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The Astronaut Scholarship

© Shauna Zamarripa

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation was established originally as the Mercury Seven Foundation in 1984 by the six surviving members of America's original Mercury Seven astronauts, Mrs. Betty Grissom, widow of the seventh, Virgil (Gus) Grissom, William Douglas, M.D., the Project Mercury flight surgeon, and Henri Landwirth, an Orlando businessman and friend of the astronauts. The founding astronauts were Malcolm Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper Jr., John H. Glenn Jr., Walter M. Schirra, Alan B. Shepard Jr. and the late Donald K. (Deke) Slayton. Currently, Gemini-Apollo astronaut James A. Lovell is president of the foundation and chairman of its Board of Directors.

The foundation raises money for scholarships for upper level college students and those pursuing masters or doctorates in the fields of science and engineering. Expenses are kept to a minimum. The only salaried member of the organization is the executive director. Office space is provided under the partnership with Space Camp, and much of the legal and financial assistance required is contributed by individuals who support the foundation's goals.

Scholarship money is raised through astronaut appearances, fund-raising events, corporate and individual donations, memberships, and fees derived from attendance at the Astronaut Hall of Fame under the agreement with Space Camp. In 1995, with the realization that the five remaining Mercury astronauts would not be able to raise scholarship funds forever, the Board of Directors voted to broaden the membership and to change the name to Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. More than 30 former astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs are now members helping with the education effort.

The original Mercury Seven Foundation began on a shoestring, and the first seven scholarships, at $1,000 each, were awarded in 1986. Gradually, as more money was raised, the amount and number increased. The foundation now awards 17 scholarships annually, each worth $8,500, for a total of $144,500. To date, nearly $1 million has been awarded. The foundation is building a scholarship fund for perpetuity.

Contributors range from Freedom Forum of Arlington, Va., which has donated a total of $190,000 over three years, to Rick Amendola, an Illinois tool and die worker who sends every cent of his overtime money to the foundation because he wants to give deserving kids the best education they can receive ... "Trust me when I say the tired legs and sore back go away quickly when I think where that money is going." As a member of America's Charities, the foundation is participating in educational fund-raising of the 1996 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) and several private campaigns. The foundation is listed under America's Charities federation in the national/international section of the CFC charity catalog under the number 455.

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