I have earned my PPL over the course of my senior year in high school. The majority of my hours are in tailwheel aircraft. I started in an Aeronca Champ, however, I was unable to solo it as I could not properly use the heel brakes, so the rest of my hours were in Citabrias. I believe that earning my PPL in tailwheel planes has given me a unique skill set, and has increased my love of aviation as its has been tons of fun. I am now beginning aerobatics training, and I am extremely interested in eventually both competing and performing. My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I would love to one day fly for any of the major airlines. My plan for the next year is to attend Oklahoma State University as a Pro Pilot major, and get my instrument rating. I would also like to continue doing aerobatics and flying tailwheel, since I enjoy it so much. I have received a partial scholarship from the University, however, I do have to take out loans since I am paying for my school on my own. I am also working as an ACT/SAT test prep tutor, and plan on continuing that, as well as finding a part time job, preferably at the airport. Go Outside, an organization that takes elementary kids to state parks, taught me how much I love spreading the joy of an outdoor community. My station involved wildlife photography; the kids were given free rein to roam the surrounding forest and encouraged to photograph their environment. A state park is by no means extreme in terms of wilderness, but for many kids, this was their first time being deeper in nature than their local playground. It was so rewarding watching the kids become more comfortable as the day progressed. My initially timid participants ended the field trip infinitely more confident in exploring their surroundings on their own. Every kid on that field trip helped me grow in my love for teaching. To observe so many kids become more comfortable and excited about playing and exploring in the outdoors was extremely fulfilling. Volunteering with Go Outside opened my eyes to the importance of encouraging kids to get outdoors as it is something I enjoy and truly desire to share with others. I know outdoor activities will build their confidence and provide fantastic experiences throughout their lives. I have been taught about the limitless adventures that could be found in the outdoors, and now I have the privilege of passing this love of adventure on to a younger generation. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I love working with kids. I find that I am most successful teaching when I am encouraging, motivating and excited to share my knowledge. A scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but in others that I will impact in the future, as I plan to become a CFI during my journey to the airlines. The professional flight program at OSU not only includes out-of-state tuition, but requires an additional $80,000 to obtain the necessary certifications and ratings. As a result, I have a very high financial burden in order to obtain the highest quality of education.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. After earning my degree from OSU, I will build hours as a CFI; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. I want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. Additionally, iIt is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry, and I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. I did almost all of my hours for my PPL in tailwheel aircraft, which has inspired me to pursue aerobatics as well as all of my ratings necessary for commercial flight. I have already begun some aerobatic training, and I love it! I am very excited to begin competing and maybe even performing in airshows, and learning some maneuvers has been my favorite part of my aviation journey by far. One area of my life I lead is as Captain of my cross country team. I became a captain by earning the position after already fulfilling leadership roles on the team, including organizing team bonding events, fundraisers and other activities rather than stepping into the position after being nominated. This is important because being a leader does not just come from a title, but rather how one chooses to serve those around them. As captain, I have a responsibility to my teammates and coaches that I must do my best to fulfill at every practice. I am expected to show up everyday and give my maximum effort, even why I don’t want to. Oftentimes I wake up early in the morning, and the desire to get up and run is nonexistent. However, rather than hitting snooze and falling back asleep, I remember that my teammates are showing up everyday and so must I. As a result, being a leader encourages me to grow as I do my best to be a committed and positive role model. While I may not be the fastest girl on the team, I can still be a determined and dedicated teammate. I believe this translates to the entire team reciprocating by taking on a can-do attitude and giving their best effort, making us a stronger team as a whole, and causing my teammates to become tougher both mentally and physically. This fosters a culture of perseverance and camaraderie as we all push each other to improve. Furthermore, I love having the opportunity to see the girls around me improve, not just in speed and endurance but as people. Girls who enter into the program as freshmen often tend to be quieter and more reserved. Including them in team activities, encouraging them at practice, and helping them feel comfortable in our team environment is one of my duties as a leader. Watching meek, shy freshmen turn into confident teammates and friends is an amazing experience. I find it extremely rewarding to witness girls I’ve built relationships with and grown to love, become better versions of themselves each day. Overall, I choose to lead because being a leader means growing every single day and encouraging the people I love to do the same.

