Now Accepting Applications for the 2009 Award!

I. Introduction and Overview

In a continuing effort to recognize outstanding contributions by K-12 educators and District level personnel in the field of Educational Technology, the Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) in partnership with the Space Foundation and NASA, is pleased to present the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions made by technology personnel or classroom teachers to technology education. 

The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award rewards excellence in the development and delivery of technology programs. Programs which focus on aerospace and/or aeronautics will be given priority to other programs. Applicants must demonstrate how their programs ultimately benefit the students in a school or district.

II. Eligibility and the Award

The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award is open to all K-12 school or district level educators from across the nation.  The Award will be presented by AMF, the Space Foundation and NASA at the 25th National Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado (The 25th National Space Symposium takes place March 30 - April 2, 2009).  The winner will be flown to Colorado Springs, where hotel accommodations will be provided.  The winner will receive a commemorative trophy with his or her name engraved and a monetary award of $500. In addition, the Award winner's name will be placed on a plaque honoring past recipients that is housed in the Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The candidate must be nominated by the school's principal.  An associate superintendent or superintendent must nominate all district level personnel.

III. The Review Process

Applications will be reviewed in two stages. During the first stage, applications will be reviewed by AMF staff to select finalists for the Award. Each application will have multiple readers and will be evaluated according to how well the application addresses the criteria.
 
In the second stage, the Selection Committee will review and evaluate the finalists and select a winner based on the Selection Criteria.

IV. Selection Criteria 

A Selection Committee of nationally respected leaders will select a winner based on the following categories.

Applicants must respond to all four categories. Each category will be worth 25 points, for a total of 100 cumulative points. The applicant who scores the most points will be the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award Winner.

1. Innovation: 25 Points

Are your programs innovative?

Innovative and imaginative programs should showcase creative solutions to new or old problems. Applicants should implement effective “out-of-the-box” programs to their school and/or district.

2. Excellence: 25 Points

What are the results of your programs and why are they considered outstanding?
 
Programs should produce a tangible result that emanates excellence. The applicant must also demonstrate how their programs ultimately benefit the students in a school or district.

3. Program Type: 25 Points

Does your program deal with aerospace and/or aeronautics?

Programs which focus on aerospace and/or aeronautics will be given priority to other programs.

4. Future Consideration: 25 Points

What are your plans for the future to continue your programs?

The Alan Shepard Award recognizes what you have done in the past year, but plans to continue or expand your current programs are also evaluated.

V. Guidelines for Completing the Application .

Please submit the following:

1. An Award Application.  
   The Application has three sections. 
            a.  Entry Form
            b.  Demographic Profile sheet
            c.  Check List  (to reference and assist you in
                 compiling your application).
2. An abstract of the key elements of the program (one page).
3. A clear description and explanation of the program or service and its outcomes for which you are seeking the Award (three pages).
4. Published curriculum material, software, photographs, etc. may also be included.

Click here for PDF version of the Award Application
(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and print PDF version)
 Click here for Adobe Acrobat Reader Download

Only mailed applications postmarked no later than January 16, 2009 will be accepted.
The 2009 Alan Shepard Award winner will be announced on this web site on February 27, 2009.

 Mail to:

Via regular mail: 

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation
The Alan Shepard Award
Mail Code AMF
Kennedy Space Center, FL  32899 

Physical address for Federal Express or UPS:

The Astronauts Memorial Foundation
The Alan Shepard Award
State Road 405 Building M6-306, Room 5000
Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899