I discovered my passion for aviation when I joined the U.S. Air Force at 17. I chose the aviation mechanic program because I enjoyed being around airplanes. Learning how they worked and how to fix them became more than just a job—it was a career I took pride in. Once I gained experience, I became an instructor and taught younger mechanics how to repair airplanes. I found real satisfaction in introducing others to the challenges of aviation maintenance. My time as a mechanic, both in the U.S. and overseas, seemed to fly by. My love for flying grew when I became a Flying Crew Chief on the KC-135. I had the chance to fly around the Pacific, supporting both military and humanitarian missions. Taking part in Operation Tomodachi in Northern Japan showed me how much the U.S. Air Force can help people in need. We responded to the tsunami and nuclear reactor meltdown on Japan’s main island. It was a powerful team experience that I will always remember. A few years later, I earned my Private Pilot Certificate. Flying brought me so much joy that I wanted to learn everything I could about it. This time, I was the student, not the teacher. After leaving the military, I earned my Instrument and Commercial ratings and am now working toward my Certified Flight Instructor rating at the Peterson Space Force Base Aero Club. I appreciate the consistency the club offers and the chance to learn from several great teachers. Like Kevin Howard, I am committed to my aviation education and am pursuing a bachelor’s degree in aviation science at Metropolitan State University of Denver. The knowledge I gain will help me become a better teacher for my future students. I’m proud to be on the President’s Honor Roll and to have scored above 98% on all my FAA written exams. I believe that to be a good teacher, I need a strong and well-rounded background in aviation. Flying here in Colorado is an endeavor! We have strong crosswinds, convective weather, and mountainous terrain at our doorstep. I feel it has made me a safer, more confident pilot in the long run. My goals for the next few years are to finish my CFI and CFII ratings and start teaching at the Peterson Aero Club. In the short time I’ve had in the right seat and started “teaching” my instructor, I can tell I am going to enjoy my new rating. It will become an extension of the time I spent teaching aircraft maintenance. I want to share my flying and maintenance knowledge with the same group of people I served with in the Air Force. Lessons from good and not-so-good flights can help shape a new pilot's goals for flying. One of those lessons is how to respond to emergencies. I can share firsthand knowledge of what happens when your engine seizes in flight, and you become a Cessna glider. Being able to think quickly and calmly to bring the aircraft down with no further damage stands out to me as a highlight of my short time as a rated pilot. My long-term goal is to land a job with the Colorado Park Service. They need experienced pilots to help with surveying and scientific research in the mountains and plains of Colorado. I have a long way to go to reach that experience level, but I’m taking it day by day and flight by flight. Thank you for your time and consideration of my application for the Kevin Howard Memorial Scholarship.