I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. My parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. After we got on our feet, I rekindled my love for aviation through the Experimental Aircraft Association. When I was about eight years old when I got introduced to the world of general aviation. My grandpa knew someone who had a plane, and he took me up for a flight, where I fell in love with flying. When we moved to Washington a few years later, I took a young eagles flight which helped me get into flying and was the reason I started taking private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. I have been blessed with being able to attend a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, the University of North Dakota, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and most of the needed training to become an Airline Pilot. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, I am familiar with putting in the work that is needed to get things done. I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the QVS Auction where I helped to set up a record- breaking year for the auction making almost $170,000 in two days. I spent endless hours finding businesses to go to and coordinating who should approach which businesses. On top of this I spent numerous hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting the best test scores in my class, and volunteering in my community. I was part of Future Career and Community Leaders of America, and National Honors Society where we would go and volunteer at the local food bank, churches, or even just at the school. I also participated in activities inside and outside of high school such as being a three- sport athlete and team captain, being an officer for multiple different clubs in school, and I was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association. This has lead me to continue participating in many activities even though I am not even two months into my first semester at college as I felt the need to continue to become a leader in college as well, as I want to make a difference no matter where I am or what I am doing.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. My parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. After we got on our feet, I rekindled my love for aviation through the Experimental Aircraft Association. When I was about eight years old when I got introduced to the world of general aviation. My grandpa knew someone who had a plane, and he took me up for a flight, where I fell in love with flying. When we moved to Washington a few years later, I took a young eagles flight which helped me get into flying and was the reason I started taking private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. I have been blessed with being able to attend a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, the University of North Dakota, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and most of the needed training to become an Airline Pilot. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, I am familiar with putting in the work that is needed to get things done. I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the QVS Auction where I helped to set up a record- breaking year for the auction making almost $170,000 in two days. I spent endless hours finding businesses to go to and coordinating who should approach which businesses. On top of this I spent numerous hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting the best test scores in my class, and volunteering in my community. I was part of Future Career and Community Leaders of America, and National Honors Society where we would go and volunteer at the local food bank, churches, or even just at the school. I also participated in activities inside and outside of high school such as being a three- sport athlete and team captain, being an officer for multiple different clubs in school, and I was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association. This has lead me to continue participating in many activities even though I am not even two months into my first semester at college as I felt the need to continue to become a leader in college as well, as I want to make a difference no matter where I am or what I am doing.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Airline Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. My parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. After we got on our feet, I rekindled my love for aviation through the Experimental Aircraft Association. When I was about eight years old when I got introduced to the world of general aviation. My grandpa knew someone who had a plane, and he took me up for a flight, where I fell in love with flying. When we moved to Washington a few years later, I took a young eagles flight which helped me get into flying and was the reason I started taking private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. I have been blessed with being able to attend a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, the University of North Dakota, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and most of the needed training to become an Airline Pilot. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, I am familiar with putting in the work that is needed to get things done. I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the QVS Auction where I helped to set up a record- breaking year for the auction making almost $170,000 in two days. I spent endless hours finding businesses to go to and coordinating who should approach which businesses. On top of this I spent numerous hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting the best test scores in my class, and volunteering in my community. I was part of Future Career and Community Leaders of America, and National Honors Society where we would go and volunteer at the local food bank, churches, or even just at the school. I also participated in activities inside and outside of high school such as being a three- sport athlete and team captain, being an officer for multiple different clubs in school, and I was a member of Experimental Aircraft Association. This has lead me to continue participating in many activities even though I am not even two months into my first semester at college as I felt the need to continue to become a leader in college as well, as I want to make a difference no matter where I am or what I am doing.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. My parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. After we got on our feet, I was able to start private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. Since high school I am now attending the University of North Dakota, which is a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and training to become a Life Flight Pilot. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, there is another factor, the price tag. This is the reason I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the QVS Auction so I could help to set up a record-breaking year for the auction. I spent endless hours making lists and organizing who should approach which businesses. I spend hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting great test scores, and volunteering in my community. I participate in activities inside and outside of school. During my journey of becoming a pilot, I have participated in football, baseball, wrestled, FCCLA, chess club, EAA, National Honor Society, and a part time job. So, probably the hardest thing was doing all this and trying to make friends after moving across the country. But doing all this has helped me with my time management skills. With the extra price tag associated with aviation. I have also picked up a job the last three years, along with all of my other activities at school, volunteering, and graduating valedictorian. I was hoping my achievements would allow me to get the help I need to follow and achieve my dreams of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot. So I wanted to take this time and thank you for the opportunity to earn this scholarship and help pay some of the extra costs of being an aviation student.

Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation. This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. When I was younger my mom would ask me aviation questions, because she loved watching as I would ramble on and on about aviation and my dream of flying her in a 737 one day. Even before I took the controls for the first time I was always fascinated by flying. This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation. While I am still early in my journey and career of being a pilot, I foresee myself at the controls as the plane rockets down the runway, then leaps off the ground and begins gliding through the air. Each time I go down that runway I would get one step closer to the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I have started the first steps in accomplishing my goals by taking private pilot lessons. I currently have to drive over an hour each way for lessons. I completed my first solo flight earlier this year which continues to fuel my interest in flying. I have researched the variety of avenues to become an airline pilot. I am looking forward to becoming a CFI, CFII and MEI so I can share my passion with others who are interested in aviation. I want to join the Air Force or the Air National Guard after I graduate with my bacholars degree in commercial aviation.

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to be an airline pilot. I thought it was a long shot for the longest time, until I began my flight training and I realized that it is not that far- fetched. I started my flight training at a nearby flight school, where I had to drive an hour each way for a lesson. I worked hard and studied on days I was unable to make it in, this allowed me to reach my first milestone in my journey of reaching my goal of becoming an airline pilot. I received my private pilot license in the summer of 2024 and I am attending the University of North Dakota this Fall of 2024. This is where I will continue my academic journey in aviation. In the coming fall I will be working on getting my instrument rating, and then begin working towards my commercial and multi-engine ratings and license. After I complete my academic aviation goals and graduate from the University of North Dakota, I will start my professional goals by becoming a flight instructor and give back to the aviation community just like my instructor did. I plan on coming back to my hometown and beginning my own flight school in my town so other aspiring pilots can get their licenses and not have to have the burden of driving an hour each way just to follow their dreams. I am sad to say I have seen numerous fellow pilots give up because they don’t have the time or extra money to pay for gas and drive the extra two hours for a flight. After I have started my own flight school and I feel I have helped my community I will expand the business and add more flight instructors, and when I reach the necessary hours I will begin my academic training again and work to reach my ultimate academic and professional goal of becoming an airline pilot. While being an airline pilot is my ultimate dream, my passion to help those in the community may surpass that dream and I will stay local to help aspiring pilots young, old, rich, or poor, and give them easy access to learning how to fly. It pains me to see fellow pilots' dreams die off because of the location of our town, so if I can be blessed with an opportunity to help them it would be even better than becoming an airline pilot and this would not only be my professional goal but my lifelong passion.

Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation. This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. When I was younger my mom would ask me aviation questions, because she loved watching as I would ramble on and on about aviation and my dream of flying her in a 737 one day. Even before I took the controls for the first time I was always fascinated by flying. This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation. While I am still early in my journey and career of being a pilot, I foresee myself at the controls as the plane rockets down the runway, then leaps off the ground and begins gliding through the air. Each time I go down that runway I would get one step closer to the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I have started the first steps in accomplishing my goals by taking private pilot lessons. I currently have to drive over an hour each way for lessons. I completed my first solo flight earlier this year which continues to fuel my interest in flying. I have researched the variety of avenues to become an airline pilot. I am looking forward to becoming a CFI, CFII and MEI so I can share my passion with others who are interested in aviation. I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula which comes with many travel challenges. During my junior year this became all too apparent as my Calculus teacher suffered a life threatening medical event. She had to be airlifted to a speciality hospital in order to save her life. Had this not been an option, she would have not survived the event. I would like to return to my wonderful community as a Life Flight pilot so others do not have this opportunity taken away from them by not having pilots available.

Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation. This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. When I was younger my mom would ask me aviation questions, because she loved watching as I would ramble on and on about aviation and my dream of flying her in a 737 one day. Even before I took the controls for the first time I was always fascinated by flying. This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation. While I am still early in my journey and career of being a pilot, I foresee myself at the controls as the plane rockets down the runway, then leaps off the ground and begins gliding through the air. Each time I go down that runway I would get one step closer to the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I have started the first steps in accomplishing my goals by taking private pilot lessons. I currently have to drive over an hour each way for lessons. I completed my first solo flight earlier this year which continues to fuel my interest in flying. I have researched the variety of avenues to become an airline pilot. I am looking forward to becoming a CFI, CFII and MEI so I can share my passion with others who are interested in aviation. I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula which comes with many travel challenges. During my junior year this became all too apparent as my Calculus teacher suffered a life threatening medical event. She had to be airlifted to a speciality hospital in order to save her life. Had this not been an option, she would have not survived the event. I would like to return to my wonderful community as a Life Flight pilot so others do not have this opportunity taken away from them by not having pilots available.

Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation. This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation. I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula which comes with many travel challenges. During my junior year this became all too apparent as my Calculus teacher suffered a life threatening medical event. She had to be airlifted to a speciality hospital in order to save her life. Had this not been an option, she would have not survived the event. I would like to return to my wonderful community as a Life Flight pilot so others do not have this opportunity taken away from them by not having pilots available.

My favorite athlete to cheer for Team USA this year was Jordan Larson of the Women's National Volleyball team. She has an awesome background, growing up in a super small town in Nebraska. Hooper, Nebraska has less than 800 people living there. Jordan has competed in 4 Olympic Games and has won 4 medals. She helped Team USA receive their first Gold medal in women's volleyball in Japan. It is amazing that Jordan is still playing at the age of 37 at such a high level as the Olympic Games. Even though she is not a regular starter she is still a very important part of the team. Jordan can still come in and be a factor with her hitting, blocking, and especially her serving skills. Also, watching her on the sideline cheering on her teammates and providing that leadership on and off the court. Again, the reason I chose Jordan Larson as my favorite athlete to cheer for on Team USA. Is her ambition, drive, and impact that she has on her team. Whether she is on the sideline or on the court she has the leadership and skills to help her team compete for medals. Jordan has helped Team USA win a bronze, two silvers, and the GOLD!!!

Leadership has been a major factor in my life. Ever since I can remember I have played sports. Even while playing sports at a young age there was always someone who played the role of captain or a leader. The people who played this role have changed my life, as even when I was little I realized that these were the people I could look up to and trust. At a very young age I decided I was going to follow in their footsteps and be a leader in my community. After I decided to be a leader I became a football, baseball, and chess team captain allowing me to make a reputable name for myself in the community. Based on my reputation, I was elected Senior Coordinator for the local scholarship auction. This was a blessing and a curse, as I was given the opportunity to help my community and fellow peers, but it forced me to juggle working a nearly full time job, flying lessons, school, and sports while raising money and collecting donations for the auction. While this was incredibly time consuming, with the help of my peers and the community, we were able to raise $167,780 to help alumni follow their dreams and further their education with these funds. While the auction might have been my highlight, I have had the blessing to help out in the community by collecting food, clothes, furniture, and distributing it to the less fortunate, along with raising money to help those who need prosthetics afford them. While I do enjoy giving back to the community, sometimes it takes determination to keep doing it. A few years ago the community got so much rain that the town began to flood. When the flooding began my friends and I got together and decided we were going to help. We, along with the other volunteers, began filling and moving sandbags to divert the water away from people's homes until the rain stopped. After the rain and flooding subsided, we went to work on helping those in need fix their homes. We spent numerous hours underneath houses and around them fixing insulation, floors, and siding. This took determination as while it was for a good cause it was hard work that pushed us and the community to the limits, but in the end the community held strong due to the leadership and determination within it.

