The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
awarded its first seven scholarships in 1986. Each founding Mercury 7 astronaut
sponsored a $1,000 scholarship and they then began to fundraise to support
future scholarships. Each astronaut would donate proceeds from their speaking
engagements and shared the ASF mission wherever they went to raise awareness of
both the mission and the scholarship program.
Today, the Astronaut
Scholarship Foundation awards more than fifty scholarships valued up to $15,000
to each selected scholar. The ASF scholarship award is just the beginning for
our Astronaut Scholars, and their selection is the beginning of a life-long
relationship with astronauts, alumni, and great leaders who span academia,
technical research, and corporate leadership.
Eligibility
An applicant for the Astronaut Scholarship must be a citizen of the United States, either native born or naturalized, and must be at least a sophomore applying for their junior year, or a junior applying to receive a scholarship for their senior year. They must be enrolled in one of the participating universities in the Scholarship Program. Additionally, nominated students must be enrolled for both semesters as a full-time student for the ASF-supported academic year.
Applicants must be seeking a STEM degree with intentions to pursue
research or advance their field upon completion of their final
degrees. Students intending to pursue a practice in professional
medicine are not eligible for the scholarship. However, those
intending to perform biomedical research are eligible.
Nomination Criteria
Must be nominated by faculty at
an ASF affiliated university or institution
(University Partners)
Must be nominated for
consideration by a professor or faculty member who knows the
student well enough to identify a special drive or talent that
foreshadows a creative career leading to the advancement of
scientific knowledge and technology
Must
be a STEM major going into junior or senior year (STEM Designated Degrees)
Note: Special
consideration is NOT given to aeronautical/astronautical
engineering students or those intending to pursue careers as
astronauts.
Must be a
U.S. citizen (verified by birth certificate, US passport, or
naturalization papers)
Must
have completed two years of full-time study at an ASF affiliated
university or institution and demonstrated exemplary academic
performance, as noted in transcripts (Note: Students may be
nominated during their second year of full-time study, for a
scholarship that will begin in the third year.)
Should
be a full-time student during both semesters of the ASF supported
academic year to receive the full scholarship, which is up to
$15,000
Must have
conducted a considerable amount of work outside the classroom in
their chosen field of study. This may include laboratory research,
cooperative education, internships, relevant military experience,
entrepreneurial endeavors, and/or documented independent work
resulting in technical papers, patents, or similar work product
Note
on Scholarship Renewals: Students who have previously received
the Astronaut Scholarship during their junior year should be
submitted for renewal, provided that:
The
award is not for a third year (Typically, no more than two awards
are permitted, though exceptions may be made with Scholarship
Committee Chair approval.)
Renewal
is based upon continued excellence in academics and work outside
the classroom in their chosen field of study
Documentation
is required to support renewal application and must include:
-
Supporting letter from the original nominating professor or faculty
member and a personal
statement from the Astronaut
Scholar, summarizing the accomplishments during the past year
-
An updated copy of the Astronaut Scholar’s academic transcript
Application Process
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation only accepts nominations for
the Astronaut Scholarship from its affiliated and participating universities. If a student is
interested in being nominated, they should contact a member of
their university’s faculty regarding consideration. Students may
also contact the university
liaison for more details regarding the internal process.
Students
nominated for the scholarship will need to assist the nominating
faculty member with the following:
Ensure eligibility requirements
are met,
Provide two letters
of recommendation,
Provide a
personal statement,
Provide
a copy of academic transcripts,
Provide
a C.V. or resume.
The deadline for liaisons to submit nominations for the 2020 Astronaut Scholarship is March 16, 2020.
Award
If a student is awarded the Astronaut Scholarship the recipient will
receive:
A scholarship up to $15,000
(full amount awarded unless scholar is “over-awarded” based on
federal guidelines),
A
paid trip to ASF’s Innovators Weekend,
Life-long
engagement with the astronauts, Astronaut Scholar alumni, and the
Foundation.
Note: The ASF Scholarship Selection Committee reserves the right to not award a scholarship at every university if it is deemed that the submitted candidates have not met the criteria or standard.
FAQs
Can I apply for the Astronaut Scholarship directly to the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation?
No. A faculty member must nominate each applicant for the
scholarship.
Can I speak with a faculty member at my university to ask if they would consider nominating me?
Yes. They can look at all the criteria and determine if they feel
you are an appropriate candidate for the scholarship.
If selected, can I transfer the award to another university/school?
An awarded scholarship may not be transferred to another degree
program or institution.
Are graduate level students eligible for the award?
Students may not be nominated for this scholarship to use the funds
for graduate level programs.
Is student financial need considered when selecting awardees?
Student financial need is not a criterion for consideration of this
merit-based scholarship award; but may be considered given equally
qualified nominees.
Are Medical Students eligible for the scholarship program and award?
Scholarships shall not be awarded to pre-medical studies; therefore,
students who are actively pursuing a M.D. program should not be
nominated, however students who are conducting research to support
a related field not in pursuit of a M.D. to practice medicine can
be nominated.
What is considered when the nominations are evaluated for award consideration/selection?
When selecting students to receive this award, the members of the
selection panel may consider the following criteria:
Nominee’s display of creativity
and ability to move into unknown territory,
Nominee’s
potential, ability, and drive to do research, develop new ideas,
pursue inventions, and pursue innovative technologies,
Nominee’s exhibition of
motivation, imagination, and exceptional performance in their field
of academics and/or research,
Nominee’s
conveyance of intellectual daring and a genuine desire to
positively change the world around them, from both, or either,
within the classroom or in their community,
Nominee
is recognized as a leader through their activities on campus or in
the community.
In accordance with federal law and
U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or
disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination write to the Direct–
Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Washington, DC 20220. The Department of the Treasury is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.