Phillips 66 Aviation Honors Minnesota Couple For Involvement In EAA Young Eagles

Published in Midwest Flyer – October/November 2020 issue

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Phillips 66® Aviation has presented its 2020 Phillips 66 Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Leadership Award to Dave and Bonnie Jennen of Erhard, Minn. The award, which is typically announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, recognizes outstanding Young Eagles volunteers who have supported the future of aviation by going above and beyond the basic Young Eagles flight.

The Jennens, members of EAA Chapter 1174 in Fergus Falls, Minn., regularly fly children from several schools in western Minnesota and the eastern Dakotas, totaling 500 – 600 Young Eagles flights per year. Dave Jennen is the volunteer pilot, while Bonnie Jennen helps coordinate the logistics. Despite being in a rural area, their chapter is known for conducting a great number of Young Eagles flights in the state. Dave Jennen has personally flown over 1,100 Young Eagles, since the early 2000s.

“Through my work in the sheriff’s department, I met so many kids that didn’t have access to these kinds of experiences,” said Jennen. “We saw an opportunity to work directly with area schools to coordinate Young Eagles flights for their students. For me, it’s about boosting the kids’ confidence, exciting them, and motivating them to stay engaged in school, even giving them something to study towards.”

Not only do the Jennens run a successful Young Eagles program, but Dave Jennen goes the extra mile to mentor the students. He visits each classroom prior to the students taking their Young Eagles flight and educates them about flying, and the importance of choosing a positive attitude, setting their own path and conquering goals. He also serves as a mentor to young adults who express an interest in flight training.

For more than 25 years, Phillips 66® Aviation has proudly sponsored EAA Young Eagles.

This entry was posted in All Headlines, Awards & Recognitions, EAA & AirVenture, Headlines, Headlines, October/November 2020 and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.