Megan H. Williams, Esq., aged 35 of Nashville, Tenn, lost a rapid and brutal battle against cancer on March 29, 2021. Born in Madison, Tenn. to Dr. Ken and Juanita Williams, after big sister Jamie and before little brother Ben, she lived a life as the opposite of a typical middle child. She always strove to stand out. From the start, Megan chose adventure over the mundane. Attending Space Camp® as a child, she dreamed of reaching the stars. Life took her in a different direction to attend DePaul University in Chicago and Florida Coastal School of Law. She passed the Tennessee Bar in 2011, started her own law firm in 2012, and transitioned to Cordell and Cordell in 2014. In 2016 she was named a Top 40 under 40 member of the National Advocates. However, her main passion in life was adventure. After traveling to most of the U.S., Europe, China, and UAE with her family, she ventured out on her own to Cambodia, Vietnam, Iceland, and other parts of the world. She fearlessly jumped from a plane and swam with sharks. As a tribute to her adventurous life and because her childhood dream was to go to space, a portion of her remains will have an Earth Orbit Space flight so that every time those who survive her look up, they will see her in the stars.

Christopher was born August 25, 1979 in New Haven, Connecticut. When he was 15 months old, his father died after a long illness. The family, including his mother and older sister, moved to Nashville, Tennessee so his mother could finish college. Chris was never one to embrace moving and change. Upon his mom’s graduation, the family became a military family, moving to Jacksonville, Arkansas. Chris lived in Burkburnett, Texas when he attended Space Camp in 1989. The family moved to Anchorage, Alaska and then to Las Vegas, Nevada. Chris graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1997 with high honors, and he was awarded the United States Air Force Math and Science award along with other state and national honors. Initially, college was not an interest. But after years of working in the world of computer science, for Verizon and CDK Global, he graduated from Western Governors’ University with a Bachelor of Science in April 2021. Christopher died of unknown causes in July 2021.

Dr. Stuhlinger was a member of the Rocket Team that was brought from Germany to Ft. Bliss, TX, after World War II, and then to Huntsville, AL in 1950. Dr. Stuhlinger became chief scientist at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. He met and married Irmgard during a vacation to Germany in 1950, and she arrived in Huntsville later that year. During their many decades of residence in Huntsville, Ernst and Irmgard often came into contact with teachers and educators at space-related events, and they were always impressed by the teachers’ interest and enthusiasm in learning more about the space program. These positive and direct contacts with the teachers would have certainly led to the Stuhlingers’ full endorsement and support of this scholarship. Both Ernst and Irmgard came from educator families (Ernst lectured at UAH for some time in the 80s), and both enjoyed many activities related to science and nature. They both pursued a life-long admiration and support for the arts. Ernst passed away in 2008, and Irmgard passed in 2018.

STEAM teachers and educators from all over the world represent an excellent mechanism for understanding and conveying space-related topics to their students. The Stuhlinger family’s hope is that the Space Academy experience will allow the educators to pass on their excitement and inspire their students for many years to come.

Walt Powell was an extraordinary individual who left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone he touched in his short 33 years of life. Born in Tyler, Texas, the only child of Walter Connally and Bolivia Powell, he approached life with an intensity that was inspiring and infectious. Walt had a way of making you want to learn, explore, and experience new things alongside him. His passion was contagious, and those who were lucky enough to be around him couldn’t help but be drawn into his orbit.

His childhood pursuits included youth choir, acting in civic theater productions, and was a skilled magician and ventriloquist. In 1991 he attended Space Camp at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, winning the coveted and prestigious Right Stuff award. He also attended Space Academy in 1993. His talents included being a fearless black diamond skier, an avid fly fisherman, a skilled marksman, and a lifelong animal lover that showed dogs in Conformation and Junior Showmanship.

He discovered a passion for craft beer and brought to life the only first-run cinema microbrewery in the world, Flix Brewhouse, helping to make it hugely successful. He was a founder and administrator for Rate Beer, an internet community of lovers and critics of fine beer.

Walt’s sense of humor was legendary. Whether he was regaling you with stories of his latest adventure or simply sharing a laugh, Walt had a way of making you feel valued. A force of nature, a whirlwind of curiosity, creativity, and passion, he is greatly missed.

