System Studies & Simulation Inc.
L-R: Doug Martinson – Board Chair, CAP&GOWN Project; Devyn Keith – Exec. Dir., CAP&GOWN Project; Jan Smith – CEO, S³; Stuart Oberman – President/CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
With assistance from the Huntsville Community Foundation, CEO Jan Smith founded the CAP & GOWN Project Fund to provide college access opportunities to underrepresented high school students. The Foundation translated Ms. Smith’s passion for local youth education in the Huntsville/Madison County community into a funding vehicle that allows other donors to help as well. With a clear vision of what this effort could do for these students, Ms. Smith put her own resources to work and received generous support from others to launch an independent nonprofit agency.
Jan Smith’s Passion – “There is a great sense of fulfillment that comes with knowing that when I had a chance to make a difference, I took that step.” Ms. Smith’s philanthropic goals focus on improving quality of life in our community and helping the families and companies that support Redstone Arsenal (RSA). The Community Foundation helps her connect with regional and national nonprofit organizations that advance quality of life initiatives throughout the Greater Huntsville area. As a result, Ms. Smith sees more families choosing to live, work, and play in our community and support critical programs at RSA.
“Today, I am able to support diverse causes with great flexibility. I’m able to see the impact of each gift and new opportunities that can make a difference in our community,” said Ms. Smith.
The Community Foundation provides resources, recommendations and opportunities that encourage the missions of worthy nonprofit organizations focused on expanding Huntsville area tourism, improving quality of life for those who are in need, and enhancing education to maximize our students’ potential.
CAP&GOWN will be awarding the Jan Smith Award to others in the future who demonstrate a high level of generosity and passion for supporting our mission
16 August 2017–Congratulations to Ms. Caroline Greene! She has been selected as this years’ recipient of S³s Corporate Matching AAAA Scholarship. This is a 2 year scholarship providing $1,000 each year . Ms. Greene is the daughter of Thomas Greene (Retired MAJ) who has been an S³ Simulations Training Analyst since 2010. Caroline is from Orem, Utah and will be attending Brigham Young University.
The 2017 AAAA Scholarship Selection Committee along with volunteers from the AAAA National Executive Board, the AAAASFI Board of Governors and Chapter Officers performed an outstanding job of evaluating and nominating over 400 applicants in this 2017 competition. There were 287 awards made for a total of $473,000.00. S³ is proud to support this program.
S3 is a long serving and active participant of the AAAA Scholarship Program. S3 supports AAAA scholarship activities at the annual AAAA National gatherings and participating in the scholarship selection process. S3 employees donate their personal time, and corporate S3 donates resources to further AAAA scholarship awards.
The AAAA Scholarship Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation established to render financial assistance for the college-level education of members of the Army Aviation Association of America, Inc. (AAAA). The spouses, unmarried siblings, children and grandchildren of current and deceased AAAA members are also eligible. 100% of every dollar donated to the Scholarship Foundation goes to a scholarship or endowed principal based on the AAAA paying all overhead expenses for the Scholarship Foundation.
Visit http://www.quad-a.org for more details about the scholarship.
Once again, congratulations to Ms. Greene and good luck as she pursues her undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University.
Jan Smith, CEO of S3, presents the donation to GEN (R) Sullivan (second from left). Also pictured are Jim Barclay, President of S3 (far right), and Bob Johnson, Sr. VP of the SETA Services Business Unit (far left).
S3 joins the Three Star Circle of Distinction with its financial support to the National Museum of the United States Army. The Company’s contribution to the Army Historical Foundation honors the American Soldier by helping establish the 185,000 square foot National Army Museum to be located on 80 acres at Fort Belvoir, VA.
After nearly 241 years of courageous and selfless service to our country, the Army is the only U.S. military service that does not have a national museum to call its own. The museum will tell the complete history of the US Army; educate the expected 750,000 annual visitors about the myriad roles the Army has played throughout the history of our country; and inspire pride in service for the more than 30 million men and women who have served since 1775.
Groundbreaking for the museum occurred in the autumn of 2016. According to GEN (R) Gordon Sullivan, this event has generated significant momentum in three areas: public awareness, fundraising, and site preparation with a goal to open the museum in 2019.
S3 has always provided its heartfelt support to our soldiers, airmen, sailors, and marines. Today, veterans make up eighty-one percent of our employees. Jan Smith, founder and CEO of S3, recently commented, “We founded our company with the U.S Army as our principal customer in the early years. Today, more than 50 percent of our business is still with the U.S. Army. We feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to participate in this tribute to our Nation, its Army, and the brave and dedicated soldiers who have defended our liberties for nearly two and a half centuries.”
