Ali Safai Memorial Scholarship

My name is Rikelme Umana, and aviation has shaped almost every part of who I am today. Ever since I was young, I’ve been obsessed with airplanes. My parents used to take me to the Los Angeles International Airport to planespot, and I could stand there for hours watching planes take off and land. When I was 12, I joined Civil Air Patrol, which is where aviation stopped being just an interest and became a real goal. Through CAP, I had my first orientation flight in a glider, and that experience changed everything. Being in the air with no engine showed me how much skill, discipline, and trust are required for flying. As I spent more time in CAP, I learned about National Cadet Special Activities and found out they had glider academies. From that moment on, I made it my goal to rank up, stay involved, and earn a spot at one. In 2024, I was selected to attend a week-long glider academy in Mattoon, Illinois. That week pushed me more than I expected. I completed ground school, flew consistently, and learned what it really means to take aviation seriously. I didn’t solo, but I came home with the "flight bug" and more motivation than ever to keep going. When I got back, I wanted to continue training right away, but like many student pilots, finances were a major obstacle. My parents couldn’t afford flight training, so instead of quitting, I found other ways to stay involved. I joined a glider club and flew about once a month. On weekends, I worked as a soccer referee and saved up specifically for my private pilot's license. After school, I would log into Sporty’s Ground School and study on my own. Every dollar and every hour of studying felt like one step closer to my goal. After about a year of saving, and with help from my family, I was finally able to begin Private Pilot training. I completed my Private Pilot Certificate in four months with 65 hours of flight time. That journey taught me resilience, patience, and discipline. It also strengthened my faith and reminded me that if I keep trusting God and putting in the work, things will eventually fall into place. Outside of aviation, I referee soccer games and plan to continue advancing my referee license so I can officiate college games. In aviation, my short-term goal is to fly at least once a month to stay proficient, and my long-term goal is to become an airline pilot. I have also been admitted to California State University, Los Angeles, where I will pursue a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Administration. Aviation has given me direction, purpose, and the drive to keep pushing forward, even when the path isn’t easy.