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to be an airline pilot. I thought it was a long shot for the longest time, until I began my flight training and I realized that it is not that far-fetched. I started my flight training at a nearby flight school, where I had to drive an hour each way for a lesson. I worked hard and studied on days I was unable to make it in, this allowed me to reach my first milestone in my journey of reaching my goal of becoming an airline pilot. I received my private pilot license in the summer of 2024 and then I will be attending the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2024. This is where I will continue my academic journey in aviation. In the coming fall I will be working on getting my instrument rating, and then begin working towards my commercial and multi-engine ratings and license. After I complete my academic aviation goals and graduate from the University of North Dakota, I will start my professional goals by becoming a flight instructor and give back to the aviation community just like my instructor did. I plan on coming back to my hometown and beginning my own flight school in my town so other aspiring pilots can get their licenses and not have to have the burden of driving an hour each way just to follow their dreams. I am sad to say I have seen numerous fellow pilots give up because they don’t have the time or extra money to pay for gas and drive the extra two hours for a flight. After I have started my own flight school and I feel I have helped my community I will expand the business and add more flight instructors, and when I reach the necessary hours I will begin my academic training again and work to reach my ultimate academic and professional goal of becoming an airline pilot. While being an airline pilot is my ultimate dream, my passion to help those in the community may surpass that dream and I will stay local to help aspiring pilots young, old, rich, or poor, and give them easy access to learning how to fly. It pains me to see fellow pilots’ dreams die off because of the location of our town, so if I can be blessed with an opportunity to help them it would be even better than becoming an airline pilot and this would not only be my professional goal but my lifelong passion.

Ever since I can remember I have always wanted to be an airline pilot. I thought it was a long shot for the longest time, until I began my flight training and I realized that it is not that far- fetched. I started my flight training at a nearby flight school, where I had to drive an hour each way for a lesson. I worked hard and studied on days I was unable to make it in, this allowed me to reach my first milestone in my journey of reaching my goal of becoming an airline pilot. I received my private pilot license in the summer of 2024 and then I will be attending the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2024. This is where I will continue my academic journey in aviation. In the coming fall I will be working on getting my instrument rating, and then begin working towards my commercial and multi-engine ratings and license. After I complete my academic aviation goals and graduate from the University of North Dakota, I will start my professional goals by becoming a flight instructor and give back to the aviation community just like my instructor did. I plan on coming back to my hometown and beginning my own flight school in my town so other aspiring pilots can get their licenses and not have to have the burden of driving an hour each way just to follow their dreams. I am sad to say I have seen numerous fellow pilots give up because they don’t have the time or extra money to pay for gas and drive the extra two hours for a flight. After I have started my own flight school and I feel I have helped my community I will expand the business and add more flight instructors, and when I reach the necessary hours I will begin my academic training again and work to reach my ultimate academic and professional goal of becoming an airline pilot. While being an airline pilot is my ultimate dream, my passion to help those in the community may surpass that dream and I will stay local to help aspiring pilots young, old, rich, or poor, and give them easy access to learning how to fly. It pains me to see fellow pilots' dreams die off because of the location of our town, so if I can be blessed with an opportunity to help them it would be even better than becoming an airline pilot and this would not only be my professional goal but my lifelong passion.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. I played soccer, football, and baseball during grade school. I excelled in my academics, so Duke University had me take the ACT during my 7th grade to see where I stood. Then my parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. After we got on our feet, I was able to start private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. After high school I will go to the University of North Dakota, which is a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and training to become a Life Flight Pilot. While working on getting my private pilot's license I have to drive an hour and half each way for my lessons. I also started up a study group with some other pilots and students which we meet every other week. This has made it extremely hard to manage my time with playing baseball and football, doing school work, and keeping my job. I have still managed to graduate with a 4.0 GPA and top of my class. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, there is another factor, the price tag. This is the reason I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the Quillayute Valley Schools Auction so I could help to set up a record-breaking year for the auction. I spent endless hours making lists and organizing who should approach which businesses. I spend hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting great test scores, and volunteering in my community. I participate in activities inside and outside of school while also holding a job for the last three years. I was hoping my achievements would allow me to get the help I need to follow and achieve my dreams of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot.