Today the U.S. Space & Rocket Center is proud to have trainees learning in the Walt Powell Collaboration Zone in the Space Camp Operations Center.

Polly T. Lucas was a double major in chemistry and mathematics, a professional educator early in her life, and maintained a lifelong interest in stimulating rising generations in the study of science disciplines. Her husband, Dr. William “Bill” Lucas says, “I could think of no better way to honor her memory nor to continue her interest in influencing young minds to the study of science and technology, than by participating in the continuing education of teachers through an endowed Space Academy for Educators scholarship.”

Lionel Jude Clifton was a joyful, endlessly curious four-year-old from Houston who loved to stargaze and dreamed of space travel. He could recite fact after fact about rockets, satellites, and Pluto, and an ordinary cardboard box could become a spaceship in his hands. Whether building a Lego robot, discovering answers through math, or exploring the outdoors, Lionel approached life with wonder and always had another question.

Lionel didn’t believe in either/or. As he often said, “both is always a good choice”, and fittingly, his favorite color was rainbow. His infectious laugh, constant smile, and keen sense of humor brought joy to everyone around him. Just as remarkable as his curiosity was his generous heart. He was quick to help, eager to share, and ready with an encouraging word or one of his all-encompassing hugs.

This scholarship honors Lionel’s love of space, his eagerness to learn, and the kindness he shared so freely. By helping young explorers experience Space Camp, his family hopes to share some of the wonder that filled his world and nurture the same spirit of curiosity and discovery that made Lionel so uniquely himself.

Born February 23, 2021 in San Francisco, Ayden lived a brief but dazzling four and half years. He was a thinker. He loved school, and often immersed himself in reading, painting, or doing workbooks. He was a giver. He shared his toys, books, laughter and love with those close to him — especially with his younger brother — and with those new to his life. He was kind, practiced the ethos behind “a person is a person no matter how small” from Dr Seuss, and said he wanted to take care of babies and his parents one day. He was joyful, often singing, dancing, and spreading his infectious laughter that brightened the room.

At age 3, he made the astute comment that the airplane engine is outside, the train engine is in front, the boat engine is in the belly, then he asked where the BART metro system engine was. At age 4, he asked where water came from and what stars were made of. He learned the principles of lift and thrust, sang about the planets, and wanted to be an astronaut.

On August 8, 2025, Ayden was taken from us when a vehicle crashed into a restaurant.

Ayden’s love was pure and he gave it freely. He was happy to be present. It felt like he wanted to embrace the world and take it all in. He had a big heart. There was so much he could have held and given. A friend told us in reaction to his passing, “Oh no! Ayden was so kind, he was going to change the world one day.” We would like to think he is already changing the world, inspiring us to be more and do more.

The Dr. Deborah Edwards Barnhart endowed memorial scholarship salutes her outstanding service to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center and Space Camp. Dr. Barnhart passed peacefully March 11, 2026.

Dr. Barnhart served as CEO from 2010 to 2020 and took the Rocket Center from financial extremis to operational self-sustainment, a condition achieved by fewer than 1% of museums, increasing revenue from $22 million to $42 million annually. This financial turnaround at the center resulted in an 89 percent increase in gross revenue and record-setting Space Camp and museum attendance.

Dr. Barnhart had served four previous times since 1972 as media, then marketing manager, corporate fundraiser, and Director of Space Camp.

Prior to returning as CEO, she was Vice President of three Dow-30 aerospace and defense companies, serving in manufacturing, business development, program and research management, and congressional lobbying for Honeywell International, McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing), and United Technologies Aerospace (now Raytheon). A retired Navy Captain (O-6), she was one of the first 10 women assigned to duty aboard ships and commanded five units in her 26-year career.

She served on the Smithsonian Affiliations Advisory Council, the Florida Space Authority, the Alabama Space Authority Task Force, the Board of Managers of the Air Force Museum Foundation, the Board of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation, and as a Trustee of the Board of the University of Alabama in Huntsville Foundation.

She is a recipient of NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest form of recognition awarded by NASA to a non‐government individual and was selected for the Alabama Academy of Honor after nomination by the Governor of Alabama.

