The University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation has received $300,000 from The Ray Foundation, which will be used for scholarships to help 25 U.S. military veterans earn their private pilot certificates, with the intent that the veterans will pursue careers in aviation.
Training will take place at the UND Phoenix Flight Training Center in Mesa, Arizona, beginning as early as February 2022, according to foundation officials.
The scholarships are designed to cover about 80% of the cost of obtaining a private pilot certificate at the UND Aerospace Phoenix Flight Training Center. After completion of the private pilot course, recipients will be eligible to use GI Bill education benefits to continue their studies and pursue advanced flight training certifications, up to and including a Certified Flight Instructor rating, officials added.
The UND Phoenix Flight Training Center is an FAA Certified Part 141 flight school at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (KIWA). UND Phoenix is approved to train veterans and their eligible dependents using VA education benefits in the state of Arizona, preparing them for a career in aviation, foundation officials explained. In partnership with Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC), the UND Phoenix Flight Training Center has offered an associate degree in applied science (AAS) in Airway Science Technology for 26 years.
To be eligible for the new scholarships, applicants must provide:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill Statement of Benefits or GI Bill Certificate of Eligibility with 24 months of benefit remaining
- Confirmation of retirement or separation date prior to Feb 14, 2022
- A first- or second-class medical certificate
- A signed letter of intent to continue training in the CGCC AAS degree program
- Attendance of an in-person or virtual interview as part of the selection process. Interviews will be scheduled as qualified applications are received.
- Ability to relocate to Mesa, Arizona, for approximately 24 months to attend training
To apply, applicants must submit a professional resume, a cover letter, and letters of recommendation online at AirlinePilot.Training/RayFoundation.
Applicants should include in their cover letter career aspirations and goals, reasons for pursuing aviation as a career, any previous aviation experience, and a compelling narrative of why the applicant should be awarded the scholarship.
The application window will remain open until all scholarships have been awarded, officials added.