As with so many other things this year, the introduction of the winners of the Cascade Warbirds 2020 scholarships was delayed by the difficulties of COVID-19.
“But the students’ progress certainly was not,” said officials with the Puget Sound, Washington-based organization. “All four have completed the ground school requirements leading to a private pilot certificate.”
Scholarship winners include:
- Candace Do, from Bellevue, a 2020 graduate of Newport High School. She is also a Running Start student at Bellevue Community College.
- Inayah Farooqi, from Redmond, a senior in The Cambridge Program at Juanita High School. With aspirations to become a professional pilot, she has been considering joining the US Air Force.
- Harrison Pulido, from Lynnwood, a senior at Bothell High School. He hopes to become a commercial pilot, as well as an aerospace engineer.
- While working full time to fund his college education, Auburn resident Riley Brux became the final scholarship winner to complete his ground school training.
Cascade Warbirds has teamed with several flight schools in the Puget Sound area to provide the scholarship recipients with tuition, books and supplies, and two introductory instructional flights.
The scholarship is available for students between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of award. It is valued at $1,100 and several awards are made each year. Successful completion of this private pilot ground school will qualify the student to take the FAA private pilot knowledge test.
Recognizing the cost of the flight training required for a pilot’s certificate, 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.
The grant was awarded to Pulido, who plans to pursue his flight training at Snohomish Flying Service at Harvey Field.
Students interested in applying for the 2021 scholarships can find out more at CascadeWarbirds.org/Scholarship.htm.
Cascade Warbirds is Squadron #2 of EAA Warbirds of America. It is the largest squadron with more than 250 members. Its mission is to promote and encourage the flying, preservation, and display of warbird aircraft, honor veterans, and engage in aviation education.