NASA wanted to motivate workers in private industry and help them identify with the missions and crews, so it established an award program. Today, the Silver Snoopy is loaded with tradition. NASA contractors can nominate employees, but only the astronauts decide who will win. All the pins given to winners have flown in space. Even the awards ceremonies are carefully staged.
Astronauts surprise recipients at their desks or work spaces while other employees gather around.
At David Clark, which began making space suits in the 1960s, praise from NASA's space travelers is no rarity. Astronaut Cady Coleman visited in November to give Silver Snoopy awards to employees Manoushag L. Garabedian, Kevin J. Grady, Dorothy A. Kibelkstis, Stephen J. Koneczny and Mary Mahassel. In 1988, astronaut Woody Spring gave the award to nine David Clark workers. Still, Miss Mahassel, a 50-year David Clark employee who trains workers in the stitching department, was shocked when she received her pin in November. It's so rewarding to work on this.