About the Trustees
The Hamilton Planetarium Scholarship is managed by a group of three trustees who are selected based on their planetarium involvement, expertise, and commitment to the future of domes as gateways to education and public science ability and knowledge.
Toshi Komatsu
DeAnza College Planetarium
Toshi Komatsu has served as the Director of the De Anza College Planetarium in Cupertino, California, since 2016. He has worked in planetariums since 1998, when he started as an undergraduate student presenter. Toshi is a frequent attendee and presenter at various planetarium conferences, including regional, the bi-annual International Planetarium Society meeting, and the Live Interactive Planetarium Symposiums (LIPS). He received his B.A. in Physics and in Astrophysics from the University of California, Berkeley.
Sharon Shanks
Ward Beecher Planetarium
Sharon Shanks is retired as planetarium lecturer from the Ward Beecher Planetarium at Youngstown (Ohio) State University and as editor of Planetarian, the professional journal of the International Planetarium Society. A graduate of YSU with a degree in English, she pursued a career in journalism before discovering the love of planetariums. She now resides in Amarillo, Texas.
Marc Taylor
Hudson River Museum Planetarium
Marc Taylor, Manager of Planetarium and Science Programs at Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, New York, has been with the Hudson River Museum for over 20 years. Marc has his B.A. in Fine and Studio Arts from Carleton College.
Trustees Emeritus
Thomas Wm. Hamilton
Retired Director, HOSS Planetarium, Staten Island, New York
Sheldon Schafer
Retired Director, Peoria Riverfront Museum Planetarium, Peoria, Illinois
Pam Eastlick
Retired Director, University of Guam Planetarium, Agana, Guam
Nick Juliano
Former program manager, College of Southern Nevada Planetarium, North Las Vegas
Trustees must have a minimum of five years experience in the planetarium field to qualify. The founding trustees had 42, 35, and 17 years experience when the Fund was incorporated. Trustees serve for a maximum of nine years. In the event of a vacancy, the remaining trustees are authorized to appoint a new trustee meeting the qualifications. If they do not act within 90 days, or if all three trusteeships fall vacant, the presidents of the Great Lakes Planetarium Association (GLPA), Middle Atlantic Planetarium Association (MAPS), Southeast Planetarium Association (SEPA), Southwest Planetarium Association (SWAP), and Pacific Planetarium Association (PPA) may appoint a qualified new Trustee. No one who is president-elect, president, or immediate past president of any of the regional associations may serve as a Trustee.