Since its inception this symposium has sought to celebrate space exploration in honor of Grand Rapids astronaut Roger B. Chaffee. Faculty at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) from Physics, Anthropology,and Engineering, along with members of the Chaffee Scholarship Board, have been partnering with staff at Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) to form an interdisciplinary team working toward our core mission of promoting interest in space exploration and offering STEAM-based educational opportunities, to K12 students in the greater Grand Rapids area as well as to the larger public.  The official motto for Roger That! is, “There’s enough space for everyone!”   

Our team has been committed to obtain internal and external funds (beyond the required institutional match) to retain retired NASA astronauts from underrepresented populations, including:  Jeanette Epps (2026), John Herrington (2025), Dr. Robert Satcher (2024), José Hernandez (2023), and Eileen Collins (2022).  In addition, each two-day symposium includes a series of online presentations by diverse professional and academic speakers, a design challenge for local 4th–8th graders at GVSU, a panel of community experts who speak on the theme designated for that year’s event, and many family-friendly space-themed learning opportunities at GRPM.  All these symposium activities are offered free of charge to the public (apart from normal admission fee to the museum), including the astronaut’s keynotes presented at both GVSU and GRPM. 

As we plan for our 11th Roger That! Symposium in February 2027, we will be celebrating a few important anniversaries - 50 years of Voyager, 60th anniversary of the Apollo 1 tragedy. We are aiming to secure our keynote speaker for this event and we are looking for individual and corporate partners to help augment our modest funds from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium. Your funding will help us keep this conference free for the public, as it has been since the very beginning. 

DONATE NOW!

Tier 1 — Mission Partner: $1,000 

• Name/logo on symposium website and printed program
• Recognition in event signage at GVSU and GRPM
• Thank-you shoutout on symposium social media

Tier 2 — Orbit Partner: $2,500 

• Everything in Mission Partner, plus:
• Reserved seating at the keynote
• Verbal recognition during opening remarks
• Name on "Community Supporters" plaque displayed at GRPM
• Invitation to small meet-and-greet with keynote speaker 

Tier 3 — Launch Partner (Presenting Sponsor): $5,000

• Named recognition as presenting sponsor ("Roger That! Symposium, presented by [Company]")
• Logo prominently featured on all marketing, press releases, GRPM event page
• Dedicated recognition in keynote introduction
• VIP seating and private reception time with astronaut keynote speaker 

Contact us at [email protected] to discuss corporate sponsorship!