We congratulate Andrew Hope on his 2023 Walter Grishkot Scholarship Award for 2023! Chosen not only for his academics but his leadership skills and community involvement, we are excited to help him on his journey to a degree in aeronauics and engineering. In his own words, here is Andrew's background:
My name is Andrew Hope and I am a senior at Saratoga Springs High School. I play the viola in my school’s chamber orchestra, but I am also learning the piano to pursue my love for jazz. My parents are immigrants from Scotland, so I sometimes find myself playing some Scottish tunes in our high school fiddle club! I’m a varsity sprinter specializing in the 200m to 800m range, and I like to rock climb and cliff jump in the summer. I’m also really interested in outer space and all of NASA’s efforts to get there. In my free time, I like to tinker with rockets and computers, having built many computers on my own. This summer, I will begin to work on building a rocket with active flight stabilization, and I’ve entered myself into a couple physics Olympiads.
I have had a goal of becoming an astronaut since my early childhood, and my recent love for physics has only strengthened that dream. I understand the difficulty of becoming an astronaut, but I know that just pursuing my dream academically and physically will put me on a path towards a life of loving what I do. I’ve committed to the University of Michigan with the intent of studying physics and aerospace engineering. Afterwards, life may take me to research, engineering, or the Air Force as a pilot. I am excited for the many opportunities and big moments to come!