This month’s Farnborough International Airshow near London will showcase the latest and biggest global advancements and innovations in aerospace technology.
Recognizing the global need for more young people in the science and engineering sectors that drive that innovation, the week-long expo will also include the awarding of scholarships to attend the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp in Huntsville.
The Endeavour Scholarship was created in 2019 by Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman in honor of his friend and colleague Al Worden, pilot of the Apollo 15 Command Module Endeavour. Kallman Worldwide is the organizer of the U.S. and Canadian industry presence at trade shows worldwide, including Farnborough.
Kallman and Worden saw the need for an expanded STEM workforce globally and the Endeavour Scholarship was created to give students and educators around the world a life-changing opportunity to experience Space Camp’s immersive astronaut training with like-minded students and teachers from different countries.
“Every country we work in is facing the same challenges to prepare its young people for the future,” Kallman said. “Many also see that future in space. As an extension of our work advancing global trade in exhibition halls around the world, and with the support of global partners in government, industry, the military and academia, the Endeavour Scholarship connects with worldwide interest in space to promote STEM careers in all industries.”
Worden died in 2020 at age 88 and the scholarships he helped create have been awarded to 144 students and 36 educators from 11 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Chile, Indonesia, Singapore, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Australia and the U.S.
This year at Farnborough, teams of students and their teachers from England and Ukraine will be awarded the Space Camp trip. The Kallman Foundation, the company’s philanthropic arm, normally provides the scholarships worth $7,000 and funded by private and corporate donations. This is the second year in a row that Space Camp is covering the cost of Ukrainian students’ and educator’s programs.
“The Kallman Foundation shares our mission for inspiring the next generation of astronauts, engineers and scientists,” said Brenda Perez, CEO of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. “We’re grateful to Tom and his team for providing this global reach and allowing these bright young minds to experience the magic of Space Camp. We want them to imagine their future and give them the tools to fulfill their dreams.”
Students attend the camp’s Advanced Space Academy and explore college and career preparation through immersive STEM experiences and several astronaut training exercises.
Teachers attend the week-long Educator Program that includes astronaut training simulators and activities that promote learning in a classroom setting. The curriculum includes NASA-inspired lesson plans and is aligned with the National Science Education Standards.
“The aerospace ecosystem in north Alabama has created a STEM-rich environment for Alabama’s young people and educators,” said Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair. “Having Space Camp and the opportunities it provides is something we don’t take for granted. The Endeavour Scholarship and awards ceremony at Farnborough is a great way to highlight this educational jewel and share it with the world. We commend the Kallman Foundation for this critical and far-reaching work.”
For more information about the scholarships and mission, visit https://endeavourscholarship.org
