uniphiClient Information
22 July, 2024Print
Astronaut Rock Star Awards Presented At Multi-Platinum Selling Band O.A.R.’s Boston Show On July 20 (55th Moon Landing Anniversary)
Honoring Astronaut Jack D. Fischer & “Odie” (1st Private Company Lunar Landing), Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
(Received By The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Students & More
Front: Yurida Sanchez (Gold Winner), Caroline Schumacher (ASF, second row L), DeeDee Kearney (uniphigood), Michelle Lucas (uniphi space agency), Benj Gershman (O.A.R.), Annie Balliro (uniphi good),
Sophia Crowder (Gold Winner), Melissa Duncan (uniphi good)
Back: Cameron Duncan & Dan Lavery (uniphigood), Richard On & Mikel Paris (O.A.R.), Astronaut Jack Fischer & Elizabeth Fischer, Jon Lampley, Chris Culos, Jerry DePizzo, Marc Roberge (O.A.R.)
Download Hi-Res Photos Here (credit: Dominique DC Photo)
July 22, 2024 – This past weekend, the first annual Astronaut Rock Star Awards were presented on Saturday, July 20 - the 55th Moon Landing Anniversary - at multi-platinum selling band O.A.R.’s Leader Bank Pavilion show in Boston, MA.
uniphi space agency, a division of women-owned + led uniphigood, LLC, announced the awards earlier this year in conjunction with National Astronaut Day on May 5 - an annual event honoring Astronauts for their accomplishments and commemorating the date Alan B. Shepard, Jr. became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule on May 5, 1961.
The Astronaut Rock Star Awards honor the intersection of space exploration, STEM/STEAM education, and the enduring connection between Astronauts and music, taking inspiration from Earth & Space collaborations of artists like Eddie Vedder, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Post Malone, Coldplay, Garth Brooks, Barenaked Ladies, Kraftwerk, BLKBOK, Peter Gabriel, and exemplified by the iconic Voyager Golden Record, the Chandra X-Ray “Sonification” Project & beyond.
The 2024 Astronaut Rock Star Award winners are:
2024 Astronaut Rock Star Award - Diamond Award
Honoring legacy Astronauts, presented by Astronauts
Presented To:
Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
Received By:
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF)
President & CEO, Caroline Schumacher
Presented By:
Astronaut Jack D. Fischer
Richard On, Mikel Paris & Benj Gershman (O.A.R.), Astronaut Jack Fischer, Caroline Schumacher (Astronaut Scholarship Foundation), Jon Lampley, Chris Culos, Jerry DePizzo & Marc Roberge (O.A.R.)
Photo Credit: Dominique DC Photo
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, originally established as the Mercury 7 Foundation, was founded in 1984 by the six surviving Mercury 7 astronauts (Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Wally Schirra, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., & Deke Slayton), Betty Grissom (widow of the seventh astronaut, Virgil “Gus” Grissom), Dr. William Douglas (their flight surgeon), and Henri Landwirth (dear friend of the astronauts). Celebrating 40 years, ASF mission is to aid the United States in retaining its world leadership in technology and innovation by supporting the very best and brightest scholars in science, technology, engineering and mathematics while commemorating the legacy of America’s pioneering astronauts. Since inception, over 800 Astronaut Scholars have been selected and over $9 million of scholarship funding has been awarded. This year, ASF selected 71 Astronaut Scholars from 48 university partners across the country.
Alan B. Shepard, Jr. to The White House (1990): “We believe that education is one of the most important elements in assuring a vigorous space program and the security of America.”
Alan B. Shepard, Jr. to 5th students at Alan B. Shepard Elementary School (1997):
“Space exploration is about dreams and how they can be achieved with hard
work and determination. All of you are still young and have dreams ahead. They,
too, can come true if each of you sets a firm course and follows it, passing one
milestone after another, as America once did when it set a course for the moon.”
2024 Astronaut Rock Star Award - Platinum Award
Honoring Astronauts, presented by Rock Stars
Presented To:
Presented By:
O.A.R.
Richard On, Mikel Paris & Benj Gershman (O.A.R.), Astronaut Jack Fischer, Jon Lampley,
Chris Culos, Jerry DePizzo & Marc Roberge (O.A.R.)
