NC State student to receive Astronaut Scholarship

A North Carolina State University student will receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation during a ceremony at 1 p.m. on Oct. 11 in the Talley Student Center ballroom on the NC State campus.

The student, John E. Stout, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, computer engineering and physics, will receive the award from former space shuttle astronaut Frank Culbertson. The event will coincide with a presentation by Culbertson, who will share his experiences from three space shuttle missions, including commanding the International Space Station. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Stout holds a 4.0 GPA and is involved in research on crystal polymers, as well as tutoring underclassmen and learning flamenco guitar. His career plans center on entering academia, most likely as a professor of physics.

Stout is one of 20 students nationwide to receive the scholarship this year. The Astronaut Scholarships are awarded annually to students who show exceptional performance in the fields of science, engineering or mathematics. Recipients must exhibit motivation, imagination and intellectual daring, as well as exceptional performance, both in and outside the classroom.

The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization established by the Mercury Astronauts in 1984 with the goal of aiding the United States in retaining its world leadership in science and technology. The ASF has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships to date, including $198,000 to NC State students.