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Programs

Mentorship

The Mentor Program is designed to link Astronaut Scholars with leading executives for one-on-one mentoring. Mentors share career advice and valuable insight into the transition to the post–college world and career advancement. Scholars build career networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.


About the Mentor Program

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation leverages the knowledge, experience and network of the astronauts, successful business and industry leaders, as well as scholar alumni who have successfully navigated their careers and are willing to mentor others. The insight passed from mentor to mentee propels scholars in the right direction to fully recognize and utilize their world-changing potential.

The structure of the Mentor Program is based on the sharing of knowledge and wisdom in order to promote successful researchers, professionals and world changers. Age and experience fuel the mentor in advising and steering the up-and-coming professional with information, understanding and insight that only time and past experiences can provide. Through this program, we offer the opportunity to build peer support, friendships and guidance to help the students transition into the workforce or navigate their next career steps. Often, new or discounted directions and options are discovered that without these relationships, would never be imagined or considered.

Mentor Application

    Become a Mentor

    Interested in becoming a mentor to an Astronaut Scholar? Apply today!


For More Information
Mentorship Portal

    Read More

    Astronaut Scholars and Mentors connect through a secure Mentorship Portal.


Mentor Program Testimonials




Katie Groenhout and Adero Paige

Katie Groenhout, 2021 Georgia Tech Astronaut Scholar
Adero Paige, 2004 North Carolina A&T State University Astronaut Scholar




"Adero has been a great influence on my life over the last few months. Having gone through many of the things I am going through now himself, Adero is a source of knowledge and calm as I make big decisions about my future. As a graduating senior looking to pursue a Ph.D., he has been mostly helping me with the graduate school admission process. From choosing programs to apply to, mock interviews, helping with personal statements, and talking through my options, Adero has been flexible in providing me support when I need it in any way he can. Since meeting Adero, I can say that I’ve gained confidence in the choices I’ve made and have improved the way I think through difficult decisions. I am looking forward to continuing to work with him over the next few months."
   - Katie Groenhout




Britain Steele and Brewster Shaw

Britain Steele, 2021 & 2022 Mississippi State University Astronaut Scholar
Brewster Shaw, NASA Astronaut, Col. USAF, Ret.




“When I received my acceptance from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF), I was most excited about it because I wanted to join a worldwide community that loves STEM as much as I do. I have met astronauts, test pilots, entrepreneurs, and scientists I aspire to be like, one of those individuals being my ASF mentor, Brewster Shaw. He has opened my eyes to what it takes to become an astronaut, and he has done nothing but support and advocate for me. His encouragement has meant a lot to me as I am the first in my family to pursue a STEM career. I had always dreamt of being an astronaut since I was a little kid, and to now have the chance to learn from an astronaut has been remarkable. Anybody can look up eligibility requirements to become an astronaut, but there are certain intangibles that you simply cannot search on the internet for. I have learned most from Brewster the common mindset and characteristics of selected astronauts; his advice and encouragement will hold prevalence for the rest of my life as I pursue this career path.

Because of Astronaut Scholarship, I can pursue my private pilot’s license as it has always been a dream of mine to fly. My dream as a kid was that I wanted to be Superman. However, as an adult, I found the next best thing; to explore the world as a test pilot and explore the worlds beyond ours as an astronaut.

The Astronaut Scholarship is more than a scholarship. It is an invitation to a life-long community that helps encourage and provide the means for students to pursue their dreams in STEM. Thank you ASF for helping me pursue my dreams of flight and adventure.”
   - Britain Steele






Roberto Peralta and Jason Pugsley

Roberto Peralta, 2021 University of Arizona Astronaut Scholar
Jason Pugsley, Northrop Grumman




“Among many great things Jason offered me, I most benefited from his honest and experience-derived advice when making tough decisions about graduate school and other life events.”
   - Roberto Peralta

“As my 2nd year as ASF scholar mentor, I have been part of a mentor/mentee relationship with Roberto Peralta, which has been extremely rewarding, on my front to coach him through his senior design project as he works through project management challenges typically faced in the industry. The weekly engagement via zoom, email, and phone enabled us to collaborate and share my 20 years expertise in the aerospace industry and enabled his increase of confidence to lead to a successful project. As the world continues establishing post-COVID social norms, Roberto and I had significant conversations on how to navigate work/life and school/life balance as those are tightly coupled. Those conversations provided insight for Roberto to better navigate the remaining of the school year along with providing outsider perspective on what people expect in future workforce. Lastly, Roberto and I had conversations about his future aspirations in terms of continuing education or entry to the workforce. As part of my mentorship, I am proud of Roberto, of his accomplishments in his senior year at University of Arizona, and his bright future to continue his biomedical reach aspiration at Case Western University. I know he will continue to do great things in the future, and significantly benefits from the ASF in both financial and mentorship support.”
   - Jason Pugsley



Mentors

Tony Antonelli**

2018 - 2019 & 2021 - 2022

Paula Baker

2020 - 2022

Herb Baker

2018 - 2022

Virginia A. Barnes

2022

Perry S. Bechtle, DO

2016, 2018 - 2020 & 2022

Andre Boulet

2019 - 2022

John

2017 - 2022

Mike Briesch

2020 - 2022

Jeremy Caverly

2021 - 2022

Arthur L. Coleman

2018 - 2022

Jerry R. Cook

2020 & 2022

Mark Craig

2017 - 2018 & 2021 - 2022

Tonya L. Custis

2020 - 2022

Massimo Cutuli

2021 - 2022

John Elbon

2022

Philip Engelauf

2022

Chris Ferguson**

2022

Beth Fischer

2019 - 2022

Mark Gittleman

2022

Louise Hall

2019 - 2022

Joseph Han*

2016 - 2022

Andrew Ishizuka, MD, PhD*

2021 - 2022

Tim Jackson*

2020 - 2022

Bill Jaeger

2020 - 2022

Gotthard Janson

2016 - 2022

Tom Jones, PhD**

2018 - 2022

Bill Kalinowski*

2016 - 2018 & 2021 - 2022

Trent C. Kingery*

2019 & 2021 - 2022

Jeannie Kranz

2021 - 2022

Dr. Khalid Lateef

2017 - 2022

Stephanie Locks-Hartle

2020 - 2022

Betsy Lulfs

2019 - 2022

Michael Markesbery*

2021 - 2022

Brian Mathason*

2016 - 2022

Sunny Narayanan, PhD

2021 - 2022

Joel Odom*

2016 - 2019 & 2021 - 2022

Adero Paige*

2016 - 2022

Robert Panish*

2016 - 2018 & 2022

Jocelyn Passty*

2020 - 2022

Mark Patrick, Ph.D.

2020 - 2022

Margaret S. Race, Ph.D.

2022

Matt R.

2021 - 2022

Lisa A. Schott*

2019 & 2021 - 2022

Brewster Shaw**

2020 - 2022

Joe Tanner**

2016 - 2022

Dr. Anna Thomas*

2020 - 2022

Benjamin Toms*

2020 - 2022

Carol Fitzgerald Tyler

2016 - 2019 & 2022

Glenn M. Watson

2022

Karen White

2021 - 2022

Dave Whitlock

2018 - 2022

* Denotes an Astronaut Scholar.


** Denotes an Astronaut.


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