Generous donors who contributed to the renovation and reopening of the Air Force Academy’s Planetarium and STEM Center and a new observatory telescope were honored at a celebration hosted by the United States Air Force Academy Endowment.

Expanding horizons

Donors honored for STEM support

Generous donors who contributed to the renovation and reopening of the Air Force Academy’s Planetarium and STEM Center and a new observatory telescope were honored at a celebration hosted by the United States Air Force Academy Endowment April 6.

Guests enjoyed a 360-degree presentation of “Journey to the Center of the Milky Way” in the planetarium, followed by a dinner and reception at the Eisenhower Golf Club.

John Martinson ’70 and Jerry ’70 and Pam Bruni were honored for their contributions to the project. Martinson provided an anchor gift of $1.25 million and Bruni contributed $1 million toward the renovation.

Martinson became fascinated with the planetarium more than 50 years ago when he was a Boy Scout. It piqued his interest in science and charted his path to the Air Force Academy. He was thrilled to have an opportunity to help resurrect the planetarium so many years later.

Bruni is pleased to have reached a stage in life where he was able to invest in the lives of cadets and even children from the community who will be influenced for years to come by the planetarium and its expanding STEM programming.

He compared his family’s heritage of investing in the future of each new generation to the progress of a rocket that reaches new heights as each new stage kicks in.

“Each of us has a staging, and it’s partly our responsibility to accelerate society into the heavens, into the unknown,” he said. “And now it’s our turn — it’s your turn, it’s my turn, and that’s why we’re doing this.”

Representing the Academy’s Cadet Wing, Cadet 4th Class Seth Finley has been volunteering at the planetarium, learning how to use the projection equipment and running shows for visitors. He plans to be part of the center’s development over the next three years as a cadet.

“Thank you for making the planetarium renovations possible,” Finley said. “What you’ve done, and the money you’ve donated, has allowed myself and many others to explore and grow our fascination for what we’ve loved since we were kids.”