The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has awarded its 2026 scholars. The program celebrates the best and brightest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”The scholarship foundation has grown into an organization that gives 70 scholarships each year. We have two of those each year,” John Nicklow said. “We are incredibly honored. Other universities on that list are MIT, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins and others. So, we’re very proud to be part of that list.”The 2026 Florida Tech winners are Carys Daly, who is studying mechanical engineering, and Damien Koons, who is majoring in physics.”It embodies the shared values between the institution and the scholarship foundation — some of our best and brightest people who have ambition and hard work instilled in them and are motivated to do well in their careers,” Nicklow said.To learn more about the program, WESH 2 spoke with last year’s recipients, who have now been in the ASF program for a year.Peyton Hay and Sloan Hatter graduated in May. As scholars, they each received a $15,000 scholarship and were paired with a mentor. They also traveled to the Johnson Space Center and met several astronauts there.”It’s kind of opened my eyes a bit to the possibility of, ‘Oh, I’m meeting these astronauts, maybe I can go that route,’ especially with the Air Force,” Hatter said. “They usually pick people from that background. So, I think it just opened my eyes to possibilities.”Hatter is working full-time right now and plans to join the Air Force. She graduated with a degree in computer science and computational mathematics.The ASF program is meant to help guide students pursuing degrees in STEM fields.”It benefits society,” Hay said. “I mean, everything they’re doing spans from healthcare to space to defense, and it really is beneficial to everyone.”Hay graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He is attending graduate school in the fall in Michigan, where he will continue studying electrical engineering and applied electromagnetics.In total, there have been 992 astronaut scholars since 1986. One of the most notable ASF alumnae is Christina Koch, an Artemis II mission specialist.

MELBOURNE, Fla. —

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation has awarded its 2026 scholars. The program celebrates the best and brightest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“The scholarship foundation has grown into an organization that gives 70 scholarships each year. We have two of those each year,” John Nicklow said. “We are incredibly honored. Other universities on that list are MIT, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins and others. So, we’re very proud to be part of that list.”

The 2026 Florida Tech winners are Carys Daly, who is studying mechanical engineering, and Damien Koons, who is majoring in physics.

“It embodies the shared values between the institution and the scholarship foundation — some of our best and brightest people who have ambition and hard work instilled in them and are motivated to do well in their careers,” Nicklow said.

To learn more about the program, WESH 2 spoke with last year’s recipients, who have now been in the ASF program for a year.

Peyton Hay and Sloan Hatter graduated in May. As scholars, they each received a $15,000 scholarship and were paired with a mentor. They also traveled to the Johnson Space Center and met several astronauts there.

“It’s kind of opened my eyes a bit to the possibility of, ‘Oh, I’m meeting these astronauts, maybe I can go that route,’ especially with the Air Force,” Hatter said. “They usually pick people from that background. So, I think it just opened my eyes to possibilities.”

Hatter is working full-time right now and plans to join the Air Force. She graduated with a degree in computer science and computational mathematics.

The ASF program is meant to help guide students pursuing degrees in STEM fields.

“It benefits society,” Hay said. “I mean, everything they’re doing spans from healthcare to space to defense, and it really is beneficial to everyone.”

Hay graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. He is attending graduate school in the fall in Michigan, where he will continue studying electrical engineering and applied electromagnetics.

In total, there have been 992 astronaut scholars since 1986. One of the most notable ASF alumnae is Christina Koch, an Artemis II mission specialist.