The Columbia Crew Memorial Scholarship is a prestigious scholarship dedicated to the crew of Space Shuttle Columbia and awarded to a high school student set to attend Texas A&M University.
This scholarship, which was founded three years ago, is valued at $40,000 per recipient given over a four-year period. It was established by the Cullen Family Foundation and will be awarded each year for a total of 10 years.
According to the President’s Report 2007, Brian Cullen, a pioneer in radar systems and leader in the aerospace industry, established the scholarship with his wife and five children, in remembrance of the seven Columbia Crew members who died when their shuttle broke up during re-entry on Feb. 1, 2003.
“We decided on the Columbia Crew because we had lived in Florida during the glory days of the space program. We remembered when our nation reached for the stars, and we wanted to honor those who gave their lives to continue that legacy,” Cullen said. “What better way to honor people than to help prepare the young people for the future.”
According to Sylvia Kelley, vice president for Institutional Advancement, the $40,000 amount includes tuition, fees, books and a $1,500 stipend each semester for the student to work as an intern on campus in their field to gain experience.
“Like the Honor’s College, it has kept some bright, bright students at A&M-Commerce,” Kelley said.
The Cullens have a tie to the university: Barbara Cullen, Brian’s wife, was a student at East Texas State University, studying agriculture. The two grew up in the Bronx and moved from New York to Florida and later to the Commerce area in 1985. She decided to study agriculture since they live on a farm.
“We wanted to give back to the community that welcomed ‘two Yankees’ into their midst. We believed Greenville had been a wonderful place to work and live,” Cullen said. “We also wanted to encourage young people to avail themselves of the opportunities for higher education that were in their own backyard.”
Cullen was hired as a general manager of E-Systems in Greenville in 1985, now L-3 Communications Integrated Systems. In 1999, he founded his own company in Rockwall called ComCept, which later became part of L-3.
According to the Columbia Crew Memorial Scholarship application, a qualifying student must be attending high school in Greenville or be a child of a parent who is employed by L-3 Integrated Systems or L-3 ComCept,
In January, applications are sent out and advertising begins. Applications are submitted to Glenda Anderson, director of Advancement Services. A scholarship committee comprised of four faculty members and a representative from the Cullen Family Foundation selects the recipient in April.
Part of the application process includes the applicants writing a 1,000-2,500-word essay describing the purpose of choosing a career that supports the frontier of space.
In 2006, Molly Jacobsen, a Rockwall High School student, received the scholarship and is now a biology and pre-med major. In her essay, she related how biology and medicine are key factors in keeping astronauts in space in top physical condition.
“When I graduate with a major in the biological sciences and a minor in kinesiology, I want to go to medical school to pursue a career in pediatric and cosmetic surgery,” Jacobsen said. She added, “I hope to perform cosmetic surgery on children in foreign countries who are unable to afford medical work and help them live normal lives.”
Ashleigh LeBeau, the 2007 recipient and Greenville High School student, is pursuing an elementary education degree. Her essay detailed how teaching can promote the space program.
“I feel it is part of a teacher’s job to keep the dream alive of becoming an astronaut, and further the exploration of outer space,” LeBeau said.
Each year there is a luncheon in which the recipient and his or parents, the Cullens, the president of the University, past recipients and a select few faculty involved are invited so that the Cullens can meet who has been awarded the scholarship.
“We’re quite pleased with the quality of the students selected. We wish them the best, and we hope that when they complete their education, they consider this locality to enrich with their skills,” Cullen said.