I have admired the prospect of aviation my entire life. From a young age, I was fascinated by the large commercial jets that could travel thousands of miles in mere hours. Why didn’t we replace cars with these things? Why even drive when you can ride on an airplane? Due to this early experience with aviation, my passion for airplanes, and eventually flying them, began to foster. Solidifying this passion was my first YoungEagles flight with the help of my local EAA Chapter, Chapter 1219. In my eighth-grade year at Hudson Middle School, I joined the Hudson Aviation program. As a part of this program, I had the pleasure to take my very first YoungEagles flight. As we soared into the air, I knew that aviation was the career path that I wanted to pursue. Further solidifying this passion was the dedication of Mrs. Carla Ladner. Under the instruction of Mrs. Ladner, I was able to understand the basic fundamentals of aviation, rocketry, and unmanned aircraft (drones). Just last year, I was able to earn my FAA Part 107 Certification, allowing me to commercially fly drones for individuals or businesses. With this license, I have expanded my knowledge of drones and shared that knowledge with other students within our community. Last April, my classmates and I presented these drone technologies to the students of Hudson ISD’s Bonner Elementary and Peavy Primary. To demonstrate the abilities of these aircraft, we allowed the children to experience a flight with the DJI FPV drone. With Mrs. Ladner, I also attended numerous rocket launches at Critter’s Lodge, located outside of Centerville, TX. To prepare for the launches, all of the aviation classes would meticulously prepare rockets by fitting them with specific engines, fin designs, and recovery systems. When the time of the year came, we would load up all of our creations and head to Critter’s Lodge, owned by former NASA engineer Wendell Dillard. These rocketry endeavors ultimately prepared my classmates and me for the aviation field and our supreme goal of becoming commercial pilots. After Mrs. Ladner’s retirement at the end of the last school year, Mr. William Murray took hold of the program and has been able to provide my classmates and me with incredible opportunities to be able to become certified private pilots. Under his instruction, I have gained my Student’s Pilot License and passed my Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test, and plan to soon begin flight training with him. The cost of flight training can be high, but I am determined to obtain the various flight licenses available. After gaining my private pilot’s license, I plan to pursue a degree in Aeronautical studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, which has a flight training program and offers various routes to gaining certifications. My ultimate goal is to fly for a regional commercial airline, like Mesa or Horizon Air. Eventually, I would like to fly for a larger commercial airline, like United, that performs international flights. Once I finally achieve this ultimate goal, I would be able to travel the country and the world as a whole, investing my time in the study of new cultures and expansion of my aviation knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunities and support from my family, friends, and local community. Through aviation, I have found an accepting community willing to embrace my dream into their folds. Despite the outcome of the scholarship allocation by the Craig Huffman Memorial Scholarship, I will continue to advance my aviation career to the fullest.

In the glamourous cockpit of a Boeing 747, a half-full Starbucks coffee cup jingles as I pull back on the black yoke of the ginormous aircraft and the plane begins to ascend into the fluffy clouds that surround the airliner.

