SUPPORTING THE BRIGHTEST SCHOLARS IN SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS
NEIL ARMSTRONG™ AWARD
OF EXCELLENCE
Through a partnership with The Purdue Research Foundation, the Armstrong Family and Neil Armstrong’s friend, Jim Hays, ASF recognizes an Astronaut Scholar Alum who exemplifies personal character and professional achievement, and their work leaves an impact in their field. The nominating criteria embody Neil Armstrong’s core values and those of his colleagues, the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and Commercial Space astronauts.
Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence Recipients
Jarret Lafleur
2026 Recipient
Jessica Blomberg
2025 Recipient
Adam Weber
2024 Recipient
Andrew Jones
2023 Recipient
Trent Kingery
2022 Recipient
Christina H. Koch
2020 Recipient
Douglas S. Adams
2019 Recipient
Larry Bradley
2018 Recipient
Patrick Biltgen
2017 Recipient
About the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence
The Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence is awarded annually to an Astronaut Scholar Alum. This award serves as a prestigious recognition for those who continually push the boundaries in their fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The awarded Astronaut Scholar Alum exemplifies personal character and professional achievement mirroring the core values of its namesake, Neil Armstrong.
Each year, the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence is presented at the Innovators Gala, bringing together some of America’s pioneering astronauts and STEM leaders. This year the Gala will be held on August 15, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
Nominate an Astronaut Scholar
Note: Submitting a nomination/application does not guarantee an award.
For More Information
For more information about the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence, contact us at +1 407-362-7900 or programs@astronautscholarship.org.
Note: Neil Armstrong™ used with permission from The Purdue Research Foundation.
Application Details and Criteria
Eligibility
Nominees must be past recipients of the Astronaut Scholarship. Eligibility for the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence begins immediately upon completion of their tenure as a scholarship recipient. Individuals currently receiving the scholarship are not eligible.
Nominee must be a U.S. citizen.
The achievement, product, technology, service, or body of work cited for the award has been widely recognized by others (company, industry, associations, etc.).
Previous recipients of the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence are not eligible for nomination.
Recipients may be working in any STEM field, as defined in the document, Eligible Major Fields of Study and Work for Astronaut Scholarship Foundation Programs.
The accomplishment(s) cited for the award may be primarily technical in nature or may be technically-related business accomplishment(s) in which the business accomplishment(s) resulted from technical innovation that is either fully, or in part, attributed to the nominee. Technical and technically-related business accomplishment(s), as defined in this paragraph, shall be equally eligible for recognition.
There shall be no bias in the nomination or selection process toward any particular industry.
Application Deadline
All applications with completed documentation are due March 1, 2026 by 11:59 PM ET.
Award Criteria
Applicants must offer evidence of significant accomplishments in a STEM field.
Applicants must embrace and demonstrate a philosophy that fosters teamwork and promotes ingenuity.
Applicants must meet the criteria as described in the categories below:
Character
Applicant should possess traits such as integrity, perseverance, critical thinking, intellectual daring, and a passion for exploration. The nominee will have clearly demonstrated a commitment to the pursuit of excellence.
Achievement
The award will recognize any outstanding accomplishments in STEM fields, including scientific discovery, the development of creative technologies, new and advanced processes and systems, significant patent applications, novel prototypes, and other innovative contributions.
Impact
The nominee’s achievements should have a demonstrable impact on society through their effect on science, technology, industry, global leadership, or the inspiration of future generations.
Review Process
All eligible applications will be reviewed by the judging committee and the winner will be selected for the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence by mid-June 2026. All nominees will be notified and invited to attend the Innovators Gala in Houston, TX on August 15, 2026. The recipient of the Neil Armstrong™ Award of Excellence will be awarded during the gala celebration.