Dr. Barnhart earned her doctorate at Vanderbilt University and holds degrees from the University of Maryland, the University of Alabama Huntsville, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology where she was a Sloan Fellow.

Dr. Barnhart enjoyed metal arts and installed her first public art commission in Rose Park in 2025.

Her legacy is one of far-reaching vision and a passion for inspiring the next generation of explorers.

This fitting tribute prepares future engineers, scientists and astronauts, and carries on Dr. Barnhart’s tradition of excellence and achievement.

As a youngster, Brian Robert White developed a love for flying and set a goal of becoming an aviator. He spent his formative years in Brentwood, Tennessee, and graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2009 with a degree in aerospace. While attending MTSU, Brian worked for two summers as a counselor at Aviation Challenge^® at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. While there, he was known as “Pan” to hundreds of camp trainees. Continuing to pursue his life’s dream, Brian applied for a coveted warrant officer position with the U.S. Army and was one of only two Tennessee residents accepted into the program. He was inducted into the Army in 2010 and during his service was posted at various times to Fort Rucker, Fort Campbell and Fort Irwin. Brian also served nine months in Afghanistan, flying UH-60 Black Hawks for medical evacuations and special operations. He was also interested in public safety work and after completing his military service, would have sought a position in that field. Brian was lost in a private plane crash on July 29, 2017, one day after announcing his engagement to Rebecca Raymond, the love of his life.

Janice moved to Wilbraham, MA from Rockford, IL as a middle school student. Many in the Minnechaug Regional High School graduating class of 1973 have very distinct memories of the reserved yet self confident and brilliant “new girl”, who at the time was at least a full year younger than they were. Her academic ability immediately showed, as she excelled in every subject. When she had fulfilled all the requirements for graduation from Minnechaug, she graduated a year early with the class of ‘72.

Janice was selected for the NASA Space Program in 1991 and flew 5 missions, traveling a total of 18.8 million miles in 779 orbits over 49 days. She cited the 1962 Madeleine L’Engle novel A Wrinkle in Time as one of her first inspirations for becoming an astronaut and brought a copy on board STS-94, then gifted it to the author.

Janice passed away in 2012 at the far too young age of 55 from breast cancer. It is our desire, the Minnechaug Regional High School Class of 1973, her former friends and admirers, to preserve her memory with a scholarship to be awarded to a female Space Camp applicant, who demonstrates curiosity about our great universe, as Janice did.

The Royal Manticoran Navy seeks to provide our younger members with an experience at the Space Camp of their choice. We raise funds and accept donations to send two candidates per year. It is open to any youth member of TRMN. There is an application process and submissions are reviewed by a selection committee.

The Royal Manticoran Navy is the Official fan group for David Weber’s Honor Harrington Military Space Opera novels.

Craig Sumner built a distinguished career in the space industry beginning in 1969 on the Apollo program as a college intern.  He worked on the design and build of the Lunar Roving Vehicle, and was one of the few that actually trained the Apollo Astronauts to drive the vehicle on the Moon’s surface.  His Vietnam lottery number came up and he joined the United States Air Force, eventually flying C-130s before he was honorably discharged from the USAF in 1976 as a Captain.  He returned to Huntsville and back to NASA.  He worked payloads and various other pieces of the Space Shuttle program before he finally retired from NASA in 1997 as the Deputy Project Manager for the Space Shuttle External Tank.  After NASA, he worked for United Space Alliance and was the Chief Engineer of Space Shuttle Propulsion when he retired alongside the Space Shuttle Program in 2011.  After this retirement, he was asked to come back in support of Boeing as a Subject Matter Expert on the Thermal Protection System for the Core Stage of SLS/Artemis, finally retiring for good in 2024!

Craig passed away April 27, 2026.

Sheldon (Bud) Smith embarked on his aerospace engineering career in 1968, following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration from Alabama A&M. Bud was a pioneering figure in rocket plume modeling, with a career spanning over 58 years. He contributed to major aerospace programs from the Apollo-era Saturn rockets through the Space Shuttle and into modern systems like the Space Launch System and Artemis missions. His work focused on predicting how rocket plumes affect vehicles and launch environments, helping design safer rockets, spacecraft, and launch facilities.