Soaring above the clouds, the Rolls-Royce engine buzzes as it slices through the surrounding air. Within the plane, the half-empty fast-food cup jingles as the plane's pilot prepares for his landing. The engine’s glorious sound comes to a close as he pulls back on the black lever, ultimately leading to the final buttery smooth landing of his aircraft. Since the time that I was able to walk, I have admired the prospect of aviation. Since then, aviation has become my sole dedication for my future career. In eighth grade, I joined the Hudson Aviation program under Mrs. Carla Ladner. She taught me the basics of aviation, rocketry, and drones. Last year, I earned my FAA Part 107 Certification, which allows me to fly drones commercially. Last April, my classmates and I presented these drone technologies to students of Hudson ISD’s Bonner Elementary and Peavy Primary. To demonstrate the abilities of these aircraft, we allowed the children to experience a flight with the DJI FPV drone. Afterward, the youngsters were filled with excitement and exhilaration, wishing to be able to relive the experience. With Mrs. Ladner, I also attended numerous rocket launches at Critter’s Lodge, located outside of Centerville, TX. To prepare for the launches, all of the aviation classes would meticulously prepare rockets by fitting them with specific engines, fin designs, and recovery systems. When the time of the year came, we would load up all of our creations and head to Critter’s Lodge, owned by former NASA engineer Wendell Dillard. These rocketry endeavors ultimately prepared my classmates and me for the aviation field and our supreme goal of becoming commercial pilots. After Mrs. Ladner’s retirement at the end of the last school year, Mr. William Murray took hold of the program and has been able to provide my classmates and me with incredible opportunities to be able to become certified private pilots. Under his instruction, I have gained my Student’s Pilot License and passed my Private Pilot Airplane Knowledge Test, and plan to soon begin flight training with him. The cost of flight training can be detrimental to one's wallet, but I am determined to obtain the various flight licenses available. After gaining my private pilot’s license, I plan to pursue a degree in Aeronautical studies at Stephen F. Austin State University, which has a flight training program and offers various routes to gaining certifications. However, if this does not pan out or I am given other opportunities, I would be more than willing to attend another school, assuming that, in the long run, I am able to fly commercially. My ultimate goal is to fly for a regional commercial airline, like Mesa or Horizon Air. Eventually, I would like to fly for a larger commercial airline, like United, that performs international flights. Once I finally achieve this ultimate goal, I would be able to travel the country and the world as a whole, investing my time in the study of new cultures and expansion of my aviation knowledge. I am grateful for the opportunities and support from my family, friends, and community. Despite the ultimate decision regarding the allocation of scholarship funds by the Future of Aviation Scholarship, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to apply to such a meaningful scholarship program.

Scribbling away at the board, it is difficult to discern what exactly is being written. He works with astounding speed, comprehending everything he writes before writing it. From an incredibly young age, I have had an incredible passion for mathematics. Throughout my entire school career, I have taken an initiative toward mathematics and the many things that the subject has to offer. Just last year, I competed in multiple Mathematics-related UIL events. Within Mathematics UIL, I was able to place and advance to the Regionals competition. Along with this, the Hudson ISD Mathematics UIL team placed first as a whole in the District competition. This school year, I have taken two dual-credit math credits, including both College Algebra and College Pre-Calculus. In these courses, I have been able to express my passion for math at a higher level of learning. Once again, I am participating in Mathematics UIL and am also have begun participating in UIL Calculator Applications. Next year, I plan to take AP Calculus to advance my mathematics career. Despite some of the negative connotations around the difficulty of the course, I am more than ready for any sort of challenges that the course presents me with. Along with this, the career path that I have in mind also heavily utilizes math. In the aviation field, math can be used to calculate flight routes, wind speeds, ground speeds, and other crucial information for flights. Without math, it would be nearly impossible to make any flights possible. As a whole, math plays an incredibly vital role in any sort of career, including my own. In the future, I plan to further advance my mathematics career and enjoy any and all math related content.

