Stimson, Wood Awards Each Provide $2,000 Toward Aviation Education

GAMA has named the winners of two $2,000 aviation scholarships for students excelling in their pursuit of aviation education and careers.

GAMA named Benjamin Harris of Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, New Hampshire, as the winner of the Edward W. Stimpson “Aviation Excellence” Award. Currently working toward his private pilot’s license, Harris will pursue a degree in aviation management with flight program at the Florida Institute of Technology starting in the fall.

The Stimpson award—named for GAMA’s founder and President from 1970 to 1990 and 1992 to 1996—is given to a graduating high school senior who has been accepted at and enrolled in an aviation degree core program at his or her chosen university. GAMA selects the winning student based on academic skills, extracurricular activities, and an essay describing the student’s interest in aviation and his or her career goals.

In addition, GAMA awarded the Dr. Harold S. Wood Award for Excellence to Emma Fox of Westminster College in Salt Lake City, Utah. Named for Wood, the founder and past executive director of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA), the award is given to a university student who is a flight team member at a NIFA member school based on the student’s academic abilities, extracurricular activities, and an essay describing his or her plans to pursue an aviation career.

A freshman with a private pilot rating, Fox is the first female member of the college’s flight team and placed third among female contestants in the 2015 NIFA Region I SAFECON competition. In addition, Fox is Vice President of her local Women in Aviation International (WAI) chapter and helped organize a Girls in Aviation Day last September that attracted more than 200 young women.

“These two young students exemplify a passion for aviation, community service, and learning that should inspire the next generation of aviation leaders,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “We are pleased to recognize their many accomplishments with these scholarships and look forward to their successes in the aviation field in the future.”

(Source: GAMA news release)

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