Greetings,
As you probably saw in last month’s newsletter, the APA team had a great time talking with our members at the recent AOPA Fly-In/Buckeye Air Fair and the Cactus Fly-In. We also had the pleasure of meeting with some of our recent scholarship recipients to get an update on their journey towards their aviation careers. I’m happy to report that they are working hard and making great progress. It’s always encouraging to see how the APA Scholarship program helps these students achieve their career goals. Thank you for your continued commitment and support for this important part of APA’s mission.
We’ll also continue to introduce you to our 2023 scholarship recipients in this month’s installment of the Scholarship Corner.
India Davis-Wiley
When asked what I want to do when I grow up, I often reflect on the road well-traveled that includes a feeling of euphoria when I soar in the clouds. Over the past four years, and despite a host of other experiences, I’ve found my way. I am resolute about a career in aviation, and at this time believe it will be as a commercial airline transport pilot serving as a vehicle for carriage for those who need it and for those who, like me, love to travel. The sun warms the earth when it rises and flying fills my soul when I take to the skies, so I plan to fly! I am currently pursuing my private pilot’s license and understand that the road ahead is a long one because I will also need my commercial license, instrument rating, and Airline Transport Pilot certificate.
Thankfully, I’ve been named a 2024 APA scholarship recipient, and that money is allowing me to pay for flight instruction while I finish my junior year of high school. Thank you again to the APA and its members for making this possible for me. I promise you that I will pursue it with the same vigor that has led to my academic success.
Skyler Mann
Since I was young, I have had a want to become a pilot, but also try my hand at different things in aviation. I have been fortunate enough to work a variety of jobs in aviation via the Air Force and civilian side. My goals now are to fulfill that 'want' I had and become a professional pilot and make a career of flying. My short term goals are to finish my commercial pilots license, multi engine endorsement, and CFI with the University of North Dakota via Chandler Gilbert Community College in the Airway Science program (My private and instrument rating were received respectively with them as well). My intermediate goal is to build up flight time by instructing and mentoring the next generation of up and coming aviation enthusiasts (like myself) and assisting them in pursuing their own aviation goals. My long term goal and hope is to eventually get on as a pilot at FedEx Express.
With the help of the Arizona Pilots Association scholarship, I will be able to keep pursuing my short term goals with UND and CGCC which will help launch me into my intermediate and long term goals. As we know aviation is not a cheap business to be in and neither is learning how to fly. This scholarship will help greatly cover a portion of these expenses and allow me to focus more on my flying and education goals at hand. I am appreciative of the Arizona Pilots Association for this opportunity to be a part of this scholarship!
Frederic Hewett
Frederic Hewett is a proud San Diego native who began his career in nonprofit organizations and linguistics. He merged these passions with aviation education in 2016 when he focused on improving radio communications for international student pilots at Gillespie Field (KSEE). In 2019, he came to AeroGuard at Deer Valley (KDVT) to specialize in Aviation English instruction for pilots from China, Korea, and various other countries. Frederic seeks to obtain his CFI/CFII credentials to work more closely with students in the cockpit and obtain better insights and resources to deliver even more effective education to all pilots, with an emphasis on ICAO standard communication proficiency.
The APA Youth Scholarship has been of enormous value to helping Frederic work towards a career in aviation education. Flight training is very expensive, and Frederic balanced family life and various side jobs while paying for flight lessons out of pocket. The two APA scholarships helped provide him latitude to focus intensively on completing his instrument rating in Las Vegas in 2022 and now an accelerated CFI course in Minnesota in 2024.
Thank you again for your support in helping APA build the next generation of Arizona aviation professionals.
Chris