Many children love airplanes, and plenty never outgrow this fascination. Majoring in aviation science or a similar field allows students to pursue a career that has the potential to take off.
However, like most college degrees, studying aviation science, aeronautics or aviation management does not usually come cheaply. Searching for scholarships specifically related to an aviation major or the industry as a whole is a great way to cut the soaring cost of college.
[Know what to do before, during and after the scholarship search.]
High school seniors interested in pursuing a degree in avionic management as well as college students already pursuing this degree at an accredited school can apply for the Chuck Peacock Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award from the Aircraft Electronics Association Educational Foundation. Students are required to complete an essay for this award.
The majority of these industry-specific awards are primarily open to students currently enrolled in college and/or pursuing aviation degrees. The National Air Transportation Association, for example, awards the Pioneers of Flight scholarship each year to sophomores or juniors at accredited colleges or universities who are enrolled in an aviation program. The $1,000 scholarship also requires students to have at least a 3.0 GPA to qualify.
Students attending college in Arizona may qualify for the $1,250 Marty Rosness Student Scholarship, awarded on behalf of the Arizona Airports Association. To apply for this award, students must be enrolled in an accredited aviation management program in Arizona and submit a current copy of their college transcripts.
[Learn about the three key differences between regional, national scholarships.]
Currently enrolled aviation students will want to also look into the Dan L. Meisinger, Sr., Learn to Fly Scholarship. Students with a 3.0 GPA are encouraged to apply. Although open to students throughout the U . S . , applicants from Illinois, Kansas or Missouri are given preference for this $2,500 award.
Female students who are members of Women in Aviation International could win a $1,500 United Airlines Tech Ops Scholarship. Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted at an accredited school and seeking a degree in aerospace or aeronautical engineering or aviation maintenance technology. In addition to having a 3.0 GPA or higher, applicants must complete a 500-1,000-word essay to compete for the scholarship.
Aspiring aviation professionals with a private pilot certificate who are also active supporters of the LGBT community will want to check out the National Gay Pilots Association’s scholarships, including several $5,000 awards from major airlines for qualified higher education costs. Each award has different requirements, which may include a specific GPA, letters of recommendation, essays, high school or college transcripts, copies of pilot and medical certificates and pages from the applicant’s pilot logbook. The deadline to apply is Aug. 1, and recipients may also use the awards to pay for advanced flight training.
[Look to parents’ employers for college scholarships.]
The Air Traffic Control Association also offers several financial awards. The Gabriel A. Hartl Scholarship is available to full- or part-time students completing a Federal Aviation Administration-approved air traffic control program.
Students pursuing an aviation-related bachelor’s degree or higher may qualify for the Lawrence C. Fortier Scholarship, while full-time air traffic controllers advancing their skills with a higher education may apply for the Full-Time Employee Student Scholarship. Student pursuing a bachelor’s degree whose parents are air traffic control employees specialist may also qualify for the ATCA’s Buckingham Memorial Scholarship.
The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of licensed female pilots, offers an array of awards to pilots and aviation enthusiasts. There are dozens of city-specific scholarships for local applicants that range from several hundred to several thousand dollars. Application and qualification requirements vary.
Pursuing a degree in aviation may seem financially out of reach. But by seeking out industry-specific scholarships, students can help make their dreams more attainable while avoiding the the debt that can keep their dreams grounded.
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Aviation Scholarships Help College Degrees Take Flight originally appeared on usnews.com