Following Bud’s passing in April 2026, his family established this fund to honor his love of space by helping young dreamers attend Space Camp and pursue their passion for science and exploration.

Robert Sarkissian carried a lifelong pride in growing up in New Jersey, a place that shaped his early years and grounded him throughout his life. He held a special affection for Niagara Falls, a place whose power and beauty never stopped inspiring him. In time, he made Atlanta, Georgia his home, embracing its community with an open heart and a generosity that seemed to come as naturally as breathing.

Robert truly never met a stranger. He had a way of making everyone feel welcome, seen, and cared for. Whether offering a helping hand or simply sharing a kind word, he gave of himself freely and without hesitation. His warmth was steady, and his instinct to help others was one of his defining gifts.

From childhood on, Robert dreamed of going to space. His fascination with space travel, astronomy, and anything that could take flight was more than a hobby—it was a source of wonder that stayed with him throughout his life. He loved the idea of possibility, of looking up and imagining what might be beyond the horizon. Nothing would have meant more to him than knowing he inspired a young person to challenge gravity, explore farther than they can see, and dream boldly.

Robert’s life was marked by kindness, curiosity, and a spirit that lifted others. His legacy lives on in the people he touched and in the dreams he encouraged others to chase.

Brian Little, the son of an airplane and helicopter pilot, loved aviation and space flight from a young age. He was a sci-fi enthusiast and thoroughly enjoyed Star Wars and Star Trek movies where, “Space — the final frontier,” was the central theme. As a youngster, he watched aircraft soar above his home near the U.S. Army’s aviation flight training school and studied the stars with the telescope given to him by his grandfather.

In the 7th grade, Brian attended Space Camp, an experience that cemented his interest in flight and desire for a career in the space program. He earned his private pilot’s license at age 17 and went on to become an FAA licensed single-engine and multi-engine commercial pilot. He was also licensed as an unmanned aerial vehicle remote pilot. He graduated from Auburn University with a mechanical engineering degree and went to work at Marshall Space Flight Center supporting the International Space Station. Brian was one of the first flight controllers certified when the Payload Operations Integration Center became operational in February 2001. He later helped design, develop, and test payload experiments in collaboration with Kennedy and Johnson space centers, other NASA centers, and multi-national agencies. After a long and successful career in Huntsville, Brian returned to his hometown in southeast Alabama to further his education and simultaneously train for his helicopter pilot certificate. He was killed in an accident while training on May 30, 2020. This scholarship is established to honor Brian’s life and to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers, “to go where no man has gone before.”

Jack LaFollette graduated from Boone High School in Boone, Iowa in 2013 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force the same year. Trained as a missile and space systems technician and assigned to Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, he became a member of the 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron. Jack later served as a missile handling team chief, routinely leading a team of airmen in the installation and removal of the Minuteman III’s three-stage, 70,000-lb solid rocket motor.

Jack started an internship at the University of Iowa Operator Performance Lab in 2019. In his time at the OPL, Jack acted as a key member of the OPL flight operations team, helping to support dozens of research sorties involving OPL’s fleet of aircraft including two Aero L-29 trainer jets, two Mi-2 Hoplite helicopters, and numerous unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition to his support of flight operations, Jack helped design and run multiple research studies at the lab, took on a key role in fabrication and maintenance, and was quick to lend a helping hand wherever and whenever it was needed.

Jack died on October 28, 2019 from sudden cardiac death at the age of 24. This scholarship fund was created in honor of Jack’s love for space, space science and exploration, and his belief that nothing is impossible.

As remembered by his mom, Charlotte Kennerly:

Christian developed a love of aviation and the military early in his life. He would often make his own military-style “uniform” out of construction paper and anything else lying around.

When I found out about the U.S. Space and Rocket center’s Aviation Challenge^® program, I knew it would be something Christian would love. I showed the program to him in late 2012, and he immediately wanted to attend that next summer. It changed him. He came home so excited, having made new friends, and learned valuable lessons in cooperation with others. Christian couldn’t wait to go back the next year. He attended the Mach III Elite program the next 3 years, and always coordinated the dates with the friends he had made. In 2016, after several tries, he and his partner won the coveted “Top Gun” challenge. Christian was very proud of this accomplishment, as they had to come from the bottom to win. This just shows the level of teamwork and commitment that Aviation Challenge^® instills in their participants.

