The Conrad Foundation

  The Conrad Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization built upon astronaut Charles "Pete" Conrad's history of innovation and entrepreneurship. The mission is to energize and engage students in science and technology through unique entrepreneurial opportunities. By enabling young minds to connect education, innovation, and entrepreneurship they provide a platform for enriching human capital.

The Conrad Foundation offers bold programs that encourage students to explore entrepreneurship and design innovative solutions to important issues in science and technology. They connect students with real-world entrepreneurial ventures and provide the tools, resources, and opportunities necessary to bring their concepts to the commercial marketplace. Nancy Conrad, widow to Peter Conrad, sharing the belief that innovation is driven by competition, partnered with the X PRIZE Foundation to create the Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award. Elon Musk, NSHSS Advisory Board member and founder of Pay Pal, and current CEO of SpaceX, serves on the Conrad Foundation's Board and is key to the launching of the Competition.

The Foundation's Pete Conrad Spirit of Innovation Award challenges students to create new concepts in specific science and technology related categories. NSHSS, as a partner, enhances the capabilities of the Foundation by creating a greater network of students to compete in the Conrad Awards program.