Established in 1973, the Denver Astronomical Society’s Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship (VNHA) supports graduating high school and undergraduate college students majoring in astronomy and the physical sciences
Each year, scholarships may be awarded to students in good academic standing who have demonstrated intent and merit to pursue a career in the physical sciences or mathematics. VNHA gives priority to students of astronomy, astrophysics, and related fields.
To Apply
Applicants should complete the application process at THIS LINK starting April 1 each year. VNHA will only consider applicants whose applications we receive by June 15 each year. VNHA will typically give awards around August 1.
If you need help using the Paperform application website, please contact Jon Groubert, Chair of the Scholarships Committee, at VNHA@denverastro.org.
Criteria
- Applicants must be graduating high school seniors or undergraduate college students in good standing.
- Enrollment must be equivalent to at least a half-time load for the academic term defined by the institution.
- Applicants will be considered at most five times for a full-time student and eight times for a half-time student.
Additional Required Documents (uploaded to Paperform)
- Official Transcripts showing a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent), including the final transcript of the applicant’s last semester.
- A completed online application (via Paperform) demonstrating the applicant’s interests, background, and declared major..
- Letters of recommendation from at least two reputable sources.
All applicants’ information becomes the property of the Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Committee. Please send copies of the required information as appropriate. VNHA cannot return documents.
Awards and Judging
Scholarship awards do not and will not discriminate based on race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, or military service. The decision of the Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Committee shall be considered final. VNHA gives preference to Astronomy majors.
The Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Committee
Chair: Jon Groubert – Email – VNHA@denverastro.org
Jack Eastman
Ivan Geisler
Tony Gojanovic
Pam Morrow
Joseph Pesce
Greg Wimpey
William Van Nattan and Charles Hansen
William R. Van Nattan’s enthusiasm for astronomy continues to enrich, enlighten, and capture the interest of others through his many and varied contributions to the field. He was a founding member of the Denver Astronomical Society and the National Amateur Astronomers. As chairman of the Denver Planetarium Committee in 1955, he was instrumental in providing a planetarium for the people of Denver at the Natural History Museum. For many years, Van Nattan assisted in teaching astronomy at the University of Denver’s Chamberlin Observatory.
Charles Hansen was likewise an avid supporter of Denver astronomy. Upon his death, he left a significant portion of his estate to the Denver Astronomical Society to support the fund.
This scholarship fund was established by the Denver Astronomical Society in 1973 to honor their memories. In the years since, the scholarship has assisted at least 30 astronomy and physical sciences or mathematics students, providing over $48,000 in assistance for their education. Through the gifts and contributions of many friends of astronomy, the fund continues to offer scholarships to high school and undergraduate students.
John Anderson
John Anderson enjoyed membership in the Denver and Colorado Springs Astronomical Societies. He was on the board of the Van Nattan-Hansen Scholarship Fund. He attended numerous Star Parties and astronomy events. He was an avid astronomer and even built his own backyard observatory. He especially loved solar observing, spectroscopy, and teaching others about the cosmos. Upon his death, he left a large bequest to the fund, which was then renamed the Van Nattan-Hansen-Anderson Scholarship Fund in his honor.