Sitting in a circle of mismatched chairs in a hangar on the Hagerstown Regional Airport in Maryland, the members of EAA Chapter 36 welcomed me in February 2020 as a pilot recently relocated to the area—and they introduced Aidan Bedwell, the chapter’s second winner of a $10,000 James Ray Foundation scholarship.
Ray Foundation Propels New Pilots into Aviation
Key Takeaways:
- The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund, supported by the James Ray Foundation, provides $10,000 scholarships to young individuals (ages 15-19) to help them obtain their private pilot certificates.
- The program has awarded over $1 million annually (e.g., $1.2 million in 2020 and 2021) and has successfully helped 133 of its 276 recipients earn their pilot certificates over three years.
- Local EAA chapters play a crucial role by nominating candidates, often based on their involvement, and can qualify for additional matching scholarship funds after successfully mentoring a Ray Scholar.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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