Single Father and Flight Instructor Awarded $2,500 Sporty's Scholarship

Minnesotan is pursuing multiengine ratings essential for his long-term goal of piloting medical flights.

Meg Godlewski

Friday, December 12, 2025 at 01:01 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Meg Godlewski

Sporty’s scholarship winner Gabriel Kesler [Credit: Sporty’s Pilot Shop].

Key Takeaways:

Gabriel Kesler, a single father and newly certified flight instructor from Minnesota, has been awarded the Sporty’s Pilot Shop $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship.
Kesler plans to utilize the scholarship to obtain his multiengine and multiengine instructor ratings, which are crucial for his career goal of piloting medical flights.
After a career in healthcare, Kesler transitioned to aviation in 2023, earning multiple certifications and becoming an instructor, leveraging Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership throughout his training.
This scholarship is part of an annual program that awards three $2,500 scholarships to Sporty’s Pilot Training+ members, with Kesler being the 22nd recipient.

See a mistake? Contact us.

One of the most challenging aspects of pursuing a career in aviation is balancing the cost of training with family responsibilities. That task just became a little bit easier for Gabriel Kesler, the latest recipient of the Sporty’s Pilot Shop $2,500 Pilot Training+ Scholarship.

Kesler, who resides in Minnesota, is a newly certified flight instructor and single father of two little sons. He plans to use the scholarship to obtain his multiengine and multiengine instructor ratings.