The last year he could attend was 2016, and he talked about coming back to be a counselor 2 years later. Sadly, he did not make that last goal, as we lost him to suicide in March 2018. He was 19. We created a scholarship fund in his name, and wish to share the joy of Aviation Challenge^® with others each year. That is why we have set up a memorial scholarship for Aviation Challenge^®.

Tommy Holman had an unusual interest in space from a very early age…some might call it a fixation. From the age of three, he knew what he wanted to do, and by the time he was six, so did all who knew him. Tommy wanted to be an astronaut. Unlike most six year olds, he knew what that meant. He knew the vehicles the early astronauts used to explore the heavens. He knew what an astronaut’s mission was, and he knew that he wanted to be one of them. He was a happy, energetic little boy with an insatiable appetite for all things space. Thomas Andrew Holman passed away on February 1, 2004, the first anniversary of the Columbia tragedy.

Paco was the beloved cat of Homer Hickam who lived with him throughout all of Homer’s NASA years. He was a sweet cat who always made everyone feel good any time he was around. During Homer’s many months away from home to train astronauts, Paco was taken care of by the Paco Support Team (PST) who dearly loved him. One of them was Homer’s future wife Linda. During a Spacelab mission, Paco comforted a lonely astronaut while she was in orbit by talking to her and therefore became the first cat to meow in space. Paco passed away when he was 18 years old and is still missed by the PST but all are happy that a young person will attend Space Camp on a scholarship named after this prodigious cat.

Family members of fallen military service members (all branches: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, National Guard, and all The aforementioned branches reserves), and family members of any fallen first responders, Police, Fire, Ambulance/EMT/Paramedic. Preference will be given to immediate family members, but non-immediate family members (grandchildren, nephews/nieces, cousins, etc.) are encouraged to apply.

Stanley developed a love for outer space and the stars at a very young age. The unknown always interested him and he would talk to anyone about it that would listen. He was accepted into a college program through his school district at the College Center, for his high school career. This is where he would really start to blossom and would start an astronomy club.

Though the club did not last as long as he would of hope, Stanley’s love for all things space still burned inside of him. After some research and a lot of conversations, Stanley decided he wanted to go to space camp and gain a true understanding of what NASA is. He wanted to be an engineer and design space shuttles.

Unfortunately, Stanley was not able to attend space camp. He left us to go live in the Cosmos March of 2023. This loss shattered our family, but we knew we could not let his death be in vain. In memory of Stanley, we decided to start raising money to give others the chance to do what Stanley so desperately wanted to do, go to space camp. Our goal is to send at least one candidate to space camp a year through fundraisers and donations as long as we are able too with the hopes that it will be a life changing experience for them.

This scholarship targets students at a specific school, Meadow Bridge Elementary in Meadow Bridge, West Virginia. It awards a scholarship to one male and one female student to attend a weeklong Space Camp the summer of their fifth-grade year. Students apply by submitting an essay on what “’Failure Is not an Option’ means to space exploration and my goals.”

This scholarship aims to inspire young minds to dream the impossible, to think differently. It’s not that they won’t fail – everyone does at some point – but they should not give up. We want them to understand that if things were easy, everyone would do them.

Why this school? Meadow Bridge is the birthplace of some who helped put mankind on the moon. These individuals attended schools without computers, the internet or Google, but they had passion, a purpose and a mission. They figured out the rest.

According to the fund’s organizers, this scholarship fund begins with one school, but their long-term goal is to expand to other schools.

Ron was born in Chicago, Illinois and at an early age developed a love of outer space, science, and mathematics. After serving in the army as an engineer, Ron resumed his education graduating from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) with a doctorate in theoretical physics and completing his post-doctoral work at Cornell University in 1978.

In 1978, Ron was hired as an astrophysicist for NASA at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where he would work for 41 years until his retirement in 2019. He predominantly focused on the development and subsequently the analysis of data from the Chandra X-Ray Telescope, publishing over 250 scientific papers.

