She's the winner

It all started when we received the name of the winner: Jennifer Hortman of Murrieta, California, a certificated flight instructor who recently earned her airline transport pilot certificate. What made Hortman’s story even more meaningful was that she had recently returned to aviation after a long time away. And she hadn’t just returned, she came back with vigor, earning her ATP certificate and a type rating in a Cessna Citation XL earlier this year, all on her own dime.

Once we confirmed that she was eligible to be our winner, it was time to get to work on our favorite part of the sweepstakes tradition: the surprise.

We wanted to surprise the winner at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, because honestly, what better place is there to give away an airplane? The timing couldn’t have been better either. It just so happened that this year marked Hortman’s 30-year anniversary as an AOPA member.

That gave us the perfect cover story.

I called Hortman just before the show began and told her we were celebrating member milestones at AirVenture this year, and as part of that, we were flying out a select group of members to say thank you. These members would meet AOPA President Darren Pleasance, be interviewed for a short video, and receive their membership pin.

I told her the original 30-year honoree had to cancel at the last minute, and that her membership number was next on our list. We hoped she’d be willing to step in and represent the milestone. It was a bit of a gamble, but to our surprise, she said yes. She even rearranged her schedule and committed to meeting us in Oshkosh the following week.

Once we knew she was coming, a more detailed plan was hatched. The idea was to keep the surprise intact by having Alicia Herron, the other sweepstakes manager and Features Editor, meet with Hortman for a casual membership spotlight interview. It was framed as a chance to talk about her flying background, her time as an AOPA member, and the value she’s found in aviation and her membership over the years.

Hortman arrived at AirVenture, her first time ever at the show, perfectly kitted out in a dress adorned with aircraft, airplane earrings, an airplane necklace, an airplane hair scrunchie, and even airplane socks.

Meanwhile, a crowd began gathering around the sweepstakes aircraft, eager to find out who the lucky winner would be.

As the interview wrapped, Herron brought our still unaware winner over to join the crowd, where Pleasance and I were waiting to kick off the giveaway.

After a short intro from me, Pleasance began reading off clues about the winner, general at first, then gradually more specific. With each detail, Hortman started to put the pieces together. By the end, it was obvious: She was the winner. And the look on her face? Pure shock and joy.

She graciously accepted the keys and then came the moment everyone will remember: She called her husband on speakerphone, right in front of the crowd.

“Hey,” she said. “I’m coming home with an airplane.”

His response?

“What?”

“I won the AOPA Sweepstakes 182.”

“What!? You’re kidding!”

That’s when Pleasance chimed in to confirm that Hortman really had won the AOPA sweepstakes.

It was a perfect ending to a perfect day. After a quick walkaround and dealing with essential paperwork, the new owner of the Sweepstakes 182 spent the evening celebrating with the AOPA team. Hortman flew her prize home to California with her friends sharing the 1,500-mile journey.

We couldn’t have asked for a more deserving winner, or a more heartfelt handoff.

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