CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION

Mission Statement

The Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation is an independent Federal government agency established by Congress to "encourage and support research, study and labor designed to produce new discoveries in all fields of endeavor for the benefit of mankind." Governed by a Presidential appointed Board of Trustees, the Foundation seeks to nurture and recognize individuals and programs which reflect the visionary spirit and pioneering heritage of Christopher Columbus.

History

In 1992 Americans celebrated the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas, and the United States Congress joined in the commemoration by passing Public Law 102-281, the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Coins and Fellowship Foundation. The initial funding for the Foundation was derived from the sale of three denominations of specially minted coins sold by the United States Mint from August 1992-June 1993. The Foundation received the coin sales surcharges, which constituted the Foundation's endowment, thus establishing a living legacy of explorer Christopher Columbus.

Purpose

In order to support a broad spectrum of creative thinking and individual and group innovation, the Foundation has established the Frontiers of Discovery--Work in Progress and Discover the Future programs.

Frontiers of Discovery--Work in Progress

Homeland Security Award

Through the Work in Progress program, the Foundation and AgustaWestland present the $25,000 Homeland Security Award which is designed to encourage and promote a "cutting edge" innovation in the homeland security area and provide incentive for continuing the research.

Life Sciences Awards

This year the Foundation has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to present four Life Sciences Awards. The recipient of each award must be making or has recently made a significant and positive contribution in the field of life sciences as indicated in each award. The $25,000 Chairmen's Distinguished Life Sciences Award is presented to a scientist or researcher for the development of a "cutting edge" innovation in the field of life sciences. The $10,000 Life Sciences Educator Award is presented to a current secondary school educator, with at least five years of teaching experience, who is promoting the study of life sciences to his or her students. The $5,000 Biology Student Award is presented to a current secondary school student related to the study of biology. The $5,000 Chemistry Student Award is presented to a current secondary school student related to the study of chemistry.

Frontiers of Discovery--Discover the Future

In the Future program the Foundation supports competitions designed for students as well as educators. The Foundation sponsors the Christopher Columbus Awards, which challenge teams of middle school students in grades six to eight, to explore and discover opportunities for positive change in their communities using the scientific method. This program taps the potential of middle school students, teaches them how to be creative problem solvers and shows them how to make a difference in their community. Finalist teams win an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World®, vie for U.S. Savings Bonds, and one team wins the $25,000 Columbus Foundation Community Grant which is seed money to take back to their community to make their idea a reality. Please visit: www.christophercolumbusawards.com.

The Foundation bestows the $10,000 Freida J. Riley Teacher Award on an American teacher who works with a physical disability, teaches in an especially challenging educational environment, or has performed a heroic act by making an exceptional, personal or physical sacrifice while teaching. Please visit: www.columbusfdn.org.

Please contact the Foundation for more detailed information on each program.

Questions? Contact Judith Shellenberger at judithmscolumbus@cs.com