You Can Fly: Aviation scholarships awarded

The scholarships are awarded to current high school students, ages 15 to 18. The students will be able to use the money for direct flight training expenses to pursue their primary pilot certificate and must complete a flight training milestone in their training within a year—either solo or primary pilot certificate.

AOPA received more than 1,300 applications, which included responses to questions about how the recipients were inspired to learn to fly, their current involvement in aviation, and their future plans.

“The winners we selected have demonstrated outstanding passion for aviation through volunteer service in their local aviation communities, have already taken steps toward their future in aviation, and set ambitious goals and aspirations,” said Cindy Hasselbring, director of the AOPA You Can Fly High School Initiative. “We couldn’t be more proud of them and are excited to see how they will make their mark on general aviation.”

The scholarships go to: Matthew Baldwin, 16, of California; Maisie Boren, 15, of North Carolina; Madeline Boudreau,17, of Louisiana; Claudia Downing, 17, of Montana; James Enders, 18, of Ohio; Jacob Fuller, 18, of Arizona; London Holmes, 16, of Washington; Ava Kelley, 15, of Massachusetts; Alex Kimball, 18, of Pennsylvania; Katya Losacker, 17, of North Carolina; Raegan Madoerin, 17, of Texas; Paul Medina, 17, of Maryland; Luka Perle, 17, of Oregon; Elaine Polster, 17, of Texas; Isabella Reyes, 16, of California; Harrison Shapiro, 18, of Illinois; Bryce Tarpey, 16, of Hawaii; Nicholas Taylor, 18, of Kentucky; Luke Weigel, 15, of Texas; Max Welliver, 15, of Washington; Seth Wiersma, 17, of Colorado; and Robert Wilson, 18, of Minnesota.