Grants and Scholarships
Did you know that if you are a NAR member between the ages of 17 and 22 attending college or a vocational school that you may be eligible to receive a NAR scholarship? Or that young women majoring in STEM fields are eligible for a new scholarship sponsored by the Estes family? Are you a teacher who uses model rocketry in the classroom? Do you run an after-school program involving model rocketry? You are welcome to apply for a $500 grant to use in your program.

The deadline for applying for the NAR Scholarship (which automatically include the Len Fehskens and Jay Apt scholarships), the Gleda M. Estes Scholarship, the Cannon Grant, and the Extracurricular Activity Grant is June 1 of each year. Grants/scholarships are presented at the NAR annual meet (NARAM) held in late July/early August. You do not need to be present to receive a grant/scholarship.

These programs are ongoing. The NAR Board of Trustees funds the programs at the Winter board meeting. Download instructions and applications below. Eligibility requirements are included in the instructions. If you have questions concerning these programs, please contact scholarship@nar.org.

Extracurricular Activity Grant

In 2015, the NAR Extracurricular Activity Grant (EAG) was initiated to provide up to ten $500 grants for after-school activities, such as rocket clubs, Scout, Civil Air Patrol, 4-H, or NAR section programs involving model rocketry. TARC and SLI teams are not eligible for these grants.

Extracurricular Activity Grant–Instructions and Application

NAR Scholarship

In 2001, the NAR Scholarship was inaugurated at NARAM. Since 2010, we have awarded up to ten $2,000 scholarships per year.

NAR Scholarship—Instructions and Application
NAR Recommendation Form

Jay Apt Endowed Scholarship

The Jay Apt Endowed Scholarship was cre­ated in 2021 by Dr. Jay Apt, seniors and college freshmen planning to study science or engineering at a college or vocational school who apply for the NAR Scholarship are automatically consid­ered for this $2,000 scholarship. Recipients of the Jay Apt Scholarship may not receive a NAR Scholarship in the same year but are welcome to apply for the NAR Scholarship in following years.

Jay Apt Biography

Jay Apt Endowed Scholarship—Eligibility, Instructions and Application

Trip & Tina Barber Endowed Scholarship

The Trip & Tina Barber Endowed Scholarship was cre­ated by this long-time NAR couple in 2025 to demonstrate their commitment to helping young people take the path to an aerospace career. High school seniors and undergraduate college students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering (or mechanical engineering in colleges without a separate aerospace program) who apply for the NAR Scholarship will be automatically consid­ered for this $3,000 scholarship. Recipients may not also receive an NAR Scholarship in the same year but are welcome to apply for the NAR Scholarships in following years and will be considered for re-award of this endowed scholarship as part of that.

Trip and Tina Barber Biography

Trip and Tina Barber Endowed Scholarship—Eligibility, Instructions and Application

Robert L. Cannon Educator Grant

In 2001, the Robert L. Cannon Educator grant was inaugurated at NARAM. Since 2010, we have awarded up to ten $500 Cannon grants per year.

Robert L. Cannon Grant—Instructions and Application
NAR Recommendation Form

Gleda M. Estes Scholarship for the
Advancement of Young Women in STEM

In 2018, the Estes family announced the Gleda M. Estes Scholarship for the Advancement of Young Women in STEM. High school seniors and college freshmen majoring in STEM fields are eligible to apply for this $3,000 scholarship. Recipients of the Estes Scholarship may not receive a NAR Scholarship in the same year but are welcome to apply for the NAR Scholarship in following years. A separate application is required for the Estes Scholarship.

Gleda M. Estes Biography

Gleda M. Estes Scholarship—Instructions and Application

Leonard Fehskens Memorial Scholarship

Also in 2018, the Leonard Fehskens Memorial Scholar­ship was established in memory of longtime NAR member Len Fehskens, who was well known for his creative rocket designs and passion for the hobby. His sister, Ms. Wini Labrecque, decided it would be appropriate to memorialize Len with a scholarship for aero­space engineering majors who participate in model rocketry. Aerospace engineering stu­dents who apply for the NAR Scholarship are automatically considered for this $2,000 scholarship. Recipients of the Fehskens Scholar­ship are welcome to apply for scholarships in following years.

Leonard Fehskens Memorial Scholarship—Eligibility, Instructions, and Application