Two Students Receive Scholarships Of $2,500 Each
Airports Council International - North America’s (ACI-NA)
Commissioners’ Committee accepted the Scholarship Review
Committee's recommendation to award scholarships of $2,500 each to
two aviation students, at the ACI-NA Commissioners’ Committee
meeting in San Diego, CA. Recipients include Cameron McGillicuddy,
a student at Western Michigan University’s College of
Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan and Andrew Roybal, a student at
the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
“The Commissioners’ Committee is proud to honor
these students for their academic excellence and leadership,”
said Jim Trout, Chair of ACI-NA’s Commissioners’
Committee and Commissioner of the Flathead Municipal Airport
Authority. “This scholarship program recognizes the
importance of the highly specialized education necessary to fill
the multi-disciplined role of being a professional airport
administrator or airport operator. We felt that these two dedicated
students represent the future of the aviation industry, and the
Committee is confident that they will provide a positive influence
throughout their careers.”
The Commissioners’ Committee Scholarship is designed to
encourage and promote excellence in the educational areas necessary
for effective airport management or operation. The ACI-NA
Commissioners’ Committee has awarded more than 40
scholarships totaling $120,000 to students within the past 18
years.
ACI-NA Commissioners established the Scholarship Fund in October
1993 to recognize students with high academic achievement who are
working toward a career in airport management or airport
operations. The scholarship program recognizes the importance of
the highly specialized education necessary for an individual to
receive to fill the extremely complex and multi-disciplined role of
being a professional airport administrator or airport operator.
To effectively run today’s modern aviation facilities an
airport manager or airport operator must have high levels of
management, operational and accounting skills coupled with some
aviation experience.
Cameron McGillicuddy attends Western Michigan’s College of
Aviation and is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Science in Aviation
Science and Administration, as well as a Minor in Communications.
McGillicuddy interns at Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International
Airport and has helped with the airport’s harmonization
effort as they transferred terminals earlier this year. He has also
volunteered with Air Traffic Controllers at Gerald R. Ford
International Airport. McGillicuddy’s ultimate career goals
include, being in a challenging aviation position where he can make
a difference and remain involved beyond the requirements of a
nine-to-five position.
Andrew Roybal is a student at the University of North Dakota
where he is pursuing a combined B.B.A. / M.B.A. degree in Airport
Management. Roybal aspires to one day manage a major airport and is
barreling full steam ahead towards that goal. He is a native of
Denver, Colorado and is very interested in working at Denver
International Airport, citing its uniqueness in airport size and
ownership structure as a great challenge and opportunity for an
aspiring airport director.