The Museum of Flight, in Seattle, WA, awarded $276,000 in scholarships to 16 Washington students for post-secondary education and flight training during a ceremony at the Museum on May 14. The scholarships are awarded annually to outstanding students who have participated in The Museum of Flight’s education programs or are enrolled at Raisbeck Aviation High School. This year’s recipients were selected from 106 applicants representing 31 school districts. The students represent a broad range of interests and career ambitions within aviation and space, including goals of becoming airline or military pilots, aerospace engineers and astronauts. The awards ceremony was emceed by the Museum’s Vice President of Education, Dr. Dana Riley Black, and included remarks from Museum Board Chair Kent Ramsey. “The Museum’s continuum of education programs is designed to guide students through inspiration, exploration and preparation in aviation and space,” said Dr. Black. “These annual scholarships create a unique bridge between the Museum’s programs and students’ next steps in education and careers. The post-secondary STEM scholarships support high school seniors pursuing college, university or trade school studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, while the flight training scholarships help students earn their private pilot license — an important milestone for anyone aspiring to become a professional pilot or aviation industry leader. We are proud to see past recipients now working as commercial pilots and aerospace professionals.” The 16 scholarship recipients represent 10 school districts. Of the recipients, 56 percent identified as male and 44 percent as female, while 50 percent reported eligibility for government assistance. Detailed demographic data is available upon request.
THE AWARDS
- One Frank “Sam” and Betty Houston Post-Secondary Scholarship valued at up to $120,000 toward a degree related to aviation or aerospace.
- Five Frank “Sam” and Betty Houston Flight Training Scholarships valued at $14,000 each for flight instruction through the Single-Engine Land certification level.
- One Alaska Airlines Flight Training Scholarship valued at up to $14,000 for flight instruction through the Single-Engine Land certification level.
- Three Benjamin L. Ellison Future Pilot Scholarships valued at up to $14,000 each for flight instruction through the Single-Engine Land certification level.
- One Aeronautical Science Pathway Scholarship valued at up to $5,000 toward flight training and/or post-secondary studies at an accredited college, university, technical school or other institution of higher education.
- One Stephen and Hazel Eastman Memorial Endowed Post-Secondary Scholarship valued at $5,000 to offset post-secondary educational expenses.
- One Stuart Knopp Memorial Scholarship valued at $5,000 to offset post-secondary educational expenses.
- One Jim and Sue Johnson Post-Secondary STEM Education Scholarship valued at $5,000 to offset post-secondary educational expenses.
- Two Reba Gilman Endowed Post-Secondary Scholarships valued at $5,000 each to offset college expenses.
Education Programming at The Museum of Flight
Education programs at The Museum of Flight leverage the Museum’s collections, staff, and facilities to provide aviation- and space-focused educational experiences and career pathways designed to foster inspiration, exploration, and preparation. The Museum’s wide-ranging education programs capture the excitement of the Museum experience while bringing aerospace and STEM learning opportunities directly to students wherever they are. For more information about the Museum of Flight, visit www.museumofflight.org
