The Astronaut Scholarship aims to inspire university students to pursue scientific excellence and maintain the United States’ leadership in technology and innovation.
By Paige Mulac January 22, 2025
Established in 1984 by the surviving Mercury 7 astronauts, the Astronaut Scholarship aims to inspire university students to pursue scientific excellence and maintain the United States’ leadership in technology and innovation. The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) scholarships are awarded to outstanding students in STEM fields. According to the ASF, Astronaut Scholars are recognized for their “intelligence, ambition, self-motivation, high ethical standards, persistence, tenacity, adaptability, and a passion for science, exploration and innovation.”
Over its 40-year history, the ASF has awarded scholarships totaling over $9 million to more than 850 students. This year, 71 undergraduate students from 48 U.S. colleges and universities were named Astronaut Scholars, including three exceptional leaders from UCF.
To Abigail Glover, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mechanical engineering student at UCF, earning a prestigious award like the Astronaut Scholarship represents far more than just financial support. For her, it’s entry into a network of ambitious individuals sharing her passion for space, engineering and scientific discovery. Glover describes the Astronaut community as “a family of like-minded individuals who will always support you.”
Much of Glover’s research has focused on planetary science. Some of her undergraduate research initiatives include studying the influence of humidity on simulated lunar highlands regolith properties and terra mechanics. Currently, her Honors Undergraduate Thesis is on “Quantifying the Performance of the SPARTA Toolkit for use in Planetary Regolith Characterization Missions.”
Glover is a project manager with the Regolith Interactions for the Development of Extraterrestrial Rovers (RIDER) program at UCF’s Exolith Lab, where she coordinates with industry experts and leads a team focused on enhancing technologies for lunar regolith and rover wheel interaction. She has also worked with NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems — assisting the Human Systems Integration team in preparing for Artemis II. Beyond her professional experiences, she founded the Lake-Sumter State College Astronomical Society in 2016. She also served as the social media and marketing chair for the UCF chapter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers and is the creative chair for Students for the Exploration and Development of Space at UCF.
Glover came to STEM from a background in art and theater, which initially left her feeling like an outsider in the world of engineering and research. In her first semester, she had difficulty adjusting to the demanding load of her STEM classes. With some encouragement from her mother, she returned to UCF for her second semester with renewed determination.
“It has been a long journey of discovering my capabilities and limits, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” she says.
Glover’s courage in asking questions and seeking new opportunities has been a powerful force in her development. A conversation with a professor led her to UCF’s Exolith Lab, and a class interview connected her to the NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars program, which set off a chain of experiences she says “opened doors to opportunities I would never have thought possible.” Glover has received multiple scholarships and awards throughout her academic career such as the Office of Undergraduate Research Grant, the Pell Grant, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Looking ahead, Glover hopes to contribute to long-term lunar habitation. She envisions herself continuing with lunar regolith research and building systems for sustainable human presence beyond Earth’s atmosphere. However, Glover’s past experiences have inspired her to remain adaptable, confident that “life has a funny way of working out.”
With a passion for astronomy and a double major in mathematics and physics, Burnett Honors Scholar Charlotte Moore sees research as a way to learn more about the universe. Her research journey began in her first year and has transformed her academic experience, allowing her to build meaningful relationships and discover the collaborative spirit of the STEM community.
With her sights set on a doctoral degree in astronomy, Moore plans to focus on galaxy mergers, especially in tidal features at higher redshifts. “Once I finish my Ph.D., I hope to work at a university or other research institution to continue my research,” she says. Currently, Moore is an undergraduate student researcher with Eric Bell from the University of Michigan working on the time constraints of the merger of Centaurus A from the Stellar Halo. She is also an undergraduate researcher with Theodora Karalidi, associate professor of physics at UCF, working on the impact of optical thickness on the polarization of the light of Jupiter.
Despite her accomplishments, Moore candidly acknowledges the challenge of imposter syndrome.
“There are very few moments where I haven’t had doubts about what I’m doing,” she says.
However, by immersing herself in new topics and projects, she has cultivated a sense of belonging in astronomy. Her hard work was marked by her first official publication, a moment that reinforced that she could make waves in the field of astronomy.
Moore credits her success to the incredible mentors she has encountered along her journey.
“Dr. Karalidi has always pushed me to pursue outside opportunities that will help me towards my goal of graduate school,” she says.
Additionally, she has benefited from the experiences of peers who have previously received the Astronaut Scholarship, utilizing their insights as she navigated her application process.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Moore is committed to helping others find their footing in research. As the president of the Society of Physics Students, she mentors fellow students, sharing her knowledge and experiences to guide them. Additionally, Moore has received multiple honors and awards, such as the Order of Pegasus in 2024, the Knights Achievement Scholarship, and the Allyn M. Stearman Scholarship. Moore embodies the academic excellence, commitment to community, and passion for discovery that the Astronaut Scholarship seeks to promote.
As a second-time recipient of the Astronaut Scholarship Luis Santori, a Burnett Honors Scholar and mathematics major, also appreciates the opportunities the ASF community will offer for his growth as a researcher.
“The doors that the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation opens will be crucial to my career,” he says.
For Santori, the ASF community provides opportunities to collaborate, learn and grow as a researcher.
Santori is an undergraduate research assistant involved in multiple projects, including two with Kerri Donaldson Hanna and Adrienne Dove, associate professors in UCF’s Department of Physics, focusing on lunar craters and lunar regolith. He describes his mentors — Hanna, Dove, and Professor Eduardo Teixeira from the UCF Department of Mathematics — as instrumental in his growth and development as a researcher.
Santori’s research journey has been transformative for both his academic and personal development.
“Research has fostered personal growth by keeping me curious and introducing me to subjects beyond my curriculum,” he says.
His research experiences have improved his communication skills, something that will be a necessity for him as he continues to promote his work.
Santori has also had to deal with the challenges that come with imposter syndrome, common in research where the uncertainty of discovery can lead to self-doubt. However, he reflects that by recognizing that it’s not productive to compare his path to the path of others, he has moved beyond this challenge. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining a good work-life balance in sustaining a research career. His ability to work through these challenges and his dedication to his academic career have earned him the Allyn M. Stearman Research Fellowship, the Summer@ICERM 2023 Fellowship, and the 2024 NASA Exploration Science Forum Student Travel Grant.
Looking ahead, Santori plans to apply to doctoral programs in applied mathematics and planetary science, aiming to contribute to advancements in these fields. He is considering a career in academia, national labs or industry. With his passion and resilience, Santori is ready to make meaningful contributions to planetary science and mathematics as he continues on his academic journey as an Astronaut Scholar.
Those interested in the Astronaut Scholarship and other opportunities should reach out to the Office of Prestigious Awards at OPA@ucf.edu.
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