Westin Hotel, Alexandria, VA

2008 Award Winners:

Space Leadership Award

The Honorable Senator Barbara A. Mikulski

(Accepted by her office) 

Senator Mikulski is a trailblazer. Her first election was a successful run for Baltimore City Council in 1971, where she served for five years. In 1976, she ran for Congress and won, representing Maryland's 3rd district for 10 years. In 1986, she ran for Senate and won, becoming the first Democratic woman Senator elected in her own right. She was re-elected with large majorities in 1992, 1998 and 2004.

A leader in the Senate, Mikulski is the Dean of the Women – serving as a mentor to other women Senators when they first take office. As the dean, she builds coalitions – proving that the Senate women are not solo acts, but work together to get things done.

Senator Mikulski is a leader in the Space Community.  As lead Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA and the National Science Foundation, Senator Mikulski is a longtime champion of scientific inquiry and space exploration.

    * Supports ongoing space programs with increased funding including NASA's Pluto Mission which would be managed by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, Maryland.

    * Fighting to double the National Science Foundation over five years to fund research on nanotechnology and information technology and supercomputing hardware programs.

    * Secured $10 million to improve the launch base at Wallops Flight Facility and authored language designating Wallops as a site for NASA's commercial launches.

Space Education Inspiration Award

Bill Nye "The Science Guy"

Nye holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. He was awarded honorary doctorate degrees by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Goucher College.  After winning a Steve Martin look-alike contest, Nye began a dual career as an engineer by day and stand-up comic by night. This eventually transitioned into an exclusive entertainment career. Nye got his television start performing on a Seattle-area sketch comedy show called Almost Live!, and appeared regularly on the show for many seasons. It was on this show that "Bill Nye the Science Guy" was born.[4] He left the show to start producing Bill Nye the Science Guy in 1993. Once famous, Bill returned as a guest-star for an episode that opened with a skit of Nye not being recognized and having trouble entering the KING-TV building. Nye was also the assistant of Emmett "Doc" Brown in the live-action segments of Back to the Future: The Animated Series (1991–1993). In one episode, Bill corrected Doc Brown on the pronunciation of gigawatt (not jigawatt), only for Doc Brown to fire back with "Who are you, Bill Nye the science guy?" 

Nye remained interested in science education through entertainment. He created a PBS KCTS-TV 13-episode series about science, called The Eyes of Nye, aimed at older audiences than his previous show. Airing in 2005, it often featured episodes based on politically relevant themes such as genetically modified food, global warming, and race. Nye held the boom microphone during four episodes of Popular Mechanics for Kids, a Canadian-produced show that debuted after his series ended.

Nye played the role of a science teacher in Disney's Principal Takes a Holiday. Though a small role, Nye goes on to make a hovercraft to demonstrate science in an unusual classroom manner. From 2000 to 2002, Nye was the technical expert in BattleBots. In 2004 & 2005, Bill Nye hosted 100 Greatest Discoveries, an award-winning series produced by THINKFilm for Discovery Channel-spinoff The Science Channel and in high definition on the Discovery HD Theater.

Nye has guest starred in several episodes of the crime drama Numb3rs as an engineering faculty member. A lecture Nye gave several years ago on exciting children about math was an inspiration for creating the Numb3rs show. [5] Nye was a regular in TV Land discussions. He has also made guest appearances on the VH1 reality show America's Most Smartest Model.[6]

Nye also appears in segments of The Climate Code on The Weather Channel (United States) telling his personal ways of saving energy. He still makes regular appearances on the show, often asking quiz questions. 

James E Haywood Excellence Award

(Announced at the Galaxy Ball)

The Federation's James E. Haywood Award for Excellence is presented to the volunteer who demonstrated superior performance in four areas: teamwork, organization, dedication, and hard work.  This volunteer uses superior organizational skills to develop the organization in an inclusive fashion that welcomes all participants.  In addition, this person demonstrates dedication to the cause of educating children in science and engineering and the willingness to act on that dedication through hard work.  

The award is named after Col. James E. Haywood, USAF, for using those same characteristics to develop and expand the U.S. Air Force space program. Col. Haywood's pioneering approach had a deep and lasting influence on the Federation and serves as an inspiration to us all. 

Meet Our Gala Sponsors

See our previous gala events:

Galaxy Ball 2007 Award Winners: NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations. William Gerstenmaier. Dr. Louis Friedman; Executive Director, Planetary Society.

Galaxy Ball 2006: Award Winners: NASA Administrator Mike Griffin. USECAF (Space) Dr. Ronald M. Sega.

Galaxy Ball 2005: Award Winners: Honorable Robert S. Walker, former Member of Congress, Chairman House Science Committee. Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, New York Museum of Natural History, Rose Center

Standard Ticket $140 

Reception begins 6:30 pm 

VIP Ticket $220 

Reception begins 6:30 pm 

Support our Educational Efforts through Cash Donations

Special donations will receive program acknowledgements and tickets: 

Galaxy Sponsor ($3,000) Full-page program acknowledgment, Event floor display space, Free "Mission Log" magazine add space, web page recognition, press release, and One Table (10 VIP tickets)

Galaxy Sponsor $3000 

Solar System Sponsor ($2,500) Half-page program acknowledgment, Free "Mission Log" magazine add space, web page recognition, and One Table (10 VIP tickets)

Planetary Sponsor($2,400) Quarter page program acknowledgment, web page recognition, and One VIP Table (10 VIP tickets)

Sponsoring Member($1,600) Program acknowledgment, web page recognition, and one table (10 Standard Tickets)

The Federation of Galaxy Explorers is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Donations and a portion of the ticket price are tax deductible.For Galaxy Ball Information please contact Ms. Jackie Noble: jaclyn@thenobles.com; (301) 520-2321. 

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