GAMA Announces Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award Scholarship Recipient

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced they are awarding the 2020 Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award Scholarship to Alexis Spinetta, of Austin, Texas.

“GAMA is proud to support Alexis as she begins her next educational journey. We were inspired by her passion for general aviation and commitment to her studies and community,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “It is encouraging to see such a bright talent focused on shaping the future of aviation.”

Spinetta graduated from Vandergrift High School in Austin, Texas, and will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the fall to major in Aerospace Engineering. She was in the top of her class, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and in the National Honor Society. In addition to her academic achievements, she was captain of the varsity soccer team and recently earned her FAA private pilot certificate.

In her essay as to why she wants to pursue a career in general aviation, Spinetta wrote:

“I foresee a rebirth of general aviation, led by the next generation of innovators who champion new forms of urban mobility. I have big dreams “… I hope to discover, advance, and commercialize ground-breaking innovations that help transform the aviation industry.”

The Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award Scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving high school senior, pursuing studies in aviation. GAMA offers this $2,000 scholarship as part of its commitment to workforce development and advancing careers in general aviation. Scholarship applicants are evaluated on academic achievements, involvement in extra-curricular activities and an essay on their interest in pursuing a career in general aviation. The Scholarship is named in honor of a GAMA founder and past president – Edward W. Stimpson.

For more information about the Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award Scholarship please visit GAMA’s website – gama.aero. 

Kim Stevens

Kim Stevens is the publisher of State Aviation Journal, which he founded in 2009. A longtime commercial-rated pilot, he was introduced to state aviation in 1992 as Director of the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics, later serving as Deputy Division Director for the Arizona Department of Transportation's Aeronautics Division. From 2013 to 2018, he was Director of Communications and Operations for the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in Washington, D.C. Relocating to North Carolina, Kim worked for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport for two years and now concentrates solely on the Journal. Prior to his aviation career, Kim spent a decade in the newspaper and magazine business.