Scholarships for camp, college

Inspired by those who paved the way

The Bessie Coleman Aerospace Legacy Scholarship, distributed by the Aviation Youth Empowerment Foundation (AYEF), honors women and people of color who have overcome financial barriers and explicit bias to pursue their aviation dreams.

“The goal is to further racial and gender diversity within STEM programs across U.S. institutions of higher education and ultimately the industries they join after college,” according to the foundation website.

High school students of color and girls of all races and ethnicities who plan to study science, technology, engineering, or math in college are eligible for the scholarship and encouraged to apply. The award aims to help cover the cost of school tuition and related expenses—an amount that could reach $5,000.

The 2023 spring application period opened in January and closes on April 30. Applicants can find criteria and an application timeline on the AYEF website.

One lucky student

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association is awarding a scholarship for a student interested in aviation education. The GAMA Edward W. Stimpson Aviation Excellence Award is open to a graduating high school senior who is enrolled in an aviation degree core program, with accepted subjects including flight training, aviation management, aerospace engineering, and aviation maintenance.

The award is worth $2,0000 and application packets are due by April 14.

Expanding opportunities

The Sugarbush Soaring Overnight Youth Soaring Camp is a weeklong experience for students ages 13 through 18 who are interested in aviation, hosted by Sugarbush Soaring at Warren-Sugarbush Airport in Vermont. The flight training experience includes instructional flights in two-place gliders, ground school, overnight camping on the airfield, and other activities.

For summer 2023, the Flight Experience For Youth (FEFY) is offering three scholarships for students interested in attending the camp. Two scholarships, the Soaring Camp Scholarship for African American Youth and the Soaring Camp Scholarship for Female, Transgender, and Non-Binary Youth, are “aimed at increasing the diversity and inclusiveness of the sport of soaring and making these experiences accessible to groups traditionally underrepresented in aviation.” Each scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition—a value of $3,600.

The third scholarship, The Luke Hammer Memorial Scholarship, is open to teenagers from Vermont. This scholarship will cover the full cost of tuition and honors Luke Hammer, a passionate aviator and 2011 Youth Soaring Camp scholarship recipient who died in 2014.

The scholarship application period is open from February 1 to March 15. To apply, students must submit an online form and email a request for the application questionnaire along with submitting a one-page recommendation letter from a mentor.

For more information about Youth Soaring Camp and FEFY scholarships, visit the Sugarbush Soaring scholarship page or email Tom Anderson, director of operations at Sugarbush Soaring.