Volunteering with Go Outside, an organization that takes elementary kids to state parks, taught me how much I love spreading the joy of an outdoor community. My station involved wildlife photography; the kids were given free rein to roam the surrounding forest and encouraged to photograph their environment. Initially the kids stayed close, unsure about venturing out. The kids gained confidence as I challenged them to explore further on their own. A state park is by no means extreme in terms of wilderness, but for many kids, this was their first time being deeper in nature than their local playground. It was so rewarding watching the kids become more comfortable as the day progressed. My initially timid participants ended the field trip infinitely more confident in exploring their surroundings on their own. Every kid on that field trip helped me grow in my love for teaching. To observe so many kids become more comfortable and excited about playing and exploring in the outdoors was extremely fulfilling. Volunteering with Go Outside opened my eyes to the importance of encouraging kids to get outdoors as it is something I enjoy and truly desire to share with others. I know outdoor activities will build their confidence and provide fantastic experiences throughout their lives. I have been taught about the limitless adventures that could be found in the outdoors, and now I have the privilege of passing this love of adventure on to a younger generation. I have continued to work with Go Outside and countless other organizations in my community including the Brazos Valley Arts Counsel, George Bush Library, and all of our local elementary schools. Other ways we can help our community can be small things, like picking up some trash at the park, or helping someone load their groceries in the car Oftentimes the smallest gesture can hold the biggest impact. Volunteering should not be considered a big commitment or a major time commitment when there are so many small ways to help the people around us. Reframing volunteering and community service could benefit the whole community by encouraging people to participate in small everyday actions that could bring major change. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids.

I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as how to learn from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others which impacts team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while remaining steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. As an ACT/SAT test prep tutor I must balance scheduling students around the country in different time zones, taking care of school work, running cross country and flying. I have to fit in all of my students within their time frames, as test dates are immovable and their performance is critical to their school or career choices. I raised my ACT score from 28 to 35 through practice and study; and earned a perfect score in reading on every test I took, and now enjoy helping other students to do the same. I have maintained a 4.31 GPA, choosing advanced and AP courses, while balancing 4 sports. I have earned First Team Academic All-State for each team throughout my high school career. I believe, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that will contribute to becoming a successful pilot. I am disciplined, organized, and genuinely curious in my study. As a woman pursuing aviation, I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flying is my dream and I have worked hard throughout high school to make it a reality. Volunteering with Go Outside, an organization that takes elementary kids to state parks, taught me how much I love spreading the joy of an outdoor community. My station involved wildlife photography; the kids were given free rein to roam the surrounding forest and encouraged to photograph their environment. Initially the kids stayed close, unsure about venturing out. The kids gained confidence as I challenged them to explore further on their own. A state park is by no means extreme in terms of wilderness, but for many kids, this was their first time being deeper in nature than their local playground. It was so rewarding watching the kids become more comfortable as the day progressed. My initially timid participants ended the field trip infinitely more confident in exploring their surroundings on their own. Every kid has helped me grow in my love for teaching. To observe so many kids become more comfortable and excited about playing and exploring in the outdoors was extremely fulfilling. Volunteering with Go Outside opened my eyes to the importance of encouraging kids to get outdoors as it is something I enjoy and truly desire to share with others. I know outdoor activities will build their confidence and provide fantastic experiences throughout their lives. I have been taught about the limitless adventures that could be found in the outdoors, and now I have the privilege of passing this love of adventure on to a younger generation.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot. I have maintained a 4.31 GPA, choosing advanced and AP courses, while balancing 4 sports. I have earned First Team Academic All-State for each team throughout my high school career. I believe, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that will contribute to becoming a successful pilot. I am disciplined, organized, and genuinely curious in my study. As a woman pursuing aviation, I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flying is my dream and I have worked hard throughout high school to make it a reality.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Oklahoma State University, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots. I have a proven track record of working hard, self-disciplined and excelling at studies. I raised my ACT score from 28 to 35 through practice and study; and earned a perfect score in reading on every test I took. I have maintained a 4.31 GPA, choosing advanced courses, while balancing 4 sports. I have earned First Team Academic All-State for each team throughout my high school career. I am disciplined, organized, and genuinely curious in my study. I have balanced a demanding course load with extra-curricular activities, including tutoring other students. I find that teaching others is most successful when I am encouraging, motivating and excited to share my knowledge. A scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. I will continue to volunteer with organizations to build relationships and encourage positive outcomes. The professional flight program not only includes out of state tuition, but requires an additional $80k to train for the necessary certifications and ratings. As a result, I have a very high financial burden in order to obtain the highest quality of education. I am currently working towards my private pilot license to keep my higher costs manageable. My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids.

