 Page 6
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2016 UNVEILING THE NEWEST HEROES JOINING THE U.S. ASTRONAUT HALL OF FAME! Mark your calendars for this year’s event May 13 - 14, 2016 Page 6 5 Astronaut Scholar Alumna making waves in popular culture FOX TV & Glamour Magazine 8 Space Rendezvous 2015 was a tremendous success! ASTROGRAM PUBLICATION UPDATE Beginning this year, ASF’s semi-annual Astrogram will become more digitally focused. We will print one issue of the magazine each year, along with quarterly electronic newsletters. To receive these newsletters, visit AstronautScholarship.org and click the “Sign up now” button at the bottom of the page to give us your preferred email address. Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Astronaut ■ Scholar ● Founder ♦ BOARD OF DIRECTORS Letter from the Chairman CHAIRMAN Dan Brandenstein ■ The start of a new year is always an exciting time here at the VICE CHAIRMAN Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF). We look forward to new Lisa Schott ● challenges as we continue to grow and expand our programs. It SECRETARY/TREASURER also gives us an opportunity to reflect on the achievements from the Michael Neukamm previous 12 months. EX-Facto Richard Covey ■ During 2015, we awarded 38 of our prestigious scholarships to CHAIRMAN EMERITUS James Lovell ■ well-deserving students – our largest number of scholarships to John Blaha ■ date – while increasing the number of partnering universities to 31. Larry Bradley ● This milestone reflects multiple years of growth for ASF’s mission. Curt Brown ■ Our newest “Scholars” are pursuing degrees in mathematics, optics, Robert Crippen ■ engineering, aerospace and many other scientific fields. In spending Charles Duke ■ time with them, we know they will go on to achieve great things Senator John Glenn ■ ♦ Richard Gordon ■ for our country. Fred Gregory ■ Joseph Han ● ASF also inspired and educated more than 7,000 elementary/high school students and members of the Rick Hauck ■ general public about the achievements and value of space exploration. Working with our partnering Jeff Hoffman ■ universities, ASF participated in 15 education events where Scholars had the opportunity to inspire Edgar Mitchell ■ their peers to actively pursue their dreams. We also launched a new program that provides Astronaut Charlie Precourt ■ Scholars the opportunity to be mentored by Astronauts, leading industry executives and Astronaut Brewster Shaw ■ Kathryn Thornton ■ Scholar alumni. We believe it is important to continue to inspire and guide these young Americans as they continue their journeys. BOARD OF TRUSTEES I would like to thank each of you for supporting ASF. We would not have achieved the many CHAIRMAN accomplishments in 2015 without your help. Here’s to continuing our partnership and achieving more Laura Shepard-Churchley successes in 2016. Rick Armstrong Ann Brown Patricia Carpenter Gene Cernan ■ Vincent Cimino Dan Brandenstein Nancy Conrad Suzi Cooper Chairman, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Walt Cunningham ■ Richard Garriott Robert Gibson ■ Tom Hanks Note from the Executive Director Jarret Lafleur ● Henri Landwirth ♦ The year 2015 was truly amazing. We received financial support that James Long James Mault, MD allowed us to grow and continue recognizing the tremendous dedication Larry McGlynn put forth by our Astronaut Scholars throughout the nation. A few Astronaut Harvey Miller Scholars joined a panel discussion with their American heroes to share the Dirk Raemdonck work they were conducting regarding the future of the space program. To Thomas Stafford ■ see all of this collaboration come together is very special. ASF wouldn’t be James Wood where it is today without each and every one of you helping in some way HONORARY MEMBERS to support the mission. LeVar Burton My team is already planning a fun 2016, with events throughout the year Bill Dana that offer a little something for everyone. We will expand our Innovative Leader Mentor Program, which CREDITS will provide guidance to more scholars. And, we have grown the number of volunteer opportunities offered. CONTENT - Rika Rowland & Griffin Communications Group As part of your New Year’s resolution, explore a way to get involved with our organization. Some easy LAYOUT & DESIGN - Griffin Communications Group ways include attending an ASF event, volunteering and visiting our website. Because we have so much PHOTOGRAPHY - going on throughout the year, we plan to share ASF news more frequently with you during 2016 via John Karjanis, Steve Torres e-newsletters. So, make sure to sign up to receive these ongoing electronic updates. SPECIAL THANKS to Fineline Printing I look forward to seeing you in the coming months. Together, we will make an even larger impact this year! CONTACT Have questions, comments or story suggestions? Please get in touch! 