Deserving LGBTQ+ Members Win Major Scholarship Awards

NGPA, The Worldwide LGBT Aviation Community, announces the winners of their 2020 Scholarships. In the 22nd year of offerings, NGPA saw a record number of applications which signifies the increased need for financial support for flight education amid the current global pandemic. NGPA has long prided itself in its scholarship program which helps make aviation dreams come true for aspiring aviators.

“In a year like we are living in, there is even more pride in the ability to continue to offer the financial support needed for our members to continue their lofty dreams.” said NGPA President Brian Gambino.

NGPA’s scholarships are open to all members of the organization who demonstrate a passion for aviation and have dedicated their time in support of the LGBTQ community. Sexual orientation and gender expression are not considered as a basis for awarding scholarships in order to promote the values of inclusiveness and equality held by the NGPA. Steven Tustin, NGPA’s Chair of the Board of Directors said, “We are grateful to be able to offer these scholarships that show our members’ strong commitment to improving the representation of LGBTQ+ people in aviation which also includes our allies.”

The 2020 NGPA Scholarship winners are:

• United Airlines Flight Training, $5,000: Stephan Jansen Van Vuuren, Brandon Stripling
• Alaska Airlines and K&S Aviation 737 Type Rating: Olivia Cole-Encinas
• American Airlines Advanced Flight Training, $5,000: Gwendoline Dunlop, Chelsea Montgomery, Sam Schino
• American Airlines Private Pilot, $5,000: David Nyambura
• Buttgenbach Foundation Private Pilot, $10,000: Julie Bartleson
• Coradine Aviation Flight Instructor, $5,000: Derek MacPherson
• Envoy Air Advanced Flight Training, $5,000: Hunter Hayes
• Envoy Air Tech Ops, $5,000: David Yanchinov
• FedEx Advanced Flight Training, $5,000: Nicole Lund
• Piedmont Airlines Flight Training, $5,000: Sarah Portuguez
• Flex Air Private Pilot License: Cody Kruse
• Flex Air CFI/CFII Course: Jonathan Gonzalez
• NGPA Tailwheel, $1,000: Shannon Gonsalves
• NGPA Seaplane, $2,000: Marin Priola
• NGPA Commercial, $5,000: John Lindsay, Mary Turpin
• NGPA Instrument, $5,000: Jacobi Wright, Katie Christensen
• NGPA Private, $5,000: Adrian Herrera, Zachary Ontiveros
• Steven Moore Advocacy, $6,000: Nicholas Bhardwaj

As an additional benefit to all our scholarship applicants regardless of their outcome, Coradine Aviation, an NGPA Platinum Sponsor, will provide every applicant with a one-year complimentary subscription to their 3-platform (iPhone, iPad and Mac) service.

All scholarship winners will be formally recognized over the course of the next few months via NGPA social media channels and print publications to showcase their aviation journey. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NGPA’s Palm Springs events in February of 2021 will not be occurring in its normal state, thus the official on-stage scholarship awards ceremony is on hold until a later date.

“Our 2020 scholarship winners should be incredibly proud of their accomplishment and will be properly recognized once the world and our organization are able to return to a better state of normalcy” said Gambino.

FMI: www.ngpa.org