Most kids go into senior year with little to no idea of what they want to do. I am not like most kids, as I found my purpose at a very early age. My grandpa had a friend who was a pilot and he took me for a flight. It was a cool day in the spring of 2012, I walked around the plane with him as he did his preflight checks He showed me everything you have to do before takeoff, touching every inch of the plane, making sure the ailerons, flaps, rudder and propeller were all in tip top shape. As we finished our preflight inspection, I knew this was my calling, as the most boring part of the flight had me intrigued and captivated. From that one fateful day I have dedicated my life to learning about and pursuing aviation. This concept of gliding through the air with the elegance of an eagle has always had me intrigued. Every time I think or talk about aviation I lose all sense of time. There have been instances where I would be doing research on aviation for 3-4 hours and it felt like 10 minutes. I love talking about this topic, it is an endless conversation. When I was younger my mom would ask me aviation questions, because she loved watching as I would ramble on and on about aviation and my dream of flying her in a 737 one day. Even before I took the controls for the first time I was always fascinated by flying. This fascination is what drives me to dedicate my life to learning and growing in the world of aviation. The captivation that began when I was a kid is one of the many reasons why I am pursuing my interest in aviation. I see myself succeeding and being able to fulfill my dreams of becoming a pilot. While my passion for aviation helps to keep me interested and engaged, my strong work ethic and ability to stay organized gives me the means to succeed at pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Commercial Aviation. While I am still early in my journey and career of being a pilot, I foresee myself at the controls as the plane rockets down the runway, then leaps off the ground and begins gliding through the air. Each time I go down that runway I would get one step closer to the dream of becoming a professional pilot. I have started the first steps in accomplishing my goals by taking private pilot lessons. I currently have to drive over an hour each way for lessons. I completed my first solo flight earlier this year which continues to fuel my interest in flying. I have researched the variety of avenues to become an airline pilot. I am looking forward to becoming a CFI, CFII and MEI so I can share my passion with others who are interested in aviation. I live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula which comes with many travel challenges. During my junior year this became all too apparent as my Calculus teacher suffered a life threatening medical event. She had to be airlifted to a speciality hospital in order to save her life. Had this not been an option, she would have not survived the event. I would like to return to my wonderful community as a Life Flight pilot so others do not have this opportunity taken away from them by not having pilots available.

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to apply for your scholarship. My name is Gunner Elway Rogers, a dedicated student, athlete, and an aspiring Flight Instructor. I am seeking financial assistance to continue my education and follow my dream of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot. I was raised in North Carolina. My parents made the decision to move across the country to get away from the gang and drug torn city we lived in. Some of my closest friends were killed due to gang violence. After we moved to Washington, we lived in a camper for nineteen months as we struggled to get back on our feet. I started to work a part time job to help the family out financially. After we got on our feet, I started looking at different flight schools. We were informed that besides the cost of tuition and housing, students will spend about $100,000 more for their flight fees. I knew that this would be very difficult for my family and I to cover this extra cost. I did some work and found out that if I get my private pilot license before I go to school it would save about $20,000. I was able to start private pilot lessons. By starting these lessons, I have begun the long journey of following my dreams. After high school I will go to the University of North Dakota, which is a nationally ranked and renowned school for aviation, this is where I will receive my certified flight instructor certificate and training to become a Life Flight Pilot. I knew if I wanted to become a student at University of North Dakota, that I would need to keep getting good grades. I had to work on my time management, since I was going to school, playing three sports, taking pilot lessons, and holding a job. I have managed to keep a 4.0 GPA, I am going to graduate Valedictorian of my class this summer. I feel that this is my biggest accomplishment, it was way harder than all my other awards I have received for playing sports. I have really enjoyed my new community here in Washington. With the little bit of time I still have available, I wanted to give back. I have also volunteered at some of the local organizations in town. I have helped with the food bank, tutoring other students at my high school, FCCLA, been apart of my youth group at church, LINK leader, chess club, student council, NHS, and clothing drives. It has been amazing to be able to give back to the community that has accepted me. This past year has been the hardest by far. I am averaging 25-30 hours a week at work, playing three sports, volunteering, going to school, and driving just over 2 hours round trip to work on my private pilots license. All of this has shown me that I can accomplish anything I set out to do. Even though I have a lot of work still ahead of me, I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have set my goal and I am achieving it too. While there are countless hours of work to be put into achieving my dream, there is another factor, the price tag. This is the reason I was honored to be elected senior coordinator for the Quillayute Valley Senior Auction so I could help to set up a record-breaking year for the auction. I spent endless hours making lists and organizing who should approach which businesses. I spent hours keeping a perfect GPA, getting great test scores, and volunteering in my community. I participate in activities inside and outside of school. I was hoping my achievements would allow me to get the help I need to follow and achieve my dreams of becoming a Flight Instructor and Life Flight Pilot.