S3 encourages other companies and individuals to contribute to this very important campaign which honors so many who have made sacrifices for our way of life – from the birth of the Continental Army in 1775 to the continuing struggle in 2017 against determined foes around the world.
More information can be obtained by reviewing their web site at www.armyhistory.org or by contacting Elizabeth Moloney, Director, Major Gifts, at elizabeth.moloney@armyhistory.org.
S3 recently made a generous donation to help restore the Rocket Center’s “Spy Plane.” Jan Smith, CEO of S3, Inc., presented a check for $230,000 to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Foundation on March 16, 2016. Ms. Smith presented the check in the Apollo Courtyard of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration. The Foundation reported that the donation will be used to help restore the Center’s A-12 Oxcart and fund the new exhibit at the Rocket Center. The CIA used the A-12 Oxcart during the Cold War to conduct reconnaissance efforts.
Goodwin Mills Caewood is preparing the architectural and engineering design for the Oxcart exhibit presentation on the Rocket Center’s museum grounds. The Lockheed A-12 will be mounted in a flight position. The exhibit will accentuate the already impressive visual that travelers see upon entry into Huntsville. Project ground-breaking activities are scheduled for June 2016, with completion anticipated this fall.
Published by: System Studies & Simulation, Inc. (S3)
The Huntsville Chapter of the National Contract Management Association (NCMA) recently announced that several of its long-term sponsors, including S3, have renewed sponsorship of the organization for 2016. In its formal announcement, NCMA Huntsville praised each of the renewing Huntsville sponsors for their commitment and assistance to the nonprofit organization that advances the contract management profession. S3 will continue its support to NCMA as a BRONZE Sponsor.
S3 provides technical solutions to its customers through two diversified business units: SETA Services and Training & System Support. S3 also has three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Kachemak Bay Flying Service, Global Logistics Support Services, and S3 International. Collectively, these organizations support DoD, other US security agencies, Partner Nations, and commercial customers.
Since its incorporation in 1991, S3 has experienced nearly 25 years of significant growth, won numerous industry awards for excellence, offers highly competitive rates, is financially sound, and continues to provide one of the top employee benefits programs in the defense industry.
Published by: System Studies & Simulation, Inc. (S3)
Huntsville, AL- The CAP & GOWN Project is a program started by J.O. Johnson High School teacher and wrestling coach Chris Scribner and his colleagues Emily Heller and Katharine Martin as a way to improve college matriculation rates and encourage students to consider continuing their education after high school graduation. CAP & GOWN scholars have toured over 60 colleges from Montgomery to Massachusetts, and also participate in student-led community service projects. Since those first college tours, the amount of college scholarship dollars has tripled for Johnson students, and the college matriculation rate for Johnson graduates has increased by 600 percent.
Jan Smith, CEO of S3, Inc., was the founding donor of the new fund created at the Community Foundation of Huntsville/Madison County. Ms. Smith’s generous initial gift of $10,000 launched the fund, which was followed by a recent grant of $25,000 from the Alpha Foundation, boosting the total to $35,000. Mr. Scribner has obtained a matching gift from an out-of-state donor who has pledged to match up to $250,000 to make CAP & GOWN a permanent endowment, allowing the program to continue indefinitely. These matching funds are contingent on raising at least $100,000 of donations from other sources first.
“I was inspired by Chris Scribner and Jailcn Young, one of his students, after hearing them speak at the Community Foundation’s recent Summit on Philanthropy conference. The amazing results this campus visit program has achieved made me realize the need to help create a permanent source of funding for CAP & GOWN. I am very pleased to be able to help these students realize their dreams of higher education,” stated Mrs. Smith.
Mr. Scribner added: “Huntsville not only boasts the smartest minds in America, but also the biggest hearts. We are starting to realize that our city can only be as strong as our most underserved students, and we are taking action as a community to invest in our human capital. College is becoming increasingly necessary for citizens to compete in the new economy, and we will work relentlessly to allow all of our students to choose how they want to continue their education after they graduate from high school.”
“The Community Foundation is very excited to see how quickly the community has responded to support this important project, and we’re happy to be able to provide the oversight and administrative support for the CAP & GOWN Project Fund. This project is a wonderful example of how philanthropy and passionate community leaders can ‘move the needle’ in achieving positive change in our community,” said Stuart Obermann, CEO/ President of the Community Foundation. “We hope that others will recognize the opportunity this fund provides for our local students and take advantage of the dollar-for-dollar matching grant that the generous anonymous donor has provided.”
Published by: System Studies & Simulation, Inc. (S3)
