My name is Blake Weese and I am currently studying aviation as a Professional Pilot at the University of Central Missouri. My goal is to become an airline pilot one day. I currently have my Private Pilot Certificate and an Instrument Rating. I currently have around 250 flight hours and am working on my Commercial Certificate. Aviation has become a huge part of my life, and I know it is something that I am going to do for a long time. I became interested in aviation because I loved airplanes as a kid. I went on a discovery flight, got hooked, and started flight training. I did not realize how much there was to learn until I started my training. It was not just the flying that I liked, but I love learning about the systems, weather, communication, and everything that goes into being a safe pilot. There is always something new to learn in aviation, and I think that is one of the biggest reasons I enjoy it so much. Getting my Private Pilot Certificate in May of 2025 was a big moment for me. It took a lot of studying, practice, and stressful situations, but it made me realize that all the work that I put in was worth it. I later earned my instrument rating in March of 2026, which was another big step for me. Instrument was difficult for me at times, but it helped me become a more confident pilot and showed me how important it is to stay calm and make good decisions. I believe leadership is very important in aviation. I have been able to develop leadership skills through different experiences inside and outside of aviation. I attended the Ruck Leadership Institute, which helped teach me how to work with different types of people and how leadership is not always about being the loudest person in a room, but more about listening, helping, and being willing to take responsibility when something needs to get done. I work in the Flight Operations Department at the flight school as a Dispatcher. That job has helped me see aviation from more than just the pilot side. There are a lot of people working together behind the scenes to make sure flights happen safely and smoothly. I have learned how important communication, teamwork, and organization are, especially when plans can change quickly. To me, leadership means being someone that people can rely on. I know I still have a lot I need to learn, but I try to be responsible, work hard, and help when others need me. I hope that I continue my aviation career; I can be the type of pilot and mentor who helps other people reach their goals too.

My passion for aviation comes from the responsibility, challenge, and opportunity that come with being a pilot. Flying is always pushing me to improve in the air and on the ground, whether that is studying, making quick decisions, or developing stronger skills. I have known for years that I wanted to become a pilot, and every step of my training has made that goal within reach. I am currently studying aviation at the University of Central Missouri. I achieved my Private Pilot Certificate in May 2025 and my Instrument rating in March of 2026. I have now accumulated around 250 flight hours and am working on my Commercial Certificate and gaining new experience to eventually become an airline pilot. One of the things I enjoy the most about aviation is that there is always something new to learn. Earning my Instrument Rating changed the way I viewed flying by teaching me to be more precise, disciplined, and confident in the decisions I made. It taught me that to become a good pilot is not only to fly well, but to understand the weather, systems, regulations, risks, and the safest decision to have a safe outcome of each flight. My experiences outside of the cockpit have also strengthened my love for aviation. I work in the Flight Operations Department at UCM, which allows me to see another side of the aviation industry and understand how much coordination is required to keep flight operations running safely and efficiently. My long term goal is to become an airline pilot. I want a career that challenges me every day to learn something new and gives me opportunities to connect people and communities through aviation. In the future, I also hope to use my experience to help younger pilots who are working toward the same goals I am pursuing today. One of the largest challenges I have faced is the financial cost of my flight training. Flight fees, aircraft rental, instruction, testing, and college expenses have added up quickly. Unlike many college programs, becoming a professional pilot requires students to pay for not only their education, but also flight experience. Receiving this scholarship would help reduce the financial pressure and allow me to focus on progressing through my flight training to reach my goal. James Diorato spent his career surrounded by aviation at JFK International Airport, one of the places where aviation connects people from all around the world. I would be grateful for the opportunity to continue that aviation legacy by building a career of my own in the industry. This scholarship would not simply help pay for my flights, but it would help me continue moving toward a career that I have worked hard for and committed to pursuing for the rest of my life.

