Thank you for supporting the next class of Astronaut Scholars.
Key Dates
December 2019
2020 Astronaut Scholarship Call for Nominations provided to liaisons/universities and nomination portal activated
March 23, 2020
Nominee pool data due to Astronaut Scholarship Foundation from liaisons (minimum of eight submissions) via online form (Scholarship Nomination Form)
March 30, 2020
Final nominations due to Astronaut Scholarship Foundation from liaison(s)
April 2020
Astronaut Scholarship Selection Committee convenes.
May 2020
2020 Astronaut Scholars selected
June 2020
Students and schools notified of selections and invited to the Innovators Gala Weekend (August 19-22, 2020)
June 2020
Call for Astronaut Scholar research abstracts for Scholar Technical Conference during
the Innovators Gala Weekend (August 19-22, 2020)
July 2020
New Astronaut Scholar welcome call
Mid-July 2020
Abstracts due for Astronaut Scholar Technical Conference
August 19-22, 2020
Innovators Gala Weekend in Washington, DC
Review Process & Timetable
Graphic provides a model to inform internal candidate review and nomination to ASF for final selection.
Nomination Criteria
Must be nominated by faculty at an ASF affiliated university or institution
(www.astronautscholarship.org/universitypartners)
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 $10,000
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
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, 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.
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.
Does financial need have bearing on being selected as an Astronaut Scholar?
No. This scholarship is merit-based.
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.
Can I be enrolled in a BS/MS program where I am completing both a BS and MS during my senior year?
No, this scholarship is for undergraduate course completion only.
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; thus, fourth year students dual-enrolled in an undergraduate and graduate degree simultaneously their senior year are not eligible.
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.