Sharon Hagle

Born: 1949

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: White

Morris Harvey College (now called the University of Charleston) no degree found

""Three things inspired me to create SpaceKids Global. International Educational Index indicates the US is 38 in Math and 41 in science out of 71 countries. There are 3.5 million job vacancies in the STEM field predicted by 2025." (womenlovetech.com); “If you talk to any person that has left this planet and had that unique opportunity, every one of them would say that it changes you, and you just have this need to come back and make the Earth better.” (stories.purdue.edu); “I’ve always told people when I’m speaking: going to space is the most emotional and spiritual journey you will ever take, and I think this film pokes you in how emotional it is and how it’s so exciting,” Sharon said on an episode of the “This Is Purdue” podcast recorded at the “Boilers to Mars” premiere. (stories.purdue.edu); "I can’t wait to get back in front of the kids. Up to this point our presentation has always been about training for space and what it takes to go to space. Now having gone to space it changes the whole perspective. We tell the kids we have a front row seat to all this because these companies want to hire in Florida before they do further outreach. The kids do not realize there are other jobs in the industry beside astronaut. It’s important to let them know there are whole teams behind each mission – drivers, doctors, chefs. Space is big enough it’s available for everyone. We need to reach kids by the age of six or seven or we’ve lost them. What SpaceKids Global is trying to do is help fulfill the 3.5 million job vacancies in the STEAM field predicted by 2025. If kids can be participators and not just spectators, we can make learning fun." (news.orlando.org); "

— Sharon Hagle

Field of Study: astronaut & entrepreneur

Institution/Corporation: American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics; SpaceKids

Degrees & Memberships: Member: The Explorers Club (2024); Space Force Association (2024); Purdue University College of Engineering Advisory Council (2023); American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA); National Space Society (NSS); Board of Trustee member for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts )2017 to 2022);

Awards: 2023 named to Women Who Mean Business, Orlando Business Journal; Clifford H. Lee Lifetime Achievement Award; 2024 Hometown Hero, Orlando Magic; Women of Distinction Award, Girl Scouts; John C. & Martha Hitt Honorary Alumni Award, UCF

Achievements: 2015 founder of SpaceKids Global a nonprofit dedicated to bringing the possibility of space to kids, promoting STEAM & ensuring girls are represented in space; through the Winter Park Live Oak Fund, she contributed to replacing live oak trees destroyed by hurricanes; she & her husband started the Fallen Officers College Education Fund in honor of Winter Park Police Department Lieutenant Stanford Locke, who died in 2019;