Retired U.S. Navy Capt., Astronaut Winston Scott Prepares for 9th Annual ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ Set for This Saturday at Clemente Center
By Space Coast Daily // May 30, 2023
event begins at 5:30 PM
ABOVE VIDEO: Retired U.S. Navy Capt., Astronaut Winston Scott Prepares for 9th Annual ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ Set for June 3 at Clemente Center.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With only days to go, the 2023 ‘Dancing for the Space Coast’ dancers are preparing for their final dance routines with their dance instructors for the charity event on June 3 at Florida Tech’s Clemente Center.
With a sold out crowd ready to pack inside the Clemente Center, one of the dancers in this year’s event is retired U.S. Navy Captain and Astronaut Winston Scott.
Winston E. Scott is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and aviator. He entered Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School in 1973. He completed flight training and was designated a naval aviator in 1974.
In 1980, Scott earned his Master of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering with Avionics.
CLICK HERE to donate to Dancing for the Space Coast’s charity in Winston’s name.
To sponsor the event and/or attend the event, reserve your table today.
During his Navy career, Captain Scott served as a helicopter pilot with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron Light Thirty-Three at NAS North Island, CA flying the SH-2F helicopter. He later served a tour of duty as a fighter pilot with Fighter Squadron Eighty-Four at NAS Oceana, Virginia flying the F-14 Tomcat fighter/ interceptor. He subsequently served as a production test pilot and engineering director at the Naval Aviation Depot at NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Additionally, Scott served as a research development test and evaluation (RDTE) pilot and Deputy Director of the Tactical Aircraft Systems Department at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Warminster, PA.
As an RDTE pilot, Scott flew the F-14 Tomcat, the F/A-18 Hornet, and the A-7 Corsair aircraft. He has accumulated more than 7,000 hours of flight time in more than 25 different aircraft and more than 200 shipboard landings.
Captain Scott was an associate instructor of electrical engineering at Florida A&M University and Florida Community College at Jacksonville.
Captain Scott was selected to become an astronaut by NASA in 1992.
Serving as a mission specialist he flew two space shuttle missions during which he logged over 24 days in space; including 3 spacewalks totaling over 19 hours. He has advised elected officials on matters related to space and aeronautics.
Recently retired, Capt. Scott is a professor emeritus at The Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne. He holds the (retired) rank of professor of aeronautics in the College of Aeronautics and professor of music in the College of Psychology and liberal arts.
Capt. Scott belongs to the boards of directors of several corporate and non-profit organizations. He enjoys an active public appearance schedule. Captain Scott’s book Reflections from Earth Orbit was published in 2005.
The 2023 edition of Brevard County’s biggest social and philanthropic event of the year will showcase featured dancers,Jessica Assam, Rachael Bassett, Jordin Chandler, Tom Neidert, Gina Niagara, Winston Scott and Megan Wright.
Known as the largest fundraising event in Brevard County, Dancing for the Space Coast is a unique competition and fundraiser that benefits worthy non-profit organizations on the Space Coast.
Last year’s event raised more than $400,000 for Habitat for Humanity of Brevard, Women’s Center of Brevard, Family Promise of Brevard and the United States Law Enforcement Eternal Flame.
This year, Dancing for the Space Coast will raise money to benefit the Children’s Hunger Project, the Astronaut Memorial Foundation, the Sheriff’s Pet Posse and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Charity, which was established to assist Brevard County law enforcement officers and firefighters in their time of need.
“As Sheriff of Brevard County, it gives me great pleasure for our agency to host Dancing for the Space Coast,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey.
“Dancing for the Space Coast is an exciting event that teams up local celebrities with dance professionals, in a competition to benefit Brevard County nonprofit organizations. Each competitor dedicates their time and talents taking dance lessons and also diligently raises money as part of the competition.
Bragging Rights On the Line
Each celebrity dancer will be matched up with a professional dancer as they compete in a ballroom dance – and for bragging rights as the best dancer in Brevard.
On the evening of the competition, each dance pair will compete in a choreographed ballroom dance that will be scored by a panel of judges. During the show, couples will earn scores based on several technical skill factors, but the judges’ scores alone don’t decide the dancer’s final score.
Leading up to the actual performance, the dancers will have already scored 60 percent of their points through their fundraising endeavors to benefit needy charities.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
BRAGGING RIGHTS ON THE LINE
Each celebrity dancer will be matched up with a professional dancer as they compete in a ballroom dance – and for bragging rights as the best dancer in Brevard.
On the evening of the competition, each dance pair will compete in a choreographed ballroom dance that will be scored by a panel of judges. During the show, couples will earn scores based on several technical skill factors, but the judges’ scores alone don’t decide the dancer’s final score.
Leading up to the actual performance, the dancers will have already scored 60 percent of their points through their fundraising endeavors to benefit needy charities.
SPONSORSHIPS, TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
Several corporate sponsorship levels are available, including the Grease Sponsor for $25,000, the Flashdance Sponsor for $15,000, the Footloose Sponsor for $10,000, and the Saturday Night Fever Sponsor for $5,000.
Tables are available at the following levels: Front Row VIP Dinner Table, $5,000; Second Row VIP Dinner Table, $2,500; Third Row Dinner Table, $1,750; and Fourth Row Dinner Table, $1,250. Individual seats can be purchased for $150 per person.
Click here to purchase individual tickets
Dancing For the Space Coast is presented by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and sponsored by L3Harris, Space Coast Daily and Florida Tech.
For more information or to make a donation in the name of your favorite dance pair, log on to DancingFortheSpaceCoast.com or call 321-505-8752.
