Three receive Burton scholarships

SALINA, Kansas — The Connor Burton Aviation Foundation recently awarded three scholarships to students in the professional pilot program at Kansas State University Salina

The students were awarded $10,000 scholarships, which are split between their junior and senior years, to help pay for flying time or books and tuition, enabling them to earn their flight certificates more quickly, according to university officials. The recipients are Patrick McElligott, Junction City; Benjamin Taylor, Wichita; and Shane Richardson, Albuquerque, N.M.

“Being selected as a Burton Scholar is going to help me finish my commercial rating and start on my CFI, getting me closer to that dream job,” Richardson said.

The scholarship, set up to honor Connor Burton and his passion for aviation, provides students financial support while nurturing their dreams of an aviation career. In turn, this scholarship helps K-State Salina to build a premier program for its students, university officials said.

“The Burton Aviation Foundation made it possible for me to get my private and instrument. I’m up to my commercial instrument rating, and being a Burton Scholar will help me finish my multiengine rating and start working on my CFI,” said McElligott, who makes the drive from Junction City every day for K-State Salina’s pilot program.

“The financial need is always looming in the background and being a Burton Scholar helps take that pressure off so I can focus on studying and flying,” Taylor said. “I hope to be able to give other students that same kind of help in the future.”

For more information: BurtonAviationFoundation.org