Growing up in Alaska gave me a love for adventure and a resilient spirit. Being homeschooled up until high school, I was able to enjoy the beauty Alaska has to offer. I grew up swimming in alpine lakes, hiking, snowboarding, hunting, fishing, and backpacking. During my senior year of high school, I learned to fly and I discovered my passion for aviation. After high school graduation, I spent a few years in Mexico as a missionary, teaching English, connecting with the local community, and spreading God’s love while becoming fluent in Spanish. My experiences have taught me invaluable life skills and have shaped me into a confident, hardworking, and compassionate individual. My leadership skills, attention to detail, passion for flying, heart for sharing the beauty of Alaska, and ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds make me a strong candidate for the Hannah Dollick Memorial Scholarship and a career in the Alaskan aviation community. In 2020, I went on a discovery flight in Willow and from that moment on I was hooked on flying! I fell in love with seeing Alaska from above and exploring places you can’t see from the ground. Not long after that first flight, I was able to start flight training, and I still remember my first flight lesson at Palmer Airport. The first time we lifted off runway 16, I remember thinking “I could do this for the rest of my life!” The winter of my senior year is when I got serious about becoming a pilot. Thanks to the Mat-Su Middle College Program, I had completed almost all of the required credits to graduate by my junior year, so I decided to dedicate my senior year to earning my private pilot’s certificate while I finished up high school. My flight training, like that of many others, was not the smoothest process. I started flight training in October of 2020. Throughout the winter, while living about 45 minutes away from the Palmer Airport, I would go preheat my plane’s engine a couple of hours before the scheduled flight. During that time, I learned the importance of maintaining an aircraft in winter in Alaska. As I learned to fly, I learned the realities of winter flying. I learned how to keep a plane safe in Palmer’s windstorms, the commitment and discipline safety requires, and to expect the unexpected. I appreciated the challenge that came with learning to fly in the winter; it made me aware of different conditions, scenarios, and problems. While the Middle College allowed me to dedicate more time to learning to fly, I still had a very busy year, balancing a part-time waitressing job, playing and practicing hockey, finishing up the last of my high school classes, and of course maintaining the plane and flying any chance I could. During that year, hockey played a significant role in my life as I was able to serve as head captain of the Houston High Hockey Team - which taught me a lot about being an example to others. Balancing work and school while learning all about the aviation world was intense. While all these parts of my life were important to me, I was focused on the big picture. And I knew that it involved flying. I had my goal in sight, and I was determined to make it happen. So, amidst the busyness of life and the disappointment of weather delays, having to change flight instructors, and not flying for 2 months due to maintenance, I took my check ride the following spring, and I was a pilot! I believe I’ve encountered my fair share of difficulties in my aviation journey, but my strong work ethic and determination to achieve my passions helped me overcome them. As cliché as it sounds, I’m so thankful for the hard circumstances in which I’ve flown and the hard lessons that I’ve learned, whether it be in flight training or since. For example, I learned just how much fuel you’ll lose if you sump your fuel tank below freezing. I learned how nerve-racking it is to see your plane rock against the Palmer wind. I learned that your fuel tank can overflow if you park it on a slope with the “both” fuel indicator selected. I learned how important it is to use all of the runway when I had a major RPM loss on climbout. Although no pilot wants to have these experiences, they have taught me the most about flying safely. Safety is embedded in every part of aviation. From doing preventative maintenance to making the final weather call, safety is my responsibility, and I commit to never take lightly the weight of that responsibility as PIC. I’ve seen firsthand what pressures can look like on a pilot, especially in Alaska. This past summer, I worked as a tour guide on the Knik Glacier, and we flew from the Knik River Lodge to the glacier in helicopters. I witnessed firsthand the financial losses from turning clients away due to the weather. This solidified what I already know and believe. I am very aware that the pressures of time constraints, personal goals, family or friends pushing, or financial gain or loss can never be deciding factors in flying. A mentor in aviation once said, “Don’t let anyone kill you”- meaning always be looking out for yourself and never assume somebody else has something covered. These are some of the things I will keep in mind throughout my aviation career. I have so much to learn concerning flying safely in Alaska, but I believe my leadership skills and ability to stand up for what I know is right will keep me on track. Two specific things that I focus on are not letting my surroundings distract me and not changing my habits when flying with others to prioritize safety when flying. There is nothing more important than safety, and I’m thankful for the community of aviators around me that I can rely on for advice and guidance. I believe my personal skills can have a great impact on others throughout my aviation career, and I believe in the power of mentorship. I have mentors in various parts of my life, and I am very grateful for the time and energy they have invested in me. Due to those experiences, I look forward to offering that same support to others. My experience with my church programs, missionary programs, and my younger brother have strengthened my ability to connect with people and my skills as a mentor. Currently, I have a leadership role in a youth mentorship program through my Church -FAM (faith, accountability, mentorship) groups are a purposeful attempt to inspire, encourage, and guide the next generation. This past spring, I graduated from a 2.5 year volunteer missions program (Adventures In Missions). My faith is a big part of who I am, and when I decided to dedicate a few years of my life to sharing my faith, I found myself being a mentor to people. Through the program, I spent two years living in Apaxco, Mexico, learning a new language and different customs and cultures. This experience taught me how to create connections, foster respect, teach, and learn alongside people from all walks of life. I have the ability and desire to connect with people from different cultural backgrounds - I think that skill will translate to connecting with the rural communities throughout Alaska. My ability to connect with people is one of my strongest assets. I have a deep care for others, and I can connect with people of different economic backgrounds, cultures, and ages. Part of this ability came from my upbringing. My brother, who is twelve years old, has Down Syndrome. As he is ten years younger than me, I was, and still am, very closely involved in his upbringing. He has taught me maturity and patience. Beyond my passion for connecting with people, I also have a passion for sharing Alaska with others. As a tour guide on the Knik glacier this past summer (also where I got to become friends with Heather Dollick, getting to work with her on the glacier!), I thrived being able to share with others a small portion of what Alaska has to offer. It’s a special thing being able to give someone a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I can’t wait to do that as their pilot! My long-term goal is to operate as a part 135 pilot specifically in rural Alaska. Alaska is my home, and I want to see the communities here thrive while being a part of it myself. Having lived in the Mat-Su Valley the majority of my life, I’ve seen just a glimpse of the secluded lives many Alaskans live in villages and towns like Yakutat, Cordova, etc. General aviation is essential in Alaska. It can be used to help bridge cultural and societal gaps, offer vital economic benefits, and emergency services. I would love to be a part of creating that connection with isolated communities.One of my dreams is to work with one of the programs that fly Alaska Native kids from remote villages in the Brooks range to summer camps. I think that would be a unique way for me to use my strengths to serve the people of Alaska through aviation. Currently, I am working as a full-time apprentice at Danchini Aero at Wolf Lake Airport. I am working toward earning my A&P certificate. I’m learning maintenance, aircraft systems, and making connections with local pilots. I have my private pilot’s certificate with a tailwheel endorsement, and I’m taking an online instrument rating course. If I was awarded this scholarship, I would use the funds toward my instrument rating, followed by my commercial certificate and seaplane rating. I would be honored to receive this scholarship and continue Hannah’s legacy of spreading joy and sharing her love for aviation with others in Alaska. Thank you for your consideration.