Ron routinely shared educational resources with teachers including his daughter and volunteered for NASA community outreach programs to spread interest in science and mathematics with school age children. This carried over into his personal life where he enjoyed discussing the latest astronomical discoveries and theories with his son and visiting the Space & Rocket Center with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Ron passed away in September 2025. His children and spouse could think of no better way to preserve his memory than a scholarship to fund attendance at Space Camp to support and grow the love of outer space, NASA, and science in our next generation of future astronauts and scientists.

Astra sunt futura nostra (The stars are our future).

I created The Dreamcatchers Legacy at the age of 14 with one goal in mind. To inspire other kids and teens to follow their dreams in honor of those who didn’t get the chance. This initiative is very close to my heart and dedicated to my cousin and honorary godmother Emmah, who lost her battle with cancer just days before I was born. I promise to live a full enough life for the both of us and am honored to do so. Both the beauty and fragility of Emmah’s life are represented by the butterfly in my logo.

Meet the girl behind the legacy, Emmah. She was a normal girl who loved to run, play, laugh, and sing until she was diagnosed with stage IV Neuroblastoma at the age of 10. Emmah was brave, strong and courageous for the 3.5 years she battled her cancer. The chance for her to further explore her desire to sing or experience the limitless possibilities that life had to offer was taken away from her. She had talked about maybe becoming a teacher and had a larger than life desire to want to help others. She was the eldest of six and loved her brothers and sisters very much. I share her story to keep her memory alive. Although her time was cut short, I look forward to seeing her spirit, tenacity, and zest for life live on through donation recipients.

Since last year, The Dreamcatchers Legacy initiative was able to donate over $2,000 in summer camps to local elementary school students. This is important to me because attending Space Camp at the age of 9 is what inspired me to follow and achieve my dreams of becoming an astronaut and pilot. The Dreamcatchers Legacy was thrilled to donate $300 of community experiences and stem activities to local elementary school students. One of my favorite events I’ve hosted was a goalsetting workshop at a local elementary school. This aligns with my initiative, as it is important for me to inspire other kids and teens to follow their dreams.

In addition to our donations to the children of the Colorado Springs community, I have been happy to donate over 50 hours of my time to Stellar Wonders, making bracelets that are distributed to pediatric cancer patients. I have also started a private fundraiser for St Jude with a personal goal of helping them raise over $1,000 in the next year. I am currently in contact with local assisted living facilities in efforts to set up “Hats for Hope”, I am currently looking for sponsors to donate yarn and knitting supplies that will be dropped off to volunteers who enjoy to knit. They will knit hats for pediatric cancer patients to be delivered in October of 2025. I am very excited about this new addition to The Dreamcatchers Legacy. Because I plan to grow my CSI for years to come, I have signed up for a nonprofit workshop to learn more about turning Dreamcatcher’s legacy into an official nonprofit.

To stay relevant, I have started an instagram platform for The Dreamcatchers Legacy. This will be a great place to host virtual fundraisers. I look forward to sharing the stories of all the brave kids and teens who didn’t have the chance to follow their dreams or meet their full potential. I hope this inspires viewers to see each day as a gift, each opportunity as a blessing and each challenge they face as an adventure.

David Emil Dimond was born May 16, 1952 in Heidelberg, Germany. He grew up in Valley Stream, Long Island, New York. Dave’s love of space began early from the earliest days of the “space race” in the 1960s. The Mercury 7 were his heroes and set the bar for all those who followed in their footsteps. He graduated from Valley Stream Central High School in 1970 and then moved to Manhattan, Kansas (the Little Apple) to attend Kansas State University. He met his future wife, Pat, the first day of their freshman year and married on May 25, 1974, a week after graduation. After living in Illinois and Kansas for a short time, they moved to Boulder County, Colorado. Dave worked in I.T. for several years before retiring in 2019.

The night sky enthralled him, and the constellations were as familiar as his own neighborhood. He taught his three children and four grandchildren to love the night and identify the stars. Dave always knew when the next meteor shower or super moon would occur. He and Pat have a home in the mountains and Dave would spend the nights looking to the heavens to see the Milky Way and shooting stars.

