Cascade Warbirds, based in Washington state, has named the five winners of the organization’s 2023 scholarships:
- Lauren Hoyt is a National Honor Society student at Bothell High School who is also taking classes at Cascadia College. She is on the cross-country running team and also rides horses competitively. She is from an extended family of very accomplished flyers.
- Shane McConville of Renton is a senior at Kennedy Catholic High School where he has been a three-sport athlete. He plans to attend South Dakota State University in its Aviation Program.
- Patrick McKeehan of Lake Tapps attends Auburn Riverside High School and takes advanced placement classes at Green River Community College. The lacrosse team captain intends to continue at Green River and earn a bachelor’s degree in its aviation program.
- Dylan Michael from Bremerton is senior class president at Klahowya Secondary School. The captain of the golf and tennis teams, he plans to attend Central Washington University in its aviation program and hopes to fly for the Washington State Patrol.
- Frank Pisanti is also from Bremerton and attends Central Kitsap High School. He is active in Civil Air Patrol and many high school aviation activities. He plans to attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
For more than a decade Cascade Warbirds has teamed with several flight schools in the Puget Sound area to provide scholarship recipients with tuition, books, and supplies to complete private pilot ground school, and two introductory instructional flights. Successful completion of the Private Pilot Ground School will qualify a student to take the FAA Private Pilot Written Exam.
This award also includes two instructional flights. The first will occur partway through the ground school, based on the instructor’s recommendation, and the second will occur after the successful completion of the ground school course.
The scholarship, available for students between the ages of 16 and 21, is valued at $1,350.
Recognizing the cost of the flight training required for a pilot’s license, the scholarship program offers an additional $2,500 Continuing Aviation Education Grant to one scholarship recipient who intends to earn their FAA private pilot certificate within the following year. Applicants must complete the ground school course, both introductory flights, and submit an essay by Sept. 30 of the scholarship year. Funds are released to the winner of the best essay in stages as the recipient completes training milestones: $1,000 after completing their first solo flight, $1,000 after completing their long solo cross-country, and $500 after earning the private pilot certificate.
Cascade Warbirds is Squadron #2 of EAA Warbirds of America. With more than 230 members it is the largest squadron in Warbirds of America.