The philanthropic arm of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a 501(c)(3) organization known as the AOPA Foundation, has announced the recipients of its 2024 flight training scholarship awards. Ranging from $250 to $14,000, each scholarship will help ease the recipient’s financial burden of flight training, testing, obtaining materials, and furthering their education to reach their aviation goals.
“Aviation is for everyone, but too often we see the financial burden of flight training and education a barrier for entry into our industry,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We are proud to support this passionate group and look forward to cheering them on as they meet their aviation goals.”
More than 100 high school students and teachers received $10,000 scholarships through the AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School initiative. Dozens of others received funds for commercial and instrument flight training, maintenance, primary training, and more.
For the first time, five pilots received a Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training. Named after the former leader of the AOPA Air Safety Institute and former commander and flight leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, this scholarship will help aviators pursue advanced ratings.
The 2024 scholarship recipients are already accessing funds and reaching milestones. Rachel Skirvin, recipient of the Ceci Stratford Flight Training Scholarship, Advanced, used the scholarship to focus on her certificated flight instructor training.
“When the AOPA scholarship came in, it was the most perfect timing. It was able to give me the last tail end of my CFI training in one big push, which was really helpful,” said Skirvin. She’s now working toward her certificated flight instructor-instrument (CFII) qualification and looking forward to continuing to challenge herself in pursuing her aviation goals.
The 2025 AOPA Foundation scholarship program will open for applications September 9.
The You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute are funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of the solution, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate.
