Helping the STEM leaders of tomorrow

RR Auction is pleased to continue our relationship with and support of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, with our upcoming Space auction, April 12-19.

The mission of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is “to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in technology and innovation by supporting the very best and brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts.”

ASF awards scholarships to students pursuing STEM and offers a mentoring network that allows these Astronaut Scholars to connect with astronauts, each other, and innovative technology leaders throughout the nation.

ASF’s story

More than 30 years ago, the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts – Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton – came together with the goal to use their joint credibility to encourage students to pursue scientific endeavors to keep America on the leading edge of technology. That idea led to the formation of the Mercury 7 Foundation, which later became the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF).

Together with Betty Grissom (widow of the seventh, Virgil “Gus” Grissom), William Douglas, M.D. (the Project Mercury flight surgeon), and Henri Landwirth (Orlando businessman and friend of the astronauts) the Mercury 7 astronauts provided scholarships for students that excelled in the area of science.

Today, astronauts from the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs have joined in the mission. Through the garnered support of astronauts, industry leaders, educational institutions and patrons, ASF awards merit-based scholarships to the best and brightest university students who excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

RR and ASF

RR Auction is proud to assist in the worthy endeavor of assisting exceptional students pursue higher education and careers in STEM. Through our Space auctions, we have helped ASF garner more than $55,000 in auction sales proceeds. We expect our April auction to add more to the scholarship fund.

RR is also a proud sponsor of the ASF’s annual Space Rendezvous event (this year, Nov. 1-3 in Houston). We have also offered at auction our unique Astronaut Experiences, of which the entire sales proceeds are donated to ASF. In 2017, we donated a fishing trip with astronaut Al Worden.

We have also participated in ASF’s annual Innovator’s Gala — this year on Aug. 25 in Washington, D.C. At the gala, The Neil Armstrong Award of Excellence is presented in recognition of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians who continue to advance the boundaries of their fields.

How you can help

If you’d like to donate to the Astronaut Scholarship Fund and the STEM leaders of tomorrow, bid on our special collection of ASF items in the Space auction, April 12-19. You can preview the items now.

To make a direct donation, visit the ASF website or contact them for more information.