National Space Club Announces 2016 Goddard Memorial Dinner Keynote Scholar
Washington, DC – The National Space Club & Foundation proudly announces that Ms. Brianna “Brie” Belz has won the National Space Club & Foundation Keynote Scholarship, securing her role as the keynote speaker during the Club’s 59th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Washington Hilton.
Ms. Belz is a senior at William Byrd High School in Vinton, VA aspiring to study Mathematics and Biochemistry after graduation. Her impressive list of awards and honors include winning first place at her local school science fair as well as for the Roanoke District Science Fair in 2015. She is a National AP Scholar of Distinction and a member of the Insight (Gifted) Program. Ms. Belz is also the founder and president of the “Math Pound”, a peer-tutoring program for math at her high school and in her spare time interns at Roanoke Memorial Hospital under the Chief of Emergency Medicine.
The Space Club is devoted to fostering excellence in space activity through interaction between industry and government, and through a continuing program of educational support. The National Space Club & Foundation Keynote Scholarship was created in 2012 and is provided to a high school senior, undergraduate or graduate student with the intention to pursue a career in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields. Applicants were required to complete an online application, and submit a video on why he or she is inspired by space, with finalists undergoing live remarks and interviews. In addition to serving as the dinner keynote speaker, Ms. Belz will receive a $10,000 scholarship.
The Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner is the major event of the Washington space calendar. First celebrated in 1958, it is held each year near the anniversary of the first successful flight by Dr. Goddard of a liquid-fueled rocket. The dinner brings together nearly 2,000 members of the government, industry and educational space community and is considered the industry’s premier gathering of space professionals.
In addition to the Keynote Scholarship, the Club presents several awards at the dinner to a number of outstanding individuals for accomplishments in spaceflight, engineering, science, management and education. The premier award, the Goddard Trophy, is presented to the individual, group or program deemed to have made the most significant contribution to space activity in the previous year.
Individuals and organizations interested in attending the 59th Annual Robert H. Goddard Memorial Dinner on Friday, March 11, 2016 at the Washington Hilton, may find more information on our website www.spaceclub.org. For specific questions please contact the Space Club at info@spaceclub.org or by calling 202-547-0060.
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The National Space Club and Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to fostering excellence in space activity through interaction between industry and government, and through a continuing program of educational support. Awards are offered to recognize significant achievements in space science and enterprise. Scholarships and other educational support are a major focus of Club activity.
