Recognizing The Next Generation of Leaders:
Ukrainian Student Selected as Inaugural Recipient of Endeavour Scholarship “Ben Matheson Award”

 

Waldwick, NJ, USA & Farnborough, UK – July 16, 2026 – On July 22 at the Farnborough International Airshow, students and teachers from the Farnborough College of Technology, UK, and Ukraine will be recognized with a life-changing opportunity as recipients of the Endeavour Scholarship, which provides an all-expenses-paid week at Space Camp USA.

Founded in 2019 by Kallman Worldwide President and CEO Tom Kallman, the Endeavour Scholarship honors his friend and colleague, Al Worden, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot of the spacecraft Endeavour, for which the scholarship is named. The program’s mission is simple but powerful: to inspire the next generation to pursue careers in STEM and to help build the future of global innovation. While at Space Camp, participants immerse themselves in astronaut training, simulated missions, and collaborative challenges designed to spark curiosity, confidence, and ambition. Recipients also receive exposure to cultures from around the world, participate in international team building activities, and take part in educational sessions led by industry leaders.

“Every country we work in is looking for ways to prepare the next generation for the future,” said Kallman. “The Endeavour Scholarship helps bridge that gap by providing students and educators with opportunities they may never have imagined possible.”

More than a program, the Endeavour Scholarship is a catalyst. For many participants, it marks a defining moment—their first international travel experience, their first exposure to a global community of peers, and their first glimpse of what is truly possible. It builds confidence, expands horizons, and ignites a sense of purpose.

To date, the program has awarded scholarships to 144 students and 36 educators from eleven countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Chile, Singapore, Indonesia, Poland, the United Kingdom, France, Ukraine, Australia, and the United States.

This year’s cohort includes participants from Australia, Chile, Poland, the U.S., the UK, and Ukraine. Among them, one student will be honored with a special distinction recognizing exceptional character and promise.

Ukrainian student, Ivan Pedko, age 17, has been selected as the 2026 inaugural recipient of the Endeavour Scholarship “Ben Matheson Award.”

This award celebrates individuals who embody the enduring values of Ben Matheson: honor, patience, and integrity. Supported by AUSCO, a company renowned for developing high-performance fluid control systems for mission-critical applications, the scholarship fully funds Pedko’s participation in the program, including tuition, travel, and lodging.

Ben Matheson, 97, is a pioneering leader in aerospace, still currently involved in the aerospace industry. He has been in this field since 1950, and his career involves being a founding member of Stratoflex, Inc. in 1952—a key supplier to aerospace and NASA programs. Stratoflex was acquired by Parker Hannifin in 1988 and is now a Division of Parker Aerospace. Matheson has also been involved in the European aerospace market since the early 1960’s, with AUSCO, Inc. since 2002, and in the Japanese aerospace market with Sakura since the early 1970’s. His lifelong contributions have helped shape the industry over the years. Notably, a Stratoflex mascot known as Zing Zong traveled to the moon aboard Apollo 15 with his longtime friend Al Worden.

Matheson’s greatest legacy lies not only in his achievements, but in a character rooted in the values of honor, patience, and integrity. Like Al Worden, he represents the spirit of exploration, resilience, and innovation that are at the core of the Endeavour Scholarship. Matheson’s values and leadership—combined with an optimism that sees every day as having the potential to be a great one—continue to inspire those around him.

Pedko was selected for this honor because, in addition to satisfying other strict criteria, he reflects those same qualities: determination, resilience, and a deep enthusiasm for the future.

“It’s an honor to establish this special award within the Endeavour Scholarship program to celebrate Ben’s legacy,” said Kallman. “It’s a powerful way to inspire future generations and extend AUSCO’s commitment to mentorship, innovation, and exploration.”

“At AUSCO, we believe the future of aerospace depends on investing in the next generation of innovators while honoring those whose contributions have shaped our industry,” shared Ken Bram, Chief Executive Officer of AUSCO. “There is no individual more deserving of that recognition than Ben Matheson. His remarkable career, spanning more than seven decades, embodies innovation, leadership, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to advancing aerospace. By sponsoring the inaugural Endeavour Scholarship – Ben Matheson Award, we are proud to celebrate Ben’s extraordinary legacy while inspiring students to pursue excellence and carry forward the pioneering spirit that has defined his life’s work.”

 

The Endeavour Scholarship is an initiative by Kallman Foundation, the corporate social responsibility group under Kallman Worldwide. To learn more about Endeavour, please visit: https://endeavourscholarship.org/