One of the highlights of his life was attending Space Camp in 1987. He was among the first groups of adults to attend and was one of the few, if not only, non-teachers in the class.

Dave passed away on September 3, 2022 of Covid Pneumonia. His granddaughters say they know he’s ok because the moon and the stars told them.

Space Camp is a life-changing experience that uses the excitement of U.S. and international space programs to stimulate children’s interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). Space Camp not only trains and inspires the next astronauts, engineers, and leaders, it instills confidence, problem-solving, and teamworking skills that are critical to the development of our youth. The powerful difference a Space Camp experience can make has been witnessed first-hand by so many people! This is why a portion of the proceeds from every sale of our SPACE CERTIFIED Space Salsa will go to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation for Space Camp Scholarships. On to Mars!

From a young age, Tyler loved airplanes, rocketry, spacecraft, innovation and adventure. Raised in rural Nebraska, Tyler eventually lived all over the U.S. Beyond his love of the unknown, he pursued several passions including cooking, gaming, stand-up comedy, fishing, hunting, camping and hiking. His broad understanding of the world and kind heart meant that he could talk with anyone on almost any topic. He made friends easily and nurtured those friendships with care.

A problem-solver and technology aficionado, his greatest point of pride was working for Apple for 11 years. Cancer claimed Tyler much too early with his passing at age 41.

Though he never attended Space Camp as a young boy, two of his fondest memories were visiting the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral and building model rockets with his nephews. This memorial supports others with similar passions and big dreams, regardless of their financial situation. This memorial also salutes Tyler’s recently deceased father, Lee Christensen, who, like his son, would embrace a program helping young imaginations to soar.

Throughout his career, Ed Buckbee remained a passionate advocate for space exploration and education. He worked closely with the original Mercury astronauts, helped develop the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, and played a key role in commemorating major milestones in space history. He received numerous honors, including NASA’s Distinguished Public Service Medal and the Department of the Army Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Even after his retirement in 1994, Buckbee continued to inspire others through speaking engagements, media appearances, educational programs, and as an author/editor — always encouraging young people to pursue careers in science, technology, and exploration.

Gifts can be made to the Edward Buckbee Memorial Scholarship.

This fitting tribute prepares future engineers, scientists and astronauts, and carries on Buckbee’s tradition of excellence and achievement.

Fred was founder, owner and chief executive of an international, all-volunteer, 700+ member Google Lunar XPrize team, Team FREDNET, The Open Space Society, Inc. Beginning in 2009, he and his team worked to develop open source technology toward sending a robot to the moon. Fred’s heart was in this work and in the friendships he struck and nurtured across the world.

Though his heart was strong, in December 2016 at age 54, Fred succumbed to carcinoid cancer.

While teacher, physicist, computer geek, southern boy, inventor, cyber security expert, musical composer and performer identify Fred, the words neither fully describe nor capture his spirit like the words of a close colleague. “He was an amazing man. It is extremely rare that a person is both brilliant, yet humble. Optimistic, yet realistic. Creative, yet practical. Quiet, yet bold. Appreciative, yet demanding our best. Gentlemanly, yet powerful. No job was too big for him, yet none too small. No one intimidated him, yet he did not want to intimidate anyone.”

Fred earned undergraduate and advanced degrees from Tulane University.

Glen Beatty embarked on his engineering career in 1985, following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Arkansas. Later, he earned a Master of Business Administration from the Florida Institute of Technology. Glen dedicated over 31 years of his professional life to the Aerospace Industry, working at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing. During his extensive career, he played pivotal roles in numerous technology initiatives, including Spacelab, SPACEHAB, Ground Based Midcourse Defense, the International Space Station, and the Space Launch System, among many other notable programs.

From a young age, Glen held a profound fascination for the stars and the universe, often found outdoors on clear nights, gazing up at the heavens and enthusiastically identifying constellations to his family. Following Glen’s passing, his family established this fund with the aspiration of inspiring the next generation of stargazers to pursue careers in the field of space exploration.

