AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship

Scholarship Name:

AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship 

Purpose:

To increase the number of young people who can pursue an interest in aviation, and help them earn an initial pilot certificate. The students will not only gain understanding essential in becoming a pilot, but also acquire many career-ready skills that will help them in whatever career they decide to pursue in the future.

Eligibility:

  • Current high school student, 15-18 years old.
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Parent or guardian approval (under 18 years of age).
  • Students must not have completed their sport, recreational, glider, or private pilot certificate at the time of application.
  • Minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
  • Students should provide contact information for two references – including at least one school official – and submit a signed, notarized affidavit with their application.
  • Scholarship funds can be used to pay for direct flight training expenses including aircraft rental, and ground and flight instruction.
  • Complete solo flight or achieve pilot certificate within one year of receiving the scholarship.

*Employees of AOPA and their immediate family members and household members are not eligible to participate in the AOPA high school flight training scholarship program.

Value:

$5,000 each (20 flight training scholarships to eligible high school students)

Application Submission Process and Completion Date:

A completed application and supporting materials must be submitted on or before May 19, 2017, 5:00 p.m. EDT.  Scholarship winners will be notified by June 21, 2017.

The applicant is responsible for submitting all materials on time.  Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

  1. Complete an online application with written responses.
  2. Upload the following documents:  Your most recent high school transcript including the first semester grades of the 2016-2017 school year.  A Notarized affidavit signed by student and parent (under 18, parent/guardian approval is required).
  3. Supply two names for references.  At least one must be a high school teacher, counselor, coach, or another school official.  References are from people who have been in the supervisory role to you or another adult.  References must not be from anyone related to you, including a guardian.  Your reference will receive an email with a link and they will be able to enter their recommendation for you directly onto the page.
  4. When a recommendation is submitted on your behalf you will receive an email confirmation.  You can also log back-in to the application system to see if your recommendations have been submitted.
  5. Scholarship Funds received by the Applicant must be spent and exhausted on authorized expenses within twelve (12) months of Applicant’s receipt of any Scholarship funds.
  6. Scholarship Funds not spent or exhausted completely within twelve (12) months shall be returned to AOPA.

Selection Process:

It is the applicant’s responsibility to submit a completed application with the required supporting documentation uploaded to AOPA’s online scholarship system.  The application and supporting materials must be received on or before the deadline date of 5:00 p.m. EDT, May 19, 2017.

The decision of the Scholarship Committee is final and not subject to a review process.

Scholarship selections shall be made without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, sexual preference, or disability.

The scholarship awards will be based on the Committee’s scores of the overall quality of the application and the written responses.

Application: 

Application AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship

History/Background:

The AOPA High School Training Scholarship is part of the AOPA High School Aviation initiative, which is working to create and support more high school aviation STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs.  

The High School Flight Training Scholarship Program is made possible by donations to the AOPA Foundation and is intended to increase the number of young people who can pursue an interest in aviation, and help them earn an initial pilot certificate.  The AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarships and the AOPA Flight Training Scholarships have been opening pathways to a life in aviation for individuals while helping to secure general aviation’s future since the two programs made their initial awards in 2016 and 2011 respectively.

Website:

AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship

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