Traveling by plane may be considered one of the safest ways to travel but for people who dream of flying the marvelous machines the journey can be dangerous, at least financially. For those who dream of soaring through the skies there are aviation scholarships and grants that help get things aloft. There are a number of organizations out there that can provide prospective students with the opportunity to take advantage of a number of scholarships.
Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships
Named after one of the most well known pilots in US history, and perhaps the world, the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships focuses on helping women further their training and academic career in the fields of aviation and aerospace. These scholarships are aimed at helping female pilots complete additional pilot certificates, improve ratings, advance college educations, and aid in gaining additional technical training. Monetarily the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund holds over $4 million which is used to fund these aviation scholarships and grants. These include the New Pilot Awards, Flight Training Scholarship, Jet Type Rating Scholarship, and others.
LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Scholarship
This is an annually award scholarship for students looking to enter the aviation field. It is available to both men and women and provides financial aid to the recipients. Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 23 and must be enrolled/enrolling in a college or university that offers aviation course or for those who are pursuing a private pilot license. Applicants who are involved in extracurricular activities as well as active members of the community while maintaining scholastic standings will be considered first.
Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
Aviation does not stop with just the skies, but extends into space which is where the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation comes in. Established by more than 80 astronauts from varying missions, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation offers aviation scholarships and grants for students who aim for the stars. The ASF offers 25 scholarships, each amounting to $10,000, to students looking to pursue careers in the field of aerospace. Members of the ASF include Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Al Worden, and James Lovell to name just a few.
Crocker Snow Instrument Scholarship
This scholarship was established in 1999 in the memory of Crocker Snow. This aviation scholarship awards between $1,000 and $2,000 to students looking to pursue advanced instrument training. This scholarship is funded by the Snow family in conjunction with ACONE.
Harrison Ford Scholarship
Young people looking to pursue or further their education in the field of aviation can thank Harrison Ford for establishing this aviation scholarship. Offered by the EAA Young Eagles, for which Ford was a chairman, this scholarship allows students to pursue a career in aviation no matter what skill level they are starting out at. The EAA also offers over 30 other scholarships to help aspiring young people attain their dream of becoming a pilot.
