EAA Chapter 35's 2024 youth scholarship application deadline has passed. The description of our application process below will give you an idea of what to expect for future scholarship opportunities.

 For more information about the Ray Aviation Scholarship, or to apply for the scholarship, contact: Allen Inks, Ray Aviation Scholarship Chairperson, at: scholarships@eaa35.org

Ray Aviation Scholarship eligibility requirements, and the scholarship application, are available here.

December 13, 2023

An announcement regarding youth flight training scholarships Chapter 35 expects to award in 2024.

EAA CHAPTER 35 YOUTH FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2024

In 2024 EAA Chapter 35 will be offering at least one, and likely two, competitive Scholarships covering a substantial portion of the costs associated with geting a Private Pilot License. The Jane Kellogg Youth Scholarship is in the amount of $10,000. Additionally, we have applied for a Ray Aviation Scholarship and should be notified in early January 2024 if we get it.

EARLIER FILING DATE this year: The scholarship application deadline has been moved to an earlier date than in 2023. Last year, our youth flight training scholarship applications had a deadline submission of March 31, 2023. However, the time it takes to review applicants and to process and fund successful applicants meant that the scholarship money didn’t reach our scholars until the end of May. At which point the scholars had only a little over 2 months for flight training until school started in early August. To concentrate more of our scholars’ flight training during the time when the weather is better, the Board of Directors of EAA Chapter 35 has moved the deadline for applications for flight training scholarships up to the end of February, 2024. Applicants should ENSURE the application is received by the end of the day on February 29, 2024, and preferably earlier.1

So what does moving the deadline to apply to a month earlier mean for those thinking about applying for one of our scholarships? Clearly, it means that they will have to obtain, fill out, and submit an application by the end of February, 2024. The Jane Kellogg scholarship will have the same requirements as put forth for Ray Aviation scholarship – see the requirements here, so we will consider each application to be an application for both scholarships (assuming we get a Ray Aviation Scholarship in 2024).

1. Schedule and pass a medical exam with an Aviaiton Medical Examiner to get at least a 3rd Class medical certificate.2 Several Aviation Medical Examiners (Drs. Saboe, Fisher, and Hecker) support EAA Chapter 35 by advertising in our Chapter newsletter, for example, on page 19 of the December, 2023, newsletter.

2. Obtain a Student Pilot Certificate. This is a more involved task than it was when I was a student pilot. Nowadays, a prospective student pilot must find a Certified Flight Instructor to be a “recommending instructor” who will work with the prospective student to complete the online paperwork, and sign as the recommending instructor. Then the application is submitted electronically. The application takes some time for the FAA to process. (However, if the student pilot certificate is not physically received by the time the application is submitted, we will accept a copy of the filing receipt in lieu of the required partial copy of the student pilot license)

To GET a copy of the application, prospective applicants should write an email to the EAA Chapter 35 Scholarship Coordinator, Allen Inks, at scholarships@eaa35.org. Please include the following statement and information:

“I request a copy of the 2024 EAA Chapter 35 Flight Training Scholarship Application”

My name is:
My birthdate is:
My email address to use (THAT I CHECK FREQUENTLY) is:
If you are a minor (less than age 18 right now), also include:

A parent/guardian’s Name:
Parent's mailing address:
Parent's email address:
Parent's telephone number:

If you have questions, are unsure of requirements, etc., email the same address: scholarships@eaa35.org.

Please note: While we understand that you might be involved in other projects or activities, this scholarship opportunity will take much of your free Ime. Be sure to understand that your pursuit of an EAA Flight Scholarship is a major commitment. Decide if your time will permit this challenge to your personal schedule prior to signing up for this scholarship opportunity.

HINTS:
If an applicant has completed a ground school course (such as, but not limited to, the Sporty’s Learn to Fly course - which is free for youth that have taken an EAA Young Eagle flight3 – which is also free), this would be something that we would view as a posiIve when evaluaIng the applicaIon. And such a course does NOT take 2 months to complete if one is diligent about it.

After successfully completing that ground school course, a person can take the FAA Written Exam for the private pilot airplane. If they pass and are an EAA (national, not just Chapter 35) student member (student membership is free for Young Eagles), EAA will reimburse the test fee (currently $175 for the successful test attempt).

Passing the written exam is one of the major MILESTONES we set for our scholarship recipients. If an applicant has ALREADY passed the Written Exam at the time they apply for the scholarship, that would be something we would view as EXTREMELY posiIve, because if selected, that applicant would start significantly ahead, and be more likely to complete their training on time and get their license. Passing the Written Exam prior to the award of the scholarship will not affect the total amount of the scholarship awarded.
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PS: If you are reading this and are not someone who is going to be applying for a scholarship ... remember, scholarships don’t fund themselves. If you like what you see, please consider donating to Experiment Aircraft Association Chapter 35, Inc., a 501(c )(3) charitable organization, designating at least a portion of your donation to go to “youth scholarship funds”.Information on how to make a donation to EAA Chapter 35 can be found here.

(1) Please do not contact us in March and explain the last minute mistake or emergency that prevented you from filing by the end of Feb. 29th. We will only be able to confirm you missed the deadline. Instead, file earlier than the deadline and keep the email response we will send acknowledging that you filed on time. If you don’t get that acknowledgement within 24 hours, CONTACT US AND REQUEST IT.

(2) As was the case in 2023, we are not going to be nominating anyone for glider private pilot fight training in 2024, so a medical certificate IS a prerequisite, as is a minimum age of 16 at the time the scholarship is awarded.

(3) Learn more about Young Eagle Flights here and here. The next organized Young Eagle event at EAA Chapter 35 is not scheduled until after the application filing deadline, but other opportunities exist, including individual Young Eagle flights with Young Eagle Pilots.