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Gemini XII 40th Anniversary Dinner a Success!
On November 11, 2006, The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation celebrated the 40th anniversary of Gemini XII, with Commander James Lovell and Pilot Buzz Aldrin, at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The event was a huge success as the crew mingled with guests and retold their triumphed story during the dinner. Other astronauts in attendance included Apollo 15 CMP Al Worden and Shuttle Astronauts Dan Brandenstein, Jon McBride and Loren Shriver.
The evening concluded with Buzz and Lovell choosing the raffle winner of a Ball USA Watch. The winner was astronaut Jon McBride who donated the watch back for an impromptu live auction which raised another $15,200 for the Foundation.
In total, the event raised $40,000 for the scholarship program, and potentially another $30,000 through a crew-signed limited commemorative photo.
Launched on November 11, 1966, Gemini XII was the last of the NASA's two manned-space missions and cleared the way for the ambitious Apollo flights that would take Lovell, Aldrin and, 22 of their fellow astronauts to the Moon.
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has provided $2.3 million in scholarships for exceptional science and engineering students since 1986.