Chris Bean was a mission control flight engineer for the Space Shuttle program and a design team member for Boeing’s next generation space vehicle. Chris grew up in south Alabama and attained bachelor and masters degrees in aerospace engineering from Auburn University. He enjoyed visiting science classes of young students and loved showing them how they could apply what they learned in class to the exploration of the universe. Chris was also an avid traveler and adventurer; he loved hiking the world’s backcountry to experience the unspoiled beauty of God’s creation that most others never see. Whether climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or running with the bulls in Pamplona, he lived life to the fullest. His exuberant spirit, selflessness, and love for life have been an inspiration to many. After passing away in June of 2012, his family and friends set up this scholarship in his memory to spread his passions for science, travel, and space exploration to future scientists and engineers.

Mike received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Communications from Clarkson University in 1978 and used his skills to keep WTSC-FM, the college radio station on the air. In 1984 Mike received his Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering and Radar Communications from Syracuse University. As a young boy Mike was fascinated with NASA and space and his rocketry hobby literally launched the career of his dreams. At the 1969 National Boy Scout Jamboree, Mike along with thousands of scouts watched the moon landing. The next summer at age 14, Mike launched an accurate model replica of the Saturn 5 rocket at the 1970 Schenectady Council Scout-In at the Ballston Spa Fairground in upstate New York stunning hundreds of onlookers. Mike’s achievements included receiving the coveted Silver Snoopy NASA award in 1997 in recognition of his project leadership on the International Space Station, an honor given only to 1% of the NASA engineers that ensure flight safety and mission success. He also received many other awards during his aerospace career and currently has a patent pending on techniques for satellite assembly and testing. Mike’s communication systems are on the International Space Station, the Mars Pathfinder, the ViaSat Satellites orbiting above us, and many more. Mike was that rare intelligent yet empathetic human being with a huge sense of humor. He was an honorable man, an Eagle scout, Cub Master, Boy Scout leader, a licensed private pilot, model train collector, and a model rocketeer.His love, laughter, and kindness, will live on in all who knew him, and his passion for science and space exploration will continue to inspire us all. Though gone from our sight, his light remains among the stars.

“Larger than life,” was the ready description of H.M. “Mike” Adams of Milton, West Virginia. A prodigious businessman, he was known for his seven Adams Hallmark stores operating across the state, as well as Adams Printing and Supply which opened in 1964. For family, friends and others in the community, Mike was also known for his kindness and skillful, 18-years of service as recorder for the City of Milton. At the Milton Baptist Church, he served as deacon and was a member of the choir. His love and compassion for others makes this scholarship, which provides camp tuition for a student living in West Virginia, especially meaningful to his family.

Mike Adams passed away in October 2021.

John B. E. Chase served in the U.S. Army Air Corp and Air Force reserves. He graduated from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina in 1950 with an electrical engineering degree. Thereafter, he began a civil service career with the Civil Aeronautics Administration in Atlanta and continued with TVA in Chattanooga. In 1956, he began work on Redstone Arsenal with the U. S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency and later with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, serving with Dr. Wernher von Braun, Dr. Walter Haussermann and others.

Upon retiring from NASA, he worked at Control Dynamics and did private consulting. Chase was also the first director for the Enhanced 911 Center in Huntsville-Madison County.

Mr. Chase was also a founding member of Trinity United Methodist Church, sang in the choir and served on numerous church, school and neighborhood committees. Mr. Chase was the primary inspiration for and then served as the chairman and secretary of the board of directors for Carlton Cove, now Magnolia Trace Continuing Care Retirement Community in Huntsville.

Mr. Chase has both an annual scholarship and an endowed scholarship that serve as a tribute to his contributions to our country, the U.S. space program and his community.

Stella Abel dreamed of becoming an astronaut. In 2018, she attended Space Camp and by appearances, the active, likable teen with slight build and blue hair had a world of opportunities to explore. When she died by suicide, it stunned her family and friends. One very special friend, 16-year-old Kaden Legron, was deeply impacted and moved to action. “I run a mental health and suicide awareness booth in Ohio. My goal is to raise awareness to a cause that is not spoken about enough.” He sometimes reminds visitors to his booth, “Having someone be nice to you can make all the difference.”  Your Space Matters is Kaden’s booth and Facebook.

Kaden, Stella’s family, and the Union County Ohio Community Foundation, deemed a Space Camp scholarship an ideal way to honor and embrace Stella’s memory.