Aviation has had a lasting impact on my life by giving me a clear direction, a strong sense of responsibility, and a goal that I am committed to working toward every day. I have always been interested in airplanes growing up, but once I began flight training, aviation became more than just an interest. It became something that challenged me to improve myself and stay focused on long term goals that require discipline, patience, and consistency. I am currently attending the University of Central Missouri as a professional pilot student, where I am continuing both my academic coursework and flight training. I earned my private pilot certificate on May 22, 2025, and my instrument rating on March 20, 2026. Since then, I have continued building experience and currently have around 200 total flight hours. Each rating I have earned represents many hours of preparation and learning, but more importantly, each one has strengthened my confidence and commitment to becoming a professional pilot. Flying has taught me how important decision making, preparation, and responsibility are in high pressure situations. It has also taught me how much growth comes from learning through challenges. Weather planning, instrument flying, and managing workload in the cockpit have all helped me become more disciplined not only as a pilot but also as a student and leader. Aviation has shaped how I approach problems and how I prepare for future opportunities. Through my aviation degree at the University of Central Missouri, I am learning about many areas that are essential to becoming a well rounded aviation professional, including aviation weather, ethics, management, and commercial flight operations. These courses are helping prepare me for the responsibilities that come with working in aviation and reinforcing my goal of continuing through my commercial and instructor ratings so I can build experience and help mentor other student pilots in the future. Outside of my flight training, I stay involved in my community through Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, where I volunteer through our philanthropy supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters. Being involved with this organization has shown me how important mentorship is, especially for younger students who benefit from encouragement and positive role models. Aviation relies heavily on mentorship, and I hope to continue supporting others as I progress in my own career. Ali Safai’s legacy as a flight instructor who inspired future aviators is especially meaningful to me because one of my long term goals is to become a flight instructor while building experience. Flight instructors play an important role in helping students reach milestones that can change their lives. Receiving this scholarship would help me continue progressing toward that goal while honoring someone who dedicated his career to supporting the next generation of pilots. Aviation has given me direction and purpose, and I am committed to continuing the work required to turn this goal into a lifelong career.

I am currently pursuing a career as a professional pilot while attending the University of Central Missouri, where I am working toward completing my aviation degree and continuing my flight training. I have always been interested in airplanes growing up, and that early curiosity is what first inspired me to pursue aviation. Over time, that interest developed into a serious goal as I began learning more about what it takes to become a pilot. Once I started flight training, I quickly realized this was something I wanted to dedicate myself to long term. I earned my private pilot certificate on May 22, 2025, and my instrument rating on March 20, 2026. Since earning those certificates, I have continued building experience and currently have around 200 total flight hours. Each step in training has helped me grow both technically and personally. Learning to manage workload in the cockpit, make safe decisions, and operate in more complex flying environments has strengthened my confidence and confirmed that aviation is the right path for me. My goal is to continue progressing through my commercial, certified flight instructor, and multi engine ratings so that I can build experience, support other student pilots in their training, and eventually pursue a long-term career as a professional pilot. Through my degree program at the University of Central Missouri, I am learning about many different areas that contribute to becoming a well-rounded aviation professional. My coursework includes aviation weather, ethics, aviation management, human factors, commercial flight operations, and other FAA Part 141 training requirements. These classes are helping me better understand the responsibilities pilots have beyond flying itself. They have also shown me how important professionalism, decision making, and communication are within the aviation industry. In addition to my flight training and academic responsibilities, I stay involved in my community through Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Our main philanthropy supports Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I participate in volunteer opportunities connected with that organization. Being involved with Sigma Phi Epsilon has given me the chance to give back and be part of efforts that support younger members of the community. I believe mentorship is especially important, both in aviation and outside of it, and I hope to continue supporting others as I progress in my career. The Kyle Rairdan Memorial Scholarship is meaningful to me because it honors someone who shared the same passion for aviation that motivates me today. Scholarships like this make a real difference for students working toward aviation careers, especially while completing advanced ratings. Receiving this support would help me continue progressing toward my goals while honoring the legacy of someone who cared deeply about flight and the aviation community. Thank you for your time and consideration.