Scholarships can be more than just financial support; sometimes they’re a beacon of legacy, love, and hope. Such a beacon, The Harold and Sherry Siegfried Memorial Scholarship illuminates a path for under-resourced students in the Houston area.
Honoring Harold and Sherry Siegfried, the newly created scholarship is an expression of deep love and admiration. Harold Siegfried dedicated 27 years to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, playing a role in the pioneering days of America’s space program. His passion for flight and space exploration began with rubber band airplane models and carried him through a career with the U.S. Air Force, Boeing, General Dynamics, and, ultimately, NASA. As a tribute to Harold’s decades of work in the space industry, the scholarship was established by a gift from his daughter, Vicki Siegfried Rippetoe, and her husband, Freddie Rippetoe.
The scholarship provides a deserving student with the opportunity to attend Space Center University (Space Center U®), an extraordinary, one-week hands-on educational experience here at Space Center Houston. Space Center U allows students to explore robotics, rocketry, thermal protection systems, and space habitats. At its core, this scholarship is about giving someone the chance to dream big and begin making that dream a reality.
A powerful moment for the scholarship came at the “Launching the Future” luncheon, where the first recipient, Brooklynn Levi, was announced. Sharing that moment with Gene Kranz, a legendary figure in NASA history, made the experience unforgettable.
To students who may feel uncertain about applying, here’s a heartfelt message from the scholarship’s founder, Vicki Siegfried Rippetoe:
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime and one-of-a-kind learning opportunity. The experience and knowledge you will gain, along with the friendships and memories you make, will follow you throughout your life. So, shoot for the stars and embrace every opportunity that comes your way; you never know where it will lead you.”
Thank you, Vicki, for your generous partnership in honoring your parents through The Harold and Sherry Siegfried Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship, along with other donations made through our Annual Fund, serves as a launchpad for inspired students to pursue their dreams in STEM.
