![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Young-Eagle-award.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\u201cI\u2019m honored that someone took the time to nominate me and humbled that people have noticed my enthusiasm for Young Eagles,\u201d said Grzincich. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine a life without Young Eagles \u2013 it\u2019s what I look forward to most each month. Seeing a 12-year-old at the controls, realizing, \u2018I\u2019m flying an airplane!\u2019 \u2013 that\u2019s why we do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMichael Grzincich\u2019s dedication to creating meaningful, hands-on aviation experiences is inspiring a love of flight in the next generation,\u201d said Ronald Sanchez, General Manager, Aviation, Phillips 66. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to honor Michael with this award for his extraordinary leadership, passion, selfless service, and for opening doors and creating unforgettable opportunities for youth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From First Flight to Lifelong Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Grzincich\u2019s aviation journey began as a child when his grandfather, a private pilot, took him on his first flight. Then, at 24, he obtained his private pilot\u2019s license. After a 15-year break, during which he raised a family and built a business with his wife, Stacy, Grzincich returned to aviation and the cockpit at his son\u2019s request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a full-circle moment, Michael Grzincich tracked down and repurchased the same airplane once owned by his grandfather, complete with the original logbooks and even the hand-built ladder bearing its tail number. \u201cThat plane is part of our family story,\u201d said Grzincich. \u201cNow it\u2019s part of hundreds of kids\u2019 futures. My grandfather inspired me to fly, and now I get to pass this passion of flight on to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Michael has since flown multiple generations of his family, including his sons, uncles, grandchildren, and grandmother, in the same aircraft, paying tribute to the man who first inspired his dreams of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Giving Back Through Aviation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n During the COVID-19 pandemic, Grzincich flew smoke circles over nursing homes, including the one where his stepfather lived, as a way to lift spirits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d ask myself, \u2018How can I use my airplane to make other people smile?\u2019 That\u2019s what it\u2019s all about,\u201d Michael recalled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since 2016, Grzincich has helped the EAA Chapter 237 consistently fly 40-50 Young Eagles per month. He also organizes special flights for school groups unable to attend regular events. As a chapter board member, he supports aircraft restoration efforts, including work on the Berlin Express B-25 Bomber, and applies his IT expertise to improve chapter operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspiring Future Aviators<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When he\u2019s not flying, Grzincich teaches information technology at a local community college, where he often introduces students from underrepresented communities to aviation. Many bring siblings or children to Young Eagles events, discovering opportunities they hadn\u2019t imagined before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, Grzincich hopes to expand his impact by mentoring even more aspiring pilots and building partnerships that introduce aviation to students who may not otherwise have access. With plans to grow his chapter\u2019s outreach and continue restoring historic aircraft, Michael remains committed to preserving aviation\u2019s past while shaping its future\u2014one smile at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For 30 years, Phillips 66\u00ae Aviation<\/a> has sponsored EAA Young Eagles and supported outstanding volunteers. Phillips 66 continues to provide a $1-per-gallon avgas rebate to all Young Eagles volunteer pilots, helping the Young Eagles program<\/a> with even more flights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Phillips 66\u00ae Aviation presented the 2025 Phillips 66\u00ae Aviation Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Young Eagles Leadership Award to Michael Grzincich. As a Young Eagles Coordinator of EAA Chapter 237 in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, Michael has introduced nearly 1,100 youth to the joy of flight, making him one of Minnesota\u2019s most dedicated aviation mentors. \u201cI\u2019m honored […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,46,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32338","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation-education","category-minnesota","category-national-news"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32338","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32338"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32338\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32346,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32338\/revisions\/32346"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32338"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32338"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32338"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Michael-Grzincich-Flying-Plane-Photo-Credit-Michael-Grzincich-edit-2.jpg\")
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