The NASA Academy Alumni Association
David J. Goldstein, President NAAA
NASA Academy has been an experience that has changed all of our lives. The intensity,
the commitment, the research, the teamwork, the mentors-all of these things make
it a unique and immensely valuable summer. Some of the benefits of this shared
experience are only just now becoming apparent. The NASA Academy Alumni Association, comprised
of NASA Academy alumni, NASA Academy PI's, and Friends and Speakers for various Academies,
was formed to keep the momentum going- many of us kept the energy of our summers with us after graduation, and we wanted to channel that. In 1997, the NAAA was
formed with the following mission:
- Ensure the quality of the NASA Academy programs
- Promote communications, fellowship, camaraderie, and an esprit de corps among all Alumni
- Provide a mechanism to facilitate Alumni participation in programs and projects that promote NASA and space education, and that communicate the excitement of space exploration and development
All of our activities come down to two objectives. First, to keep the alumni connected.
We who have had this experience retain a common bond, and as we rise and grow in
our careers and lives, our bond will remain. As the ranks of alumni grow in numbers
and achievements, so does our ability to create change and so does the importance
of our networks. Many of the people in the NAAA will be working together throughout
their lives. Relationships can take effort to maintain when separated by geography
and the pressures of time, and the NAAA strives to help maintain these friendships.
Many friendships made now will remain strong throughout our careers.
Second, many of us feel strongly that NASA Academy experience is such a valuable one
it should be available to others in the future. We grew and gained so much that
to see theAcademy experience lost would be a tragedy. We are committed to doing
everything we can to keep the Academy strong, vibrant, growing, and true to its vision.
Get involved in the NAAA. We are only as strong as our members' committments. If
you are just becoming an alum, join us. The Kids in Space program is a great educational
outreach where you can create something that will take the dreams of children into
space on an upcoming Shuttle flight. The October Annual Event / NASA 40th Anniversary
weekend will bring us together to show off our achievements, create new ones, and
work on an anniversary event with national visibility.
Don't forget, anyone involved with the NASA Academy can become a member of the NAAA.
We encourage Friends of the Academy, former or current Academy speakers, NASA Academy
PI's, and Space Grant folk to join us as Associate Members. All you need to do is
go to www.nasa-academy.org and fill out the free membership form, whether you're
a new or an old alum or one of our mentors. We ask you to come on board- becoming
a member and donating what you can makes a great difference. As with many alumni
organizations, we rely on donations to keep operating. We've only raised about half the funds
so far in 1998 that we did last year- anything you can do would be appreciated.
We've had donations from $10 to $1000 in the past, and any level of support is crucial.
Every time we get together in a new city or call up someone new for advice, work together
on a project or attend an event with current NASA Academy students, we build towards
a strong future. Luck comes to those who make it. We have sown the seeds of a great opportunity, and now is the time to make them grow.