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CPA Announces 2024 Scholarship Winners


The CPA Education Committee is pleased to announce our 2024 Scholarship winners. This year, we saw a dramatic increase in the number of applications from many diverse and talented individuals.

We selected and interviewed 6 applicants for the Wings Over the Rockies scholarship and an additional 12 applicants for the CPA PPL, Emily Howell Warner, and CFI scholarships.

CPA is committed to helping build our pilot community. The vitality of aviation is dependent upon attracting young, diverse, and goal-oriented individuals into our ranks.  We hope you’ll agree that this year’s scholarship winners are all worthy winners that represent the best of our Colorado pilot population! Please join us in congratulating each of them.

Our 2025 scholarship season launches in January. Stay tuned for details on the application process.


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For the WOTR scholarship, we selected Nineveh Delaney, an outstanding young woman who currently attends Fountain Fort Carson High School in Colorado Springs.   Nineveh is ranked #1 out of 450 students at her high school.  Additionally, she is a member of the first all-girl drum team, participates in the Speech and Debate club, and is a member of Women in Aviation.  As a military child born in Germany, her ambition is to become a USAF fighter pilot so she can “go extremely fast”.

For our 1st CPA PPL scholarship, we selected Ilana Steele. Ilana is a junior at George Washington High School in Denver and has been immersed in aviation ever since she was young. She is in the process of becoming a third-generation pilot, after her father and her grandfather. She is pursuing her Private Pilot license for single engine land aircraft and her Private Pilot glider license concurrently. She is the president and founder of her high school's first Aerospace Club. Her current goal is to earn an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and to serve her country as an F-22 fighter pilot. She is also a competitive sport climber, an experienced road bicyclist and a leader in her school's nationally renowned Speech and Debate team.
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For our second CPA PPL scholarship, we selected Elijah Huang. Elijah’s passion for aviation was sparked when he received his first model airplane as a young boy. He found the idea of flying very fascinating for many reasons, including the physics that go into making an airplane fly, as well as the freedom that flight offers. In 2021, at the age of 14, he took his first discovery flight and decided aviation was the career path for him. He is currently on track to get his PPL by the end of this year. In his free time, he takes photos at the Rocky Mountain Metro Airport and enjoys spending time in the aviation community.

For our first Emily Howell Warner scholarship, we selected Laura Buritica. Laura is currently a CFI candidate at Aspen Flying Club. She is a board member for the Mile High chapter for Women in Aviation, a National Events team lead for the Latino Pilots Association, and a senior member pilot for the Civil Air Patrol Highlander Squadron. Laura is passionate about advancing and advocating for minorities in aviation.
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For our second Emily Howell Warner scholarship, we selected Beatriz Flageolle. Beatriz a single mom from São José dos Campos, Brazil. Raised in an aviation family, both of her parents were pilots. Her mom was the first female pilot in their small town. Her dad has been flying for over 40 years. From them, she inherited a deep love for flying. By day, she is a full-time nanny, but her true passion lies in the skies. There, she finds peace and joy, constantly challenging herself to learn more. She will be using the funds to finish her instrument rating.

For our 1st CFI scholarship, we selected Sara Weaver. Sara is originally from Indiana, where she learned to hang glide and instruct others at Kitty Hawk Kites in North Carolina in 2013. She began competing in hang gliding in 2017, where she felt she'd truly found her place in the sport. When she was looking for a career change in her late 20's, all signs pointed to flying. Sara began her flight training at Aims Community College in Northern Colorado in January 2022. She is currently pursuing her Certified Flight Instructor rating. She is very involved in her Women in Aviation chapter and spends her free time planning youth aviation outreach events. Ultimately, Sara would like to pursue a career as an airline pilot and looks forward to continuing her involvement with volunteer organizations.
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For our 2nd CFI scholarship, we selected Benjamin Garrison. After high school, Ben joined the Air Force and worked as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller.  He started flight training while stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. His finished his private certificate at Dona Ana County Jetport in New Mexico. In 2018, he moved to Colorado Springs and finished his instrument and commercial.  Since then, he has separated from the military and is looking to start a new career in aviation. His family plans on staying in Colorado where both he and his wife are volunteers in the Colorado Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Ben is currently a mission pilot for the wing and hopes to become a flight instructor to help others start their careers in aviation.


CPA Presents - Scholarships by Makayla Galler


Makayla Galler is a high school senior who, at age 16, founded 'Pilot Prodigies,' a program designed to bring a STEM experience directly into the classroom. As a female private pilot and FAA Part 107 professional drone pilot, she has developed a program focused on supporting underserved students in exploring their interests in UAS, STEM, and aviation. The program offers workshops, drone demos, mentorship, scholarship information and other resources. Makayla's expertise in flight scholarships is evident in her own journey, starting from earning her Private Pilot License with a glider rating at a young age and continuing with her pursuit of an ASEL rating, supported by flight scholarships. She has honed her skills in scholarship applications, serving as a source of inspiration for aspiring aviators. Beyond her personal accomplishments, Makayla is an active advocate for aviation and creates opportunities for others through her involvement in organizations like the Colorado Pilots Association and Women in Aviation International. Her dedication to expanding access to flight scholarships and mentorship programs highlights her passion for nurturing the next generation of aviators.

The "Introduction to Flight Training Scholarships" presentation provides a comprehensive guide for aspiring pilots on securing scholarships. Here's a brief overview:
Introduction: Sets the stage for the importance of scholarships in aviation training.
Agenda: Outlines the presentation's flow from scholarship basics to application tips.
Definition and Purpose: Explains what flight training scholarships are and their role in supporting aviation careers.
Benefits: Highlights how scholarships aid aspiring pilots financially and professionally.
Eligibility Criteria: Details common qualifications needed to apply for scholarships.
Finding Scholarships: Offers strategies for locating scholarship opportunities.
Application Requirements: Lists essential documents and information for applications.

Additional Scholarship Links

This is an incomplete listing at best. Some of the organizations require applicants to be members before applying. The women’s groups give scholarships to both genders. If you find a broken link, or one to add, please email webmaster@coloradopilots.org. Thank you and good luck!

AOPA https://aopa.academicworks.com/  
EAA https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/scholarships
 
Colorado 99s http://www.colorado99s.org/scholarships.aspx
 
99s (national) https://www.ninety-nines.org/scholarships.htm
 
Women in Aviation International https://www.wai.org/education/scholarships
 
FAA (more listings) https://www.faa.gov/education/grants_and_scholarships/
 
Aircraft Electronics Association https://aea.net/educationalfoundation/scholarships.asp  



Flight Schools around Colorado


Looking for a place to learn to fly, here's a map of the flight schools around Colorado.  If your school isn't on here and you'd like to add it, please contact us using the "Contact Us" below and we'll make sure to get it included!  
Make sure to click on the image on the map that looks like this:  it will pop out the list of flight schools along with their website and contact information.  


5 Ways To Start Your Flight Training Right Now, courtesy of BoldMethod - https://www.boldmethod.com/blog/lists/2020/05/5-ways-to-start-your-flight-training-now/



Looking for a Flight Instructor or DPE?

Check out this link here to search for a Flight Instructor or DPE: https://www.checkridehq.com