Astronauts Memorial Foundation, NASA, and Space Foundation bestow Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award to Kathy R. Brandon

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Mar. 7, 2006) — The Space Foundation announced today that Kathy R. Brandon is the 2006 recipient of the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The award, given by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Space Foundation will be presented Monday, April 3 in Colorado Springs during the Opening Ceremony of the 22nd National Space Symposium.

Brandon was chosen for her longtime service as a program instructor and her outstanding contributions to the STARBASE Louisiana program for fifth grade students. Students participate in a 25-hour integrated curriculum using aviation and space exploration as the theme. Among her many contributions during her seven years with STARBASE, Brandon has presented many additions and innovations which enhance the curriculum, coordinated career mentors, conducted lessons on science topics, developed a student workbook, and authored or co-authored more than two-thirds of the lessons.

The AMF, NASA, and the Space Foundation annually present the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award for outstanding contributions made by K-12 educators or district level personnel to educational technology. The award is named after Alan Shepard, one of our nation’s original seven Mercury astronauts, the first American to fly in space, one of only 12 humans who has walked on the moon, and a former AMF board member. It recognizes excellence in the development and application of technology in the classroom or to the professional development of teachers.

Recipients demonstrate exemplary use of technology either to foster lifelong learners or to make the learning process easier. Previous recipients of the Alan Shepard Technology in Education award are Ronald F. Dantowitz, Charles Geach, Brian Copes, Thomas F. Hunt, Frank E. Waller, and Lori Byrnes. For more information about the award, visit www.AstronautsMemorialFoundation.org.

The National Space Symposium is the premier annual space industry conference and is scheduled April 3-6, 2006, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. More than 7,000 professionals from around the world are expected to participate at the 22nd National Space Symposium as speakers, panelists, registrants, and exhibitors.

The event draws the most senior executive leadership from NASA and other space and government agencies, the commercial space and satellite broadcasting industry, research universities and academia, space tourism concerns, the Department of Defense, military space commands and the global space industry.

An updated program agenda, exhibitor list, complete list of sponsors, and secure registration can be found online at www.NationalSpaceSymposium.org.

Highlights of the symposium include a spectacular opening ceremony, co-sponsored by Northrop Grumman; the opening night reception, co-sponsored by ITT; the opening night fireworks and dessert reception, co-sponsored by General Dynamics; the Corporate Partnership reception, co-sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce; the Corporate Partnership dinner, co-sponsored by Raytheon; the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award luncheon, co-sponsored by the Colorado Space Coalition; the Space Technology Hall of Fame reception, co-sponsored by United Space Alliance; the Space Technology Hall of Fame dinner, co-sponsored by The Boeing Company; and the largest ever Lockheed Martin Exhibit Center.

Additional co-sponsors include Analytical Graphics, Inc., ASRC Federal, ATK, BAE Systems, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Cisco Systems, Computer Sciences Corporation, Florida Space Authority, Harris Corporation, Inmarsat, Integral Systems, MTC Technologies, Nortel Government Solutions, Space News, Space Systems/Loral, SpaceVest, Spherical Magic, Stellar Solutions, and Swales Aerospace.

About the Space Foundation

Founded in 1983 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, the Space Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that vigorously advances civil, commercial, and national security space endeavors and educational excellence. The Space Foundation has offices in Washington, D.C., and Cape Canaveral, Fla. In addition to the National Space Symposium, the Space Foundation annually conducts, along with its partnering organizations, Inside Aerospace, April 24-25, 2006; Strategic Space and Defense, 10-12 Oct. 2006, in Omaha, Neb.; and Florida Space, Dec. 5-7, 2006, in Orlando, Fla. For more information, visit www.SpaceFoundation.org.