1996 Astronaut Scholar Annual Meeting
On the second weekend in May 1996, something very special happened for the first time in the short history of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. The events will never be forgotten by the eight Mercury Scholars who participated. This "something special" was the first-ever meeting between Mercury Scholars and the astronauts who have helped the scholars to pursue their academic dreams. It was also the first time that the Scholars had met each other.
The meeting began on Friday evening, when six of the eight scholars arrived in Orlando early to meet at Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island for dinner. Scholars brought their spouses, boyfriends, girlfriends, and family members to enjoy the first chance to get to know each other. Several of us went club-hopping at Pleasure Island after dinner and didn't get home until the wee hours of the morning.
The next day, the astronauts and scholars experienced a special treat when we were able to witness groundbreaking ceremonies for a new wheelchair-accessible playground at Henri Landwirth's Give Kids the World Village in nearby Kissimmee. After the ceremonies and lunch, the astronauts and scholars finally had an opportunity to talk in a private conference room. The scholars were thrilled, and the astronauts were equally pleased to meet some the people who have been selected for the annual Mercury Seven Scholarship Awards. Time was limited, but lively discussions took place and many photographs were taken to commemorate the occasion.
Because of the success of this event and the positive reaction from everyone involved, another astronaut scholar meeting is being planned for next year. We hope that more scholars will be able to attend the events. In addition to the meeting, many activities are in the works, including a tour of Kennedy Space Center and another night on the town.