Fisher Space Pen sponsors student and educator competitions

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Fisher Space Pen Co. (Fisher), the inventor of the original Space Pen(R), whose pens have flown with American astronauts since the Apollo program, recently sponsored events for the next generation of explorers, educators and visionaries at the 28th National Space Symposium (NSS) in Colorado.

Fisher Space Pen Co. will co-sponsor of the Space Foundation Student Art Competition, in cooperation with the Ares Corporation. Students in grades Pre-K through 12 from around the world embraced the competition and submitted their work. The Space Foundation received more than 1,500 entries from 17 U.S. states, Turkey and Pakistan. Forty-one students received awards in 14 categories. The students will display their work at the Symposium and will be recognized at a ceremony on Thursday, April 19, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Fisher is also sponsoring the New Generation Space Leaders Program at the Space Symposium. This program, which occurs April 16-19, is dedicated to space industry professionals under age 35 and was established by the Space Foundation to help foster and grow the next generation of leadership in exploration.

“Recognized as an American-made symbol of excellence, Fisher Space Pen represents the spirit of innovation required to take the next important steps in exploration,” said Cary Fisher, president of Fisher Space Pen Co. “At the core of the company is my father’s passion for innovation and creating better products. Our sponsorship of these events represents an investment in future innovators and industry leaders. It is a tribute to the legacy of my father who founded the company.”

Fisher recently sponsored the Conrad Foundation’s Innovative Teacher of the Year Award presented at the Spirit of Innovation Summit, hosted at NASA-Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. This award recognizes an outstanding coach, teacher and/or mentor who guides and encourages students’ development of new, game-changing technology throughout a team competition. In late March, Roger Kassebaum, teacher at Milken Community High School in Los Angeles, Calif., was the recipient of this new award.

“Fisher supports new generations of history makers, while the pen that went to the moon is still making history,” said Matt Fisher, ad specialties director, Fisher Space Pen Co. “When my grandfather created the first successful pressurized ball point pen, we now call the ‘Space Pen’, the country was training the original astronauts who had the ‘right’ stuff. Today, the company continues to be dedicated to honoring and encouraging the inventors and pathfinders who will ‘write’ the next chapters in exploration and to those who will take our next big steps for mankind.”

About Fisher Space Pen

Fisher Space Pen Co. was founded by inventor and entrepreneur Paul Fisher, who in 1953 invented the “Universal Refill” for ballpoint pens. In 1965, Fisher developed a unique ballpoint pen that could be used in the harshest of environments – microgravity, underwater, in extreme temperatures, upside down and at high speed. The company holds the distinction of being the last standing American pen manufacturer, as well as the preferred flight equipment for astronauts, pilots and explorers. The Fisher AG7 Space Pen(R) flew for the first time during the Apollo 7 mission. Now, more than 40 years later, Fisher Space Pen Co. continues its proud history as one of the behind-the-scenes partners in the U.S. space program.

Relevant Links:

The Space Foundation – http://www.spacefoundation.org/
The Conrad Foundation – http://www.conradawards.org/
National Space Symposium – http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/home
Spirit of Innovation Summit – http://www.conradawards.org/
Fisher Space Pen Co. – http://www.spacepen.com/

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