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

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.

Kesler’s interest in aviation began in childhood when he accompanied his father, who was a Vietnam-era Navy veteran, to airshows where he saw ramps filled with different aircraft, from civilian to military, and was inspired by the precision flying of the Blue Angels.

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He had an interest in military flying and considered a career in aviation, but life took him down a different path. He entered the healthcare industry, becoming a phlebotomist, but the dream of flying never left him. Kesler followed the aviation industry trends and in 2023 decided to pursue a career as a professional pilot. He quit his job in healthcare and became a full-time flight student.

Kesler trained at Accelerated Aviation Instruction at the Owatonna Degner Regional Airport (KOWA) in Minnesota, earning his private, instrument, and commercial certificates using Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership for his ground school. By early 2025, he had earned all of his certifications through CFI and has been enjoying his role as instructor, sharing aviation knowledge with the next generation of pilots.

“Receiving the Sporty’s Pilot Training+ Scholarship means so much to me, as Sporty’s has already been such a major part of my success so far,” Kesler told FLYING. “Not only have I utilized their platform to pass multiple written exams but also to deepen my understanding of maneuvers and other practical applications as well. I appreciate Sporty’s belief in my potential as well as their generous support.”

Kesler embraces his role as instructor, teaching in multiple training environments, including EAA’s Sport Pilot Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he instructs in RV-12s. He also contributes to the Pilot Proficiency Center during AirVenture. An experience builder as well as an educator, he has logged more than 340 hours and is especially drawn to the continual learning that all pilots must do.

“There is always something new to understand,” he said.

A single father raising two boys, ages 8 and 6, Kesler works hard to balance family responsibilities along with his training and instruction. 

“This $2,500 flying award will significantly lessen my financial burden of obtaining my multiengine add-on ratings, qualifications that are key to my short- and long-term career goals in the aviation industry,” he said. “These certifications will not only expand my skill set as a pilot and instructor but will also make me a more competitive candidate for my long-term goal of piloting medical flights.”

About the Scholarship

Sporty’s Pilot Training+ is an all-inclusive membership that unlocks the company’s complete library of award-winning, video-based courses for one annual fee. Membership also includes the opportunity to apply for three $2,500 scholarships awarded annually.

“Our first award in the Pilot Training+ Scholarship program was late 2018,” said Eric Radtke, vice president and chief instructor at Sporty’s Academy Inc. “We award three per year, and this was our 22nd scholarship in total.” 

To learn more about Sporty’s Pilot Training+ membership, visit the company website.