The winners of the HAI’s 2003 Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship awards were announced just prior to HELI-EXPO 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Congratulations to the following individuals: Emanuel Perez, Ryan Libech, Rina Slade, Kirk Beres, and Scott Jones.

In first place was Emanuel Perez who chose Agusta. Perez, of Calistoga, California, has experience with Sparrow Aviation in Redding California, as well as with REACH Air Ambulance of Santa Rosa, California. He received his A&P in May 2000 after graduating from Shasta College with a 3.95 GPA.

In second place was Ryan Libech who selected Bell Helicopter. Libech, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has one and a half years experience with STARS Aviation Canada Inc., where he gained experience on BK-117 helicopters. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA from Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.
 
From left to right: Bill Sanderson and Darlene Piscitello of HAI; Emanuel Perez, first place winner; Ryan Libech, second place winner; and Bob Pierce, Chairman of the Technical Committee. Photo Courtesy of Lagniappe Studio.

In third place was Rina Slade who chose Southern Illinois University. Slade, of Pembroke Pines, Florida, is a sergeant with the Miami Dade Police Department, and supervises four maintenance technicians and four police pilots. She expects to finish the aviation maintenance curriculum at Broward Community College in Spring, 2004.

In fourth place was Kirk Beres who selected MD Helicopters. Beres, of Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, is on the Dean’s List of the Pennsylvania College of Technology and served as an aviation maintenance intern with Bristol Myers Squibb Flight Department in White Plains, New York, where he gained experience on S-76 helicopters and Gulfstream V aircraft. He received his A&P in May of 2002.

In fifth place was Scott Jones who chose Eurocopter. Jones, of Leavenworth, Kansas, graduated in October 2003 from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Kansas City, Missouri with a 4.0 GPA. He has completed his written exams for the FAA Powerplant and FAA Airframe certificate, and has worked on Bell, Enstrom, and Schweizer helicopters.

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