Photo Credit: Dominique DC Photo
Former NASA Astronaut and Intuitive Machines executive Col. Jack D. Fischer oversaw the Odysseus (“Odie”) lunar landing this year as part of the IM-1 mission in 2024.The IM-1 mission successfully landed the first spacecraft on the Moon's south pole region, marking the United States' first return since Apollo 17, as well as, the first private lunar lander on the Moon. The City of Houston has also proclaimed July 20 as ‘Intuitive Machines Day.’
Fischer’s award was presented by rock greats O.A.R. at their Boston, MA show at Leader Bank Pavilion on July 20th, 2024 (streamed on VEEPS) - in sync with the iconic “Moon Landing” date from the Apollo 11 Mission in 1969, the first time a human walked on the Moon.
Astronaut & IM VP Jack D. Fischer said: “This has been such a fantastic year and it's so cool to be recognized for contributing to space exploration. I may be the Astronaut at IM, but putting Odie on the Moon was a team effort. We're just a small private company of dreamers who worked hard to achieve something incredible…and this is just the beginning.”
O.A.R. bassist Benj Gershman said: “It is an absolute privilege to partner with the Astronaut Rock Star Awards to show our respect, admiration and appreciation for these heroes! They are connecting us with the cosmos in new ways more often than ever, and our fascination with their work is as immense as their contributions to science, technology, education and humanity.”
2024 Astronaut Rock Star Award - Gold Awards
Awarded to students, individuals or groups working to advance STEM/STEAM education,
with an emphasis on Space
Presented To:
STEM Students Yuridia Sanchez & Sophia Crowder
Presented By:
Astronaut Jack D. Fischer
Astronaut Jack Fischer, Yurida Sanchez, Michelle Lucas (uniphi space agency), Sophia Crowder, Benj Gershman (O.A.R.)
Photo Credit: Dominique DC Photo
Yuridia Sanchez, a recent graduate from Nogales High School (Nogales, AZ) and space-obsessed STEM-ist recalls waking at the crack of dawn to observe rocket launched. Yuri works to bring STEM to her community to inspire others. Sophia Crowder, who just finished her college freshman year, is a STEMflights aviation scholar, founder of the girl-empowering initiative ITGirls and hopes to be an innovator for the space program.
uniphi Founder, President & CEO Annie Balliro said, “Since the very first National Astronaut Day, music has been a key part of the way we honor and celebrate Astronauts, and we are so grateful to have our friends, the incredible O.A.R., on this journey with us to kick things off and help give the Platinum Award as part of their 2024 Summer Tour. The fact that it’s actually on such an iconic date (July 20) and their tour art is an Astronaut it’s meant to be!”
About uniphigood, LLC (uniphi):
uniphi good, LLC is a woman-owned+led company founded in 2009 by Annie Balliro, who serves as President & CEO. Through its uniphi space agency division, the company is a “one-stop” management agency for booking 100+ world-class Astronauts Speakers for Speaking Engagements, Private Events, Endorsements, Personal Appearances, Corporate Events, Conventions, Seminars, Conferences, Collaborations and Fundraisers. uniphi’s philosophy is based on an ideal of selfless (u), universal (ni), philanthropy (phi), and the premise that if each individual’s actions were based on an idea to help only others, the amount of goodwill and support that would inherently benefit each one of us would be far greater as a whole. For more information please visit NationalAstronautDay.com.
#NationalAstronautDay
#WeBelieveInAstronauts
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About O.A.R.: O.A.R. might just be music’s biggest, best kept secret. The platinum-certified Rockville, MD band has quietly sold out Madison Square Garden twice, filled Red Rocks Amphitheater a dozen times, earned platinum and gold plaques, lit up the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, and built one of the most committed fanbases in the world. The group—Marc Roberge [lead vocals, guitar], Richard On [lead guitar, backing vocals], Chris Culos [drums], Benj Gershman [bass], and Jerry DePizzo [saxophone, guitar, backing vocals] accompanied by Mikel Paris [keys, backing vocals, percussion], and Jon Lampley [trumpet, backing vocals]—have entered a new chapter as a band by releasing their 10th studio album The Arcade and will be embarking on a headlining US tour this Summer with special guests Fitz and the Tantrums.
About Astronaut Scholarship Foundation: The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) is an Orlando-based, 501(c)3 nonprofit commemorating the legacy of America's pioneering astronauts. Founded by the six surviving Mercury 7 Astronauts in 1984, ASF partners with industry leaders, universities, and individual donors to achieve its mission of supporting and rewarding exceptional college students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of the Treasury policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. |