SEATTLE — The Museum of Flight awarded $276,000 in scholarships to 16 Washington students for post-secondary education and flight training during a ceremony held at the museum on May 9, 2024.
The scholarships are awarded each year to students who have participated in The Museum of Flight’s education programs or are enrolled in Raisbeck Aviation High School, according to museum officials.
“The museum’s education programs are designed to guide students’ inspiration, exploration, and preparation of space and aviation topics. These annual scholarships create a unique bridge from the museum’s programs to the students’ next steps in their education and careers,” said Dr. Dana Riley Black, the museum’s vice president of education. “The post-secondary STEM education scholarships are opportunities for high school seniors planning to attend a college, university or trade school in science, technology, engineering or mathematics-related fields, and the flight training scholarships provide opportunities for high school students who want to earn their private pilot license, which is an important first milestone for anyone with aspirations to become a professional pilot or aviation industry professional. We are so proud to see that past recipients have since become commercial pilots and aerospace professionals.”
The Scholarship Winners
The winner of the 2024 Frank “Sam” and Betty Houston Post-Secondary STEM Education Scholarship, which grants up to $120,000 towards a degree related to the field of aerospace, was awarded to Thien Thang, a senior at Garfield High School, who plans to attend the University of North Dakota and major in Commercial Aviation. His future career plan is to become a commercial airline pilot.
The winners of the 2024 Frank “Sam” and Betty Houston Flight Training Scholarship, which awards up to $14,000 each toward earning a private pilot certificate are Betül Demir, a senior at Bothell High School; Tanner Beard, a junior at Kennedy Catholic High School; Sam MacCarthy-Grant, a senior at the Center School; Peter Nguyen, a junior at Highline High School; and Ryder Waltmire, a senior at Ballard High School.
The winner of the 2024 Alaska Airlines Flight Training Scholarship, which awards up to $14,000 toward earning a private pilot certificate, is Jonah Simons, a senior at Governor John Rogers High School.
The winners of the 2024 Benjamin L. Ellison Future Pilot Scholarship, which awards up to $14,000 toward earning a private pilot certificate, are Joel Daniel, a junior at Decatur High School; Jordan Jackson West, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School; and Matthew Tiburcio, a senior at Interlake High School.
The winner of the 2024 Aeronautical Science Pathway Scholarship, which awards up to $5,000 toward flight training or post-secondary education, is Zane Johnson, a senior at Tahoma High School.
The winner of the 2024 Stephen and Hazel Eastman Memorial Scholarship, which awards $5,000 towards post-secondary education, is Emilio Robledo, a senior at Todd Beamer High School.
The winner of the 2024 Stuart Knopp Memorial Scholarship, which awards $5,000 towards post-secondary education, is Ian Tarrago, a senior at Roosevelt High School.
The winner of the 2024 Jim and Sue Johnson Post-Secondary STEM Education Scholarship, which awards $5,000 towards STEM-based post-secondary education, is Brendan Lindsay, a senior at North Creek High School.
The winners of the 2024 Reba Gilman Endowed Scholarship, which awards $5,000 towards STEM-based post-secondary education, are Payton Mong, a senior at King’s High School and Stuart Swingruber, a senior at Ridgefield High School.
For more information: MuseumOfFlight.org