2021 Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship Winners!
We are very excited to recognize the winners of the 2021 Alex Higgins Memorial Space Camp Scholarship. Since 2001, more than 50 New Hampshire children and teens have traveled to the U.S. Space Camp & Rocket Center in Hunstville, AL, for a week of simulated astronaut or pilot training, thanks to the scholarship. This represents a combined effort among Alex Higgins’ family, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to honor Alex’s memory. Space Camp provides the opportunity for children and teens to engage in a science and engineering adventure that Alex Higgins truly enjoyed.
These extraordinary young people were chosen from a host of applicants by a panel composed of Discovery Center staff, Alex Higgins’ family members, and community volunteers. The application process included student essays, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation.
Primary Crew
Vaibhav Rastogi, Grade 7, Concord, NH
Vaibhav is a problem-solver who enjoys learning about space, math, technology, and science, and he’s looking forward to problem-solving in a real-world environment as part of his Space Camp experience. He says, “The knowledge and skills I will gain throughout the Space Camp will allow me to perform better in my future career as I plan to become an aerospace engineer. I also hope that my participation in space camp will inspire some of my peers, similar to how one of my friends inspired me to apply for this program.”
Charlotte Ray, Grade 7, Windham Middle School, Windham, NH
Charlotte hopes to be an astronomer, and she’s been inspired by the example of Christa McAuliffe as the first American civilian in space. She believes that there is still so much to discover about astronomy, and she’s looking forward to the new knowledge she’ll gain at Space Camp. “My knowledge of space and astronomy will have grown after attending, and I would have the privilege to spread my newfound knowledge with the grades below me. I could be an inspiration to the younger generation and I could teach them how they could study astronomy one day, and learn about all the wonders space encompasses.”
Harun Siddiqui, Grade 5, Penacook Elementary School, Penacook, NH
“I want to attend the space and robotics camp because I have always loved learning about astrophysics and astrochemistry, and I want to learn even more,” explains Harun. “When I grow up, I want to be an astrophysicist, and space camp and the aviation challenge could really teach me a lot about astronomy and aeronautical engineering. The universe is a complete mystery to us, and there is always more to discover. I want to solve at least part of that mystery, but to do that I first have to learn what we already know about the universe. That is why I want to attend space camp, to learn more about the universe and everything in it.”
Backup Crew
Susanna Hill; Grade 8, Academy for Science and Design; Nashua, NH
Sophia Kirpolenko; Grade 4; Hillsboro, NH
Tobias Packard; Grade 7, Mount Saint Mary Academy; Bedford, NH
Honorable Mention
Ryan Burbo; Grade 8, Windham Middle School; Windham, NH
Damaris Gilbert; Grade 7, Trinity Christian School; Concord, NH
Flinn Lebsack; Grade 6; Windham, NH
Xavier Martinez; Grade 5; Moultonborough, NH
Samuel Munsey; Grade 7, Londonderry Middle School; Londonderry, NH
