Applications are now open to secondary students and teachers from around Australia to attend an all-expenses paid trip to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp in the United States.
The Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship will award four students and one teacher a week-long trip to Huntsville, Alabama with a brief visit to Washington DC from 1-8 July 2024.
The winning group, dubbed ‘Mission Crew #13 - Team Australia’, will join fellow groups from the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Chile, Singapore, United States and Poland to become ‘Team Endeavour’.
The successful students will attend the Student Advanced Space Academy Program where they will experience a variety of astronaut training exercises, engineering challenges and team-building activities, culminating in an extended-duration simulated space mission.
The selected teacher will act as mission chaperone and attend training and development sessions at the Space Academy for Educators throughout the week.
The scholarship is open to students aged 15-18 years who must submit a three-minute video describing what the Endeavour Scholarship would mean to them, their school and the greater community.
Secondary STEM teachers must also submit a three-minute video outlining how they will capitalise on this once-in-a-lifetime professional development opportunity both personally, and for their school.
The Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship is an initiative of the Kallman Worldwide, organiser of the USA Partnership Pavilion at leading international defence and industry events, and the late Astronaut Al Worden, Command Module Pilot Apollo 15, whose passion for encouraging the next generation of space explorers was a major inspiration for the program.
The international program is designed to reward and further educate students and teachers passionate about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (more commonly known as STEM) learning.
Mission #13 is presented in conjunction with AMDA Foundation Limited, organiser of Australia’s premier industry events including the Indo Pacific International Maritime Exposition and Avalon Australian International Airshow which supported this year’s Endeavour Scholarship: Mission #10 – Team Australia.
AMDA Foundation CEO Justin Giddings said the Astronaut Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship is a timely means of publicising the growing space industry and attracting the next generation.
“AMDA Foundation is proud to support a program that helps spark a desire for a space industry career among young Australians,” he said.
“To grow and sustain the Australian space industry we need bright young minds with a passion for space and the technologies on which it will depend. The Al Worden Endeavour Scholarship has the potential to turn the spark of interest into a lifelong career.”
President of Kallman Worldwide and Executive Director for the Endeavour Scholarship Foundation, Tom Kallman, said: “For more than two decades, Kallman Worldwide has helped advance bilateral trade between the U.S. and Australia working alongside AMDA in their portfolio of trade events.
“The Endeavour Scholarship aligns perfectly with industry and Royal Australian Navy goals focused on future workforce and inspiring the next generation of leaders.”
Student and teacher applications for Mission #13 – Team Australia 2024 are now open. Applications close Friday 28 July 1700 AEST.
The 2024 Endeavour Scholarship winning teacher and students will be announced at a special ceremony at Indo Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition on Wednesday 8 November from 1600 - 1630 in The Aurecon Theatrette, Exhibition Hall 1, ICC Sydney.
Applications close Friday 28 July 1700 AEST.
Submit your application here