Aviation is an ever-evolving career field, one in which you can enter with a goal in mind, but you can end up in a completely different path than you originally thought possible. For me, this was exactly what happened, I always assumed I would be in the airlines flying a large Boeing 747 aircraft hauling passengers to their vacation destinations. I started flying in the back yard of a family friend on their dirt strip, here I just knew I would do this as a living. I eventually went off to flight school, where I received all of my certificates ready for where life would take me next. Back then airlines where hiring with a commercial license at 250 hours (boy how times have changed), thankfully I chose due largely in part to my lack of experience to pursue the flight instructor path. In doing so I eventually managed two different 141 flight schools, it was here that my career path took a very different path than anticipated. I was sought after by the local FSDO to pursue a career as a Designated Pilot Examiner, after 9 years of examining I am still in love with it as the day I started. My passion for sharing aviation with others is ignited each and every day when a new aviator enters into the aviation world and allows me to be part of that journey. I will continue down this path, but aviation’s evolving world has opened my eyes to the lack of airport management status at some of the local airports I fly in and out of. With this scholarship, I intend to get my bachelor’s degree in aviation management, so that I can hopefully manage one or more of the local airports to help with the necessary improvements so that future aviators can continue their aviation paths in safe and well maintained airports. At the current airport I work out of we lack proper signage, paint, and airport oversight to the day-to-day operations. My goal is to continue as a local examiner, but my pet project would be to take on the task (whether it be voluntary or a paid position) of making the local airport a safer and better training environment for my fellow pilots. There have been some unsafe practices being conducted at the airport and with the knowledge I could bring to the airport, I believe I could help as a liaison between the city and the aviation world. The aviation industry is evolving on so many levels and it is rather frustrating that the local community does not have someone to better promote aviation to the community safely and efficiently. I could be that person, I could take the time to listen to the concerns of both the city and the local airport community. I could then present them to the city council to address the concerns, but still remain within city budget. This Scholarship would greatly help me to finish out my degree and give back to my local community.