Well, that’s the end. This is the final installment of the Ray Scholar Stories Series. We have truly enjoyed sharing these remarkable stories over the last year and half from these inspiring young pilots. This last group of 6 are no less moving than the other dozens of stories we have shared. We hope you enjoyed reading these stories as much as we loved sharing them. Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Kian Gackle
From my earliest memories, I have been mesmerized by and infatuated with all things aviation. It all started when I was just a little kid and exposed to all kinds of airplanes and jets because of my dad‘s military service. As a 32-year veteran of the Marine Corps, he picked just the right time to get assigned to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. I would often go on base with my dad to visit the naval aviation museum, and then watch the Blue Angels practice. I watch them do unimaginable maneuvers during their summer show at Pensacola Beach. Later I got to hear the sound of freedom nearly every day when we lived on the base at Marine Corps Air Station, Iwakuni, Japan. We watched aircraft takeoff and land, went to annual airshows, and I even got to fly to Okinawa Anna Marie KC 130 as a young kid. As my parents needed me to be entertained, they set me in front of the television with an F/A-18 promotional video on continuous loop; I always imagined I was the one flying.
The Ray Aviation Scholarship is a big deal. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve had aspirations of becoming a career pilot. Before receiving the scholarship, I was working two jobs, and taking as many shifts as I could to ensure this dream got off the ground. In other words, I had the determination to become a pilot, but not the money. I was told at my local airport by my instructor about this scholarship and immediately applied. The scholarship accelerated the timeline to earning my private pilot’s license and brought me assurance that I can achieve my goals. My first flight was April 3rd, 2022; first solo was June 27th, 2022. I received my private pilot certificate on October 4th, 2022. I was also lucky enough to receive a headset for flying, a very gracious gift from Lightspeed to help me along the way.
Because of this scholarship I was able to focus on flying and studying, instead of working double shifts and worrying if I’ll have money for my next flight. The scholarship has also been a huge deal because it facilitated connections and a network of mentors I would have otherwise never known. I am a firm believer that the people I’ve met through the journey of this scholarship award will have a major impact in my life, and in steering me on a path that ensures my future success in an aviation career.
Since being awarded the scholarship, I have contributed many hours volunteering for EAA. The volunteer opportunities have also opened up new doors that will further enable me to become a great ambassador for EAA and the aviation profession. I am so grateful to the Ray Foundation and what it represents. I’ve benefited through the funds it provides and the relationships it has helped to foster. But perhaps most significantly, through the scholarship award process and my pilot training progression, I’ve developed the confidence, self-discipline, and personal responsibility to make it in this huge world of aviation.
Sweta Alla
I was sitting in a Civil Air Patrol plane when I first knew I would become a pilot. I have always been interested in aviation, but actually experiencing flight in a small aircraft, being able to move the controls and view the effect it had on the plane, sold me on the path. That orientation flight through Civil Air Patrol was EAA Young Eagle affiliated. This meant that I was connected to my local EAA chapter and provided the Sporty’s ground school. I flew through the ground school and met Penny Bowman, one of the Young Eagle coordinators for EAA 106. She quickly became a mentor and motivated me to apply to be a Ray Aviation Scholar. She mentored me through my license and continues as a close contact, often writing my letters of recommendation and sending me updates from the world of aviation. I cannot thank her enough for how much she has helped me. Now that I have my license, I fly here and there, always on the scour for another scholarship to fully launch into training for my next goal. I have added on a high-performance rating and am working towards flying for Civil Air Patrol. One piece of advice I have for anyone looking to follow in my footsteps is to be assertive. Flying is expensive, even if you get a scholarship. If you feel as though you are not understanding a concept or aren’t working well with a flight instructor or school, vocalize it. The sooner you learn to advocate for yourself, the better off you will be in both aviation and life.
Ian Malicoat
I first became interested in becoming a pilot from flying RC airplanes when I was 10 years old. Some of the members of my RC group were private pilots and shared their stories. The next year, I went to an aviation summer program to learn more about being a pilot. There, I flew a Cessna 172 for the first time. At age 11, I decided that I wanted to become a pilot.
I applied for multiple scholarships to help me achieve my goal of becoming a pilot. Eventually, my local EAA chapter received their first Ray Scholarship and many of the members encouraged me to apply for it. I applied and to my surprise, was awarded the first Ray Scholarship in my chapter. My EAA chapter encouraged and supported me through my entire training and continue to do so as I begin the nest steps.
Next fall, I will begin taking classes at Vincennes University’s Aviation Technology Center. There, I plan to make connections, earn my instrument rating, commercial license and accomplish my goal of becoming a flight instructor. After I graduate, I will enter the aviation industry as a CFI which will be a fun and unique challenge. My advice for those who are interested in following in my footsteps is to be persistent and never give up. I decided that I would be a pilot when I was 11 years old and followed though. Anyone can become a pilot if they decide to commit to it.
Jeremiah Pinch
It all started with my grandpa who introduced me to aviation at a very young age by reading aviation books with me or playing with model airplanes. He flew powered parachutes in his free time which also seeing him do that fueled my interest in becoming a pilot. The only person who has really inspired would again be my grandpa as he’s the only other person in my family who has an interest in aviation as well. My current plans are to get my CFI or a low time job and hopefully get to the required time to go fly for NetJets or a part 135 company. My advice for someone who wants to take the path of becoming a pilot is that you have to be prepared to buckle down and put in a lot of hard work but in the end, it will be one of the greatest achievements in your life!
Sydney Krause
First of all, I would like to thank Lightspeed and the EAA for making this opportunity possible and for the gift of the Ray Aviation Scholarship. I first became interested in becoming a pilot on commercial flights when I was a kid, when I more looked forward to the flight than the actual trip. It wasn’t until a family friend took my dad and I for a flight that I realized I wanted to start training myself. So many people inspired me to be a Ray Scholar. Most of all I would like to thank my parents, as well as my CFI at the time, Adam, who pushed me to apply. I wouldn’t be where I am today without his mentorship. After I complete my Private Pilot’s License at the end of this upcoming month, I may begin Instrument training and then possibly further training at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where I hope to go. However, I will most likely keep aviation as a passion rather than I career since I plan on majoring in Astrophysics while I’m there. Anyone interested in following in my footsteps, all I can say is go for it. Chase your dreams and don’t let anyone tear you down or say you can’t do it and take every opportunity (apply for the Ray Aviation Scholarship). You are capable of what you put your mind to and thank you to Galt Airport and EAA chapter 932 for showing me just that, and a final thank you again to Lightspeed for the generosity and the incredible headset and thank you to the Ray Aviation Scholarship for making this possible.
Jack Shea
I became interested in becoming a pilot as a toddler when my parents would take me to various General Aviation airports, and we would watch planes for hours. Ever since then, I could not wait until I was old enough to be able to fly. I was inspired to become a Ray Scholar after attending EAA Oshkosh in 2021 and learning about the program. I am earning my PPL in January of this year and since then I have taken many friends and family flying with me. I am now a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy and just completed basic training. I hope to fly fighters after graduation. If I had to give advice to another Ray Scholar, I would say to have fun during training, don’t just complete the requirements.
Congratulations to all of these pilots and Blue Skies!
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