{"id":37055,"date":"2026-11-08T16:51:05","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T16:51:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/?p=37055"},"modified":"2026-11-08T16:51:08","modified_gmt":"2026-11-08T16:51:08","slug":"epic-flight-academy-awards-135000-in-scholarships-to-16-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/aviation-education\/epic-flight-academy-awards-135000-in-scholarships-to-16-students\/%20","title":{"rendered":"Epic Flight Academy Awards $135,000 in Scholarships to 16 Students"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epic Flight Academy has announced its <a href=\"https:\/\/epicflightacademy.com\/aviation-scholarship\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/epicflightacademy.com\/aviation-scholarship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 Aviation Scholarship Award<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/unnamed-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-37056\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.799826124755488;width:278px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/unnamed-1.png 819w, https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/unnamed-1-240x300.png 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epic student and staff advocate Phyllis Cunniffe organized the team of judges and said, \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Epic awards one scholarship in memory of <a href=\"https:\/\/epicflightacademy.com\/captain-judy-rice\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/epicflightacademy.com\/captain-judy-rice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Captain Judy Rice<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cEpic students adored \u2018Captain Judy\u2019, as they called her,\u201d said Cunniffe. \u201cShe generously shared her time and knowledge even after classes ended, and she inspired so many. We love giving this scholarship in her memory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to the scholarships, winners receive a plaque and a copy of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0D6BYNHHW\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B0D6BYNHHW\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Captain Rice\u2019s memoir<\/a>: Around the World with Captain Judy Rice: A Pilot\u2019s Memoir. They will begin training at Epic in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following students won scholarships:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Student&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Scholarship Awarded \u2013 Training Location&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hometown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andrew Borgert\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Tucson, AZ\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Henderson, NV<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brayden Hayes \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Addison, TX\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Arlington, TX<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Caden McIntosh\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0   $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic \u2013 New Smyrna Beach, FL\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0            Loxahatchee, FL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christian Manaro\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0   $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Danbury, CT\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Woodbridge, VA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Christopher Clarke\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0   $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Ocala, FL\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Roslyn, NY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jayanne Fejeran\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic \u2013 Erlanger, KY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0       Erlanger, KY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kole Legrand\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0$20,000 Aircraft Mechanic \u2013 New Smyrna Beach\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0          Orlando, FL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mason Mitchell\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $5,000 King Air Nation Foundation \u2013 Provo, UT \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0     Murray, UT<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mateo Latorre\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0$20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot \u2013 New Smyrna Beach \u00a0\u00a0           Acworth, GA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Matthew Hanley\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Provo, UT\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Park City, UT<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nate Williams\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic \u2013 Erlanger, KY\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0    \u00a0Vevay, IN<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nathan Mosquera\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0   $5,000 Pilot \u2013 Tallahassee, FL\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Wellington, FL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quincy Schneider\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0$5,000 Pilot \u2013 Jacksonville, FL\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Winesburg, OH<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rachit Anand\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0$5,000 Pilot \u2013 Tuscaloosa, AL\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cumming, GA<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Taj Hester\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0$5,000 Pilot \u2013 Englewood, CO\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aurora, CO<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tristan Williams\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $5,000 Pilot \u2013 New Smyrna Beach, FL\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0     Coconut Creek, FL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[98,160,30,115],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aviation-education","category-flight-training","category-florida","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37055","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=37055"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37055\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37057,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37055\/revisions\/37057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}