321-449-4876 [email protected] Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Tammy M. Knowles-Sudler Mail Code: ASF-1 Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 2 Executive Director, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Astrogram 2016 SPACE... In summer 2015, Tranquility Lodge #2000 (TL2K), a Masonic Lodge in Marble Falls, Texas, signed a five-year commitment to financially support the ASF and its quest to promote STEM education throughout the United States. Texas Masonry has supported education since 1837, when the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas was formed. When Grand Master Mirabeau Bonaparte Lamar became the second president of the Republic of Texas, he ordered local Masonic Lodges to make the first floor of their buildings available to their communities for use as a school. The lodges often hired and paid the teachers’ salaries. Since those early days, Masons and Masonic Lodges have continued to support education. During 2015, 544 Texas Masonic Lodges provided more than $2 million in education scholarships to students. Still Cool Beyond the educational focus, Texas Masons share an astronaut heritage with the ASF. When Apollo 11 astronaut (and Masonic Growing up, space meant watching Gemini missions blast off to Brother) Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the Moon’s surface in July orbit, and Neil and Buzz landing Apollo on the moon. 1969, he carried with him the special deputation of Texas Grand Florida’s Space Coast - where rockets still soar into orbit today. Master J. Guy Smith, authorizing Aldrin to claim Masonic GoCocoaBeach.com | flix& #StillCool Territorial Jurisdiction of the Moon for the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. Thank you to everyone who supported the mission “One of the reasons Tranquility Lodge #2000 was created wasAstrogram_ad_fina3l.indd 1 1/26/16 9:45 AM to help promote the health, welfare, education and patriotism of ASF through in-kind donations or purchases of children worldwide,” said Don Comedy, executive director of store merchandise, event tickets, raffles, of Texas Masonic Charities Foundation. “TL2K members felt auction items and astronaut experiences. Visit that its goals and purposes, not to mention the Buzz Aldrin AstronautScholarship.org for exciting new connection, were a perfect fit to launch a long-standing partnership with ASF.” opportunities throughout 2016! Auction winners Jill and Steve Wirth enjoy a private tour of Napa Valley’s Auction winner Jerry Matulka stands behind astronaut Jerry Carr Caldwell Vineyards with astronaut Dan Bursch. Left to Right: Bryan Toy, on the TV set of “Life of the Party,” featuring a cooking and dining Sharon Yencharis, Vic Luebker, Jill Wirth, Dan Bursch, and Steve Wirth. experience with Perfect Wife Restaurant and Badia a Coltibuono wine. Photo Credit: Suzanne Beck Bronx 3 2015 astronaut scholars 38 students awarded coveted Astronaut Scholarship In 2015, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation presented the prestigious Astronaut Scholarship to 38 exceptional STEM students throughout the United Our most recent round of scholarship States. As part of the award ceremonies, ASF also hosted educational seminars recipients hail from the following with guest astronaut lecturers stressing the importance of science, technology, educational institutions: engineering and math (STEM) and its positive impact on our global society. Upcoming Astronaut Scholar Award Ceremonies Brown University Tufts University – Friday, April 1 Clemson University Louisiana State University – Thursday, April 7 Florida Insititute of Technology Details will be updated on the ASF website. Georgia Institute of Technology Harvey Mudd College Louisiana State University * Massachusetts Institute of Technology Miami University (Ohio) North Carolina State University North Dakota State University Ohio State University Pennsylvania State University The Wreyford Family and Astronaut Charlie Duke Dan Brandenstein, chairman Astronaut Scholarship sponsor our Texas A&M Astronaut Scholarships Foundation, with Jillian Yuricich Ohio State, Astronaut Purdue University William Linz and Kirstin Maulding. Scholar. Syracuse University Texas A&M Univeristy * Tufts University University of Arizona University of Central Florida * University of Chicago * University of Colorado University of Kansas * University of Kentucky University of Michigan Dan Brandenstein, chairman Astronaut Scholarship Astronaut Fred Gregory awards Samuel Clarke at University of Minnesota * Georgia Institute of Technology. Foundation, celebrating with an ASF cookie at Ohio State University. University of Oklahoma * University of Rochester University of Southern California University of Texas at Austin University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin Washington University (St. Louis) * Universities Providing Matching Scholarships Patrons Larry and Patti