As a child I had no idea what I wanted to do, as long as it was a "cool" job I would be happy. I nowA scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. I will continue to volunteer with organizations to build relationships and encourage positive outcomes. want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots. A scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. I will continue to volunteer with organizations to build relationships and encourage positive outcomes. I believe that young me would be overjoyed to find out that I am pursuing a degree in aviation. I think she would agree that we picked a pretty "cool" job and stuck it out.

I want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot. A scholarship is an investment in my education, and it will be a worthwhile investment as I love to learn. However, a scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. As a Certified Flight Instructor I will re-invest in my community after receiving my education. My long term career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots. A scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. A scholarship is an investment in my education, and it will be a worthwhile investment as I love to learn. However, a scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. As a Certified Flight Instructor I will re-invest in my community after receiving my education. I already invest in others as a test prep tutor, since I was able to work hard and improve my score, I love to help other students do the same. I want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to have the potential to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots. I want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot.

I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilotsA scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. I will continue to volunteer with organizations to build relationships and encourage positive outcomes. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot. I have a proven track record of working hard and excelling at school. I raised my ACT score from 28 to 35 through study and practice. I have maintained a 4.31 GPA in Honors and AP classes, while balancing 4 sports, where I earned First Team Academic All-State on every team. I have learned to be an encouraging leader, while serving others as Cross Country Captain. I have balanced a demanding course load with extra-curricular activities, including tutoring other students for the ACT. A scholarship is an investment in my education, and it will be a worthwhile investment as I love to learn. However, a scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. As a Certified Flight Instructor I will re-invest in my community after receiving my education. I already invest in others as a test prep tutor, since I was able to work hard and improve my score, I love to help other students do the same.

My career goal is to become a successful woman in the aviation industry as a commercial pilot. I am training now for my private pilot license and am committed to earning all of the necessary ratings to be airline ready. After earning my degree from Auburn, I will build hours as a Certified Flight Instructor; a perfect opportunity to teach others what I have learned and share my passion. While I have not decided whether I am going to fly for a cargo or commercial airline, I am confident that Auburn will prepare me to be a successful pilot. Beyond flying commercially, I am interested in higher education to train the next generation of pilots. I want to be a pilot because I have discovered my passion for flying! My papaw has his private pilot license and I first flew with him when I was about 3 years old. Now I love the feeling of leaving the ground behind while I take my own flights. When I’m flying, all I focus on is the moment I’m in, no matter how many tasks wait for me on the ground. I want to be a part of transforming the aerospace industry, a primarily male dominated field, to be more attractive and accessible to women. It is exciting to be a successful woman in a traditionally male industry. I want to inspire and challenge other little girls to follow their dreams without limits. Flexible work schedules as a pilot will allow me to do other things I enjoy, like teaching Sunday school or volunteering in elementary schools, since I also love working with kids. discussing how that experience or activity will make a difference in your success. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot.

