Frequently Asked Questions
When is the scholarship application deadline for the 2007-2008 school year?
Applications and required information must be received at the NASA Johnson Space Center Scholarship Office by March 20, 2008.
My child is a high school junior. Could he/she apply this year?
No, your child wouldn’t be eligible until next year’s scholarship cycle. The eligibility requirements state that all recipients must graduate from an accredited public, private, parochial high school, be graduated from a home schooling program in accordance with the home schooling laws of the state in which the applicant resides, or be currently enrolled in college with good academic standing. This year’s 2008-2009 scholarship begins the 2008 fall semester. A high school junior wouldn’t meet the eligibility of graduating in time to meet this time frame.
Why is this scholarship available only to dependents of NASA civil servants?
Pulitzer Prize winning author James A. Michener initiated the Fund with a significant, unsolicited donation. His stipulation was that the fund be available exclusively to NASA employee dependents pursuing education in science and engineering.
Scholarship opportunities for contractors are often available through other sources at or near your Center.
What is the definition of a dependent in this program?
A dependent is defined as a student who is currently lawfully claimed as a dependent on his or her Federal income tax return by a current NASA employee, a retired NASA employee, or a reimbursable detailee to NASA. Also, a dependent is defined as a student who was lawfully claimed at the time of death on his or her Federal income tax return by a former NASA employee or a former reimbursable detailee to NASA who died while employed by NASA.
In the case of divorced or separated parents, if the claiming parent is not the NASA employee, then proof of the divorce or legal separation is required.
Why do you require that references to name, gender, and location be excluded from recommendation letters?
The scholarship recipients are chosen on merit through a blind evaluation where name, gender, race, locality, etc. are taken out of consideration. Each application and attached materials is assigned an identifying number and copied with all personal references removed. Only the sanitized copies are given to the selection committee for consideration.
The sanitizing process is very time consuming, but one we feel is vital to ensure fairness. Asking that the recommendation letters be sanitized before we receive them helps with this effort and is appreciated. |
