Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue
FREDERICK, MD – More than 120 high school students and teachers, primary student pilots, and pilots working toward advanced certificates and ratings, have been awarded scholarships totaling more than $1.1 million through the AOPA Foundation, thanks to generous donations from the Ray Foundation and the pilot community.
Scholarships funded by the Ray Foundation went to 80 high school students and 20 high school aviation teachers, who will each receive $10,000 for training toward their private pilot certificate. Generous donations to the AOPA Foundation from the pilot community funded an additional 17 primary flight training scholarships and seven advanced rating scholarships of varying amounts.
The scholarships, which are available exclusively to AOPA members, are part of the AOPA You Can Fly program, a collection of initiatives to build a larger, more vibrant pilot community.
The primary flight training scholarships were open to members at least 16 years of age and range from $2,500 to $7,500 for training toward the private, sport, or recreational pilot certificate. Advanced rating scholarships range from $3,000 to $10,000 and can be applied toward the instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, certificated flight instructor and instrument instructor certificates, and multiengine instructor certificate (www.aopa.org).