1. I first wanted to become when I was 5 years old and my grandfather took me up in his plane. I realized how awesome flying was and what a cool experience it is, and I’m now earning my PPL in his old plane. Many people don’t realize that not all of aviation is done in a giant Boeing, and I truly love flying small planes. My grandfather first introduced me to aviation in a Mooney and I learned how amazing general aviation is. I’m is getting my PPL in an Aeronca Champ, which allows me to learn tailwheel and experience all the different types of flying which I love. My grandfather is the only person in my family with aviation experience, so learning has created a special bond with him. 2. I plan on prioritizing safety by not rushing through my education. I want to be completely comfortable with everything I will learn, so that I can be confident when putting it in action. Even if I need to take more time, I want to be sure I have learned everything the best I can. I will be very meticulous with checklists as well, even when I’m comfortable with a plane I want to be very thorough and detailed in everything I do. Although it may seem redundant I plan on being completely prepared in every situation, to best avoid any emergencies. 3. I am trying to get most of my hours in my grandfathers old plane, but since it’s a 1947 champ, the brakes are old, rusted heel brakes which don’t work very well. If I was any taller, or my feet were any bigger the suboptimal brakes would only be a minor inconvenience, but I’m not. I am unable to reach both the rudder and brakes at the same time, I cannot transition to brakes from the rudder when taxiing at any pace faster than a crawl, and I am only able to lock up the left brake for sharp turns. All of this means that taxiing is the hardest thing I have had to learn. I haven’t been able to solo yet, not because of my flying but because I have about a fifty-fifty chance of taxiing off the runway at least once a flight. This has taught me patience, and that not all aviation journeys are linear or equal. I’ve also learned the importance of prioritizing safety, as even though I most likely would stay on the runway, it’s not worth the risk to solo and accidentally end up prop striking a runway light or causing an avoidable accident. To overcome this I am practicing being more comfortable on the brakes, and taking every movement slow and controlled to avoid any unsafe situations. I am also now supplementing my learning in a 172, so that I will be able to perform solo flights while I figure out how to safely use the brakes in the Champ. 4. I have balanced and prioritized my class work, team sports and my job as a tutor with diligence and excellence. I have been a member of my school’s volleyball, soccer, track and cross country teams as well as club volleyball teams. Participating in sports has taught me discipline, commitment and honed my work ethic. Team sports have challenged me to have better communication skills as well as learning from mistakes and tough losses. My position as Cross Country Captain has underscored the importance of being a positive influence, to encourage others that impact team dynamics. Working as a lifeguard at our city pools taught me responsibility when charged with other’s safety. I trained and practiced making important decisions under pressure while keeping steady and calm. I am able to absorb information quickly and apply that knowledge to a given situation. I believe as a woman in aviation, whether in the air or on the ground, I have developed many skills that contribute to becoming a successful pilot. 5. My ultimate goal is to become an airline pilot. I will build hours as a CFI. As a CFI I want to prepare other aspiring aviators for a successful career. I want to be a CFI that will always help their students, in and out of the plane. A large majority of the aviation industry is made up of males, so bringing female insight is a way I would like to connect with fellow aviators. I want to make the aviation industry more welcoming to women, by being a woman that encourages others. 6. I have a proven track record of working hard, being self-disciplined and excelling at studies. I raised my ACT score from 28 to 35 through practice and study; and earned a perfect score in reading on every test I took. I have maintained a 4.31 GPA, choosing advanced courses, while balancing 4 sports. I have earned First Team Academic All-State for each team throughout my high school career. I am disciplined, organized, and genuinely curious in my study. I have balanced a demanding course load with extra-curricular activities, including tutoring other students. I find that teaching others is most successful when I am encouraging, motivating and excited to share my knowledge. A scholarship is not only a personal investment in me, but also in others that I will impact in the future. I plan to become a Certified Flight Instructor so that I can share my passion for aviation with others. I will continue to volunteer with organizations to build relationships and encourage positive outcomes. The professional flight program I am interested in not only includes out of state tuition, but requires an additional $80k to train for the necessary certifications and ratings. As a result, I have a very high financial burden in order to obtain the highest quality of education. I am currently working towards my private pilot license to keep my higher costs manageable.