AOPA flight training scholarships open

Scholarship applications opened January 3 to help spread the joy of flight, thanks to generous donations to the AOPA Foundation from the James C. Ray Foundation and members like you.

In 2019, 123 scholarships totaling more than $1 million were awarded. The scholarship awards are broken down into four categories: AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship, AOPA Teacher Flight Training Scholarship, AOPA Primary Flight Training Scholarship, and AOPA Advanced Rating Scholarship.

To receive priority consideration, scholarship applications must be received by March 1. The final scholarship application deadline is March 15.

AOPA High School Flight Training Scholarship

Eighty exceptional high school students, ages 15 to 18, each will receive a $10,000 scholarship, thanks to the generosity of the Ray Foundation. The scholarships are a component of the AOPA You Can Fly program, a collection of initiatives working toward building a larger, more vibrant pilot community. Recipients can use the money for direct flight training expenses to pursue a primary sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate. They also must complete a flight training milestone, either achieving solo flight or earning their certificate, within one year of receiving a scholarship.

AOPA Teacher Flight Training Scholarship

Up to 20 teachers will be awarded scholarships of $10,000 each to pursue a primary (sport, recreational, or private) pilot certificate as part of the AOPA You Can Fly program, thanks to the Ray Foundation. To be eligible, a teacher must be an AOPA member; be a full-time employee of a high school or school system; and use the AOPA High School Aviation STEM Curriculum to help teach science, technology, engineering, or math.

AOPA Primary Flight Training Scholarship

AOPA Primary Flight Training Scholarship awards range from $2,500 to $7,500 and are funded by your generous donations to the AOPA Foundation. Current AOPA members who are at least 16 years old by the application deadline are eligible, and the award can be applied to training for a private, sport, or recreational pilot certificate.

AOPA Advanced Rating Scholarship

To support outstanding pilots with career aspirations, the AOPA Foundation will award various scholarships, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, to AOPA members seeking one of the following ratings or certificates: instrument, commercial, certificated flight instructor, certificated flight instructor-instruments, or multiengine-instructor.

The You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute are funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of the solution, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate.