Greetings,
We had another great turnout for the 2023 APA Scholarship cycle with forty-one applications submitted. While most of the applicants are seeking careers as professional pilots, we are now consistently seeing applications from students pursuing careers in aviation maintenance and air traffic control. This is encouraging, but from what I read we have a lot of ground to make up in these areas to keep our aviation system healthy.
As is normally the case, the scholarship committee put in considerable effort throughout November and December to review the applications and make final award recommendations. In the end analysis, the committee selected ten students to receive $3,000 scholarships. Here’s a quick overview of the 2023 scholarship winners – we will be publishing a more in-depth look at each of them in upcoming editions of the newsletter:
v Max Chinnah – Max is a member of the Army National Guard 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment and is currently attending the Chandler-Gilbert Community College/University of North Dakota (CGCC/UND) flight training program with a goal of becoming a professional pilot.
v Frederic Hewett – Frederic is currently an advanced ground instructor at AeroGuard Flight Training Center. He is pursuing a career as a professional CFI and aviation educator. Frederic is a repeat scholarship recipient receiving his first APA scholarship in 2021.
v Cintia Cantor Navas – Cintia is also attending the CGCC/UND flight training program with the objective of becoming a professional pilot. She is a US Marine Corps veteran and former air traffic controller. Cintia is also a repeat scholarship recipient receiving her first APA scholarship in 2022.
v Aedin Nelson – Aiden is currently attending the East Valley Institute of Techncilogy (EVIT) and is planning to attend the Aviation Maintenance Technology program at CGCC to earn her Airframe & Powerplant certification.
v India Davis-Wiley – India is currently attending the North High School International Baccalaureate Program and is looking to pursue a career as a professional pilot. She will use the APA scholarship to complete her PPL prior to enrolling at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott.
v Jaqueline Smale – Jaqueline is currently attending the Fly Goodyear Part 141 program to obtain her PPL, CFII and multiengine ratings. She intends to pursue a career as a fixed-wing air ambulance pilot.
v Austin Lockridge – Austin is enrolled in the University of North Dakota flight training program with the objective of becoming a professional CFI.
v Bethany Flora – Bethany is an EVIT graduate and is attending the CGCC/UND flight training program. Her career objective is to become a professional pilot specializing in aerial firefighting.
v Blake Klenner – Blake is a US Marine Corps veteran and former F-35 crew chief. He is attending the CGCC/UND flight training program with the objective of becoming a professional pilot for the airlines.
v Skyler Mann – Skyler is an Air Force veteran and is CGCC/UND flight training program with the objective of becoming a professional pilot.
As you know, the APA Scholarship program is an important part of our mission and is only made possible through your donations. Toward that end, I wanted to give you some details on a special donation that APA received from the family of Ron Warner, Army veteran and former Western/Delta Airlines pilot, who recently passed away.
Ron started his aviation career as a mechanic with Western Airlines before enlisting in the Army and attending flight school in Mineral Springs, TX. Ron served in Vietnam where he was a PIC on both the CH-47 Chinook and UH-1 Huey. After serving as an Instrument Instructor at Ft. Campbell, KY, Ron went back to work at Western Airlines which later merged with Delta. Ron eventually became a Pilot Training Instructor with Delta and qualified on the Boeing 727, 737-800, 767 and 777.
Ron also had a long career with the Army National Guard flying both the Chinook and Huey. After retiring from the Guard, Ron was called back to active duty serve in Afghanistan as a mentor for new pilots in the Afghan Air Corps. He received the Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan.
He was also a founding member of the Army Aviation Heritage Foundation (AAHF) and flew as PIC for both Hueys and Cobra’s at airshows and other events. I’m sure many of you have seen the beautiful AAHF AH-1 Cobra flying at Falcon Field when it was based in Arizona.
We’re honored to pay tribute to Ron and his accomplishments by dedicating the Warner family donation to our top scoring military/veteran recipient, Max Chinnah. It’s very appropriate since Max happens to be an Army National Guard member assigned to an aviation unit flying the CH-47 and UH-72 Lakota.
The aviation industry has continued to rebound from the pandemic, and this is reflected in the number of applications that APA receives for the scholarship program. It is always encouraging to see the drive and commitment of the applicants in pursuing aviation careers.
Thank you again for your commitment to helping APA fulfill this key part of our mission.
Chris