Epic Flight Academy has announced its 2026 Aviation Scholarship Award winners, awarding a total of $135,000 in scholarships to 16 high school students. Epic awarded both pilot and aircraft mechanic scholarships across campuses. King Air Nation Foundation also contributed a $5,000 pilot scholarship.
Epic student and staff advocate Phyllis Cunniffe organized the team of judges and said, “The judges were impressed with the quality of submissions, which came from 20 states. More than 100 students applied, so the team put in a lot of work, which we appreciate.”
Epic awards one scholarship in memory of Captain Judy Rice, a former Epic flight instructor who taught private pilot ground school. This scholarship is for flight training in the amount of $20,000. Mateo Latorre of Georgia received this award.
“Epic students adored ‘Captain Judy’, as they called her,” said Cunniffe. “She generously shared her time and knowledge even after classes ended, and she inspired so many. We love giving this scholarship in her memory.”
In addition to the scholarships, winners receive a plaque and a copy of Captain Rice’s memoir: Around the World with Captain Judy Rice: A Pilot’s Memoir. They will begin training at Epic in 2027.
The following students won scholarships:
Student Scholarship Awarded – Training Location Hometown
Andrew Borgert $5,000 Pilot – Tucson, AZ Henderson, NV
Brayden Hayes $5,000 Pilot – Addison, TX Arlington, TX
Caden McIntosh $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic – New Smyrna Beach, FL Loxahatchee, FL
Christian Manaro $5,000 Pilot – Danbury, CT Woodbridge, VA
Christopher Clarke $5,000 Pilot – Ocala, FL Roslyn, NY
Jayanne Fejeran $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic – Erlanger, KY Erlanger, KY
Kole Legrand $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic – New Smyrna Beach Orlando, FL
Mason Mitchell $5,000 King Air Nation Foundation – Provo, UT Murray, UT
Mateo Latorre $20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot – New Smyrna Beach Acworth, GA
Matthew Hanley $5,000 Pilot – Provo, UT Park City, UT
Nate Williams $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic – Erlanger, KY Vevay, IN
Nathan Mosquera $5,000 Pilot – Tallahassee, FL Wellington, FL
Quincy Schneider $5,000 Pilot – Jacksonville, FL Winesburg, OH
Rachit Anand $5,000 Pilot – Tuscaloosa, AL Cumming, GA
Taj Hester $5,000 Pilot – Englewood, CO Aurora, CO
Tristan Williams $5,000 Pilot – New Smyrna Beach, FL Coconut Creek, FL
Epic Flight Academy was founded in 1999. It is the largest FAA Part 141 flight school in the U.S. and also offers Part 147 aircraft mechanic training in Florida and Kentucky. Epic has trained pilots from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. In 2027, Epic will continue its scholarship awards for all campus.
