The Chicago Area Business Aviation Association has presented the first Ken Johnson Scholarship to Lewis University student Michael Indelli, who interned at Chicago Executive Airport.
Johnson, a member of the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association board, passed away unexpectedly in March. As Johnson was a strong proponent of working with students to promote interest in business aviation careers, CABAA created the Ken Johnson Memorial ATC Scholarship.
The first recipient of this $4,000 award is Indelli, a senior at Lewis University majoring in Air Traffic Control Management, with an Aviation Flight Management/Dispatch minor.
A Chicago resident, Indelli said that he had a chance to meet with Johnson when the latter spoke at Lewis University about careers in aviation. Indelli, who recently completed an internship at Chicago Executive Airport, was inspired by Johnson’s comments and sought him out after the event to learn more about those opportunities.
“It’s good to know that I’m representing (Johnson) and CABAA,” said Indelli, adding that he sees aviation as a field that will experience growth in the future. “I want to be a part of that.”
Pam Kavanaugh, a Duty Manager with Signature Flight Support at CEA and a board member of CABAA who serves as the chair for the Scholarship and Mentoring Committee, spoke of Johnson’s passion for working with students. When the program went out to area universities for mentoring, she said, “Ken was always the first to sign up for that.”
As for Indelli, Kavanaugh said CABAA is well represented. “He is focused,” Kavanaugh said. “He already knows what he wants to do and he’s pursuing it.”