The door slams shut as the verbose music continues to play. The woman screams as she awaits her impending doom. Chopping at the door, the man finally barges in and says one of cinema's most iconic lines. "Here's Johnny!" Director Stanley Kurbrick's The Shining is considered one of the greatest films of all time for several defensible reasons. Kubrick pioneered the use of numerous technologies throughout the film, including Steadicam technology. This innovative approach to film-making inspired me to partake in many film-based courses throughout my school life and also better understand the meticulous work that goes into film-making. The premise of the film presents itself as a very simple narrative. The average American family moves into the Overlook Hotel in order to take care of the resort over the course of the Coloradoan winter. However, during this tenure, caretaker Jack Torrance snaps and attempts to murder his entire family. Sounds gruesome, I know. But this simple premise holds so much more meaning than what is presented to the audience on the surface. The film makes the audience question Torrance's motives and why he attempts to end the lives of his family. Was Jack possessed by supernatural forces? Did he intend to kill his family from the very start? After over forty years since the film's initial release, these questions have yet to be answered. Kubrick devised so many revolutionary story-telling narratives that it is difficult to determine what the true meaning behind many of the film's choices really were. However, one evident trait of the film was Kubrick's attention to detail in sound design. From the very beginning of the film, the most ominous creation of man engulfs the image of the Rocky Mountains as a minuscule 1973 Volkswagen Beetle continues towards the one and only Overlook Hotel. The film's main composer, Wendy Carlos, immediately draws the attention of the film's audience with the use of this ingratiating sound piece, never allowing the audience to breathe for the remainder of the film. As Jack's son Danny rides around the labyrinthine design of the Overlook Hotel on his plastic tricycle, the audience is able to hear the shift in surface type, from carpet to hardwood floors, due to the phenomenal sound design of the film. This attention to detail further envelopes the audience in The Shining's incredibly strong grasp. As the film continues to evolve, the familiarity of the Overlook Hotel truly begins to take place within the audience's mind. From the Gold Room, Room 237, and all of the other incredibly recognizable landmarks of the film, Kubrick is able to ever-so-slightly add another sense of perfection to his film. However, none of this staggering filmmaking could be achieved without the film's cast. The screenplay plays a big part in the film's success by adapting the source material by Stephen King in a way that highlights the psychological horror and the exploration of the characters' inner demons and fears. Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, Danny Lloyd. Each and every one of these perfectly casted actors are able to send a tidal wave of emotions over the film's audience and prevent them from ever deviating their eyesight from the film. The Shining is the most masterful film ever crafted and manages to be both terrifying and thought-provoking, with its ability to be a commentary on mental illness, addiction, and family dynamics. As seen at the tail end of the film, Jack Torrance will always be the caretaker of the Overlook Hotel and inspire speculation from myself, critics, and all members of the film industry.

Soaring above the clouds, the Rolls-Royce engine buzzes the air around it as it slices through the surrounding air. The engine’s glorious sound comes to a close as he pulls back on the black lever, ultimately leading to the final buttery smooth landing of his aircraft. Since an incredibly young age, aviation has been my sole dedication for my future career. In my eighth-grade year at Hudson Middle School, I joined the Hudson Aviation program. Under the instruction of Mrs. Carla Ladner, I was able to understand the basic fundamentals of aviation, rocketry, and drones. Just last year, I was able to earn my FAA Part 107 Certification, which allows me to commercially fly drones. With Mrs. Ladner, I also attended numerous rocket launches at Critter’s Lodge, located outside of Centerville, TX. After Mrs. Ladner’s retirement last year, Mr. William Murray took hold of the program and aims to assist us in becoming certified private pilots. With his commercial pilot’s license and CFII, Mr. Murray has tirelessly worked toward our education to prepare for the written section of the FAA Private Pilot’s license. By the end of January, I plan to have passed the exam and begin my in-flight training with Mr. Murray. After considering the numerous routes to obtaining a commercial pilot’s license, I have decided that joining the Aviation Sciences program at SFA University in Nacogdoches, TX would best enable me to fulfill this goal. Once I receive my many licenses, my main goal will be to gain hours toward a position at a regional commercial airline, like Mesa. After that, I plan to join a larger commercial airline, like United, or one which may perform international flights. Overall, I greatly appreciate the opportunity from the David Michael Lopez Memorial Scholarship to be able to pursue this career.

Soaring above the clouds, the Rolls-Royce engine buzzes the air around it as it slices through the surrounding air. Within the plane, the half-empty fast-food cup jingles as the plane's pilot prepares for his landing. The engine’s glorious sound comes to a close as he pulls back on the black lever, ultimately leading to the final buttery smooth landing of his aircraft. Since the time that I was able to walk, I have admired the prospect of aviation. Without being born within the Great Nation of America, I guarantee that I would be able to have a chance of pursuing this incredible career path in Aviation. Within the American promise land, anything is possible. The people of our nation are entitled to the right to vote for political figures that can shape our destinies. Citizens are entitled to the right to free speech, to bear arms, and to act out many other rights bestowed upon them from the Bill of Rights. Minorities who are born into the most dire of situations are able to rise over the numerous social challenges that they face and ultimately live successful lives. But most importantly, Americans have the right to the sole-defining principle of our nation, freedom. Freedom is what makes all of these things possible. Freedom prevents tyrants from invading our nation's political system. Freedom is what makes Americans Americans. In parts of the world in which people have been denied this right, tyrannical rulers rose to power and oftentimes created catastrophic situations for their citizens. After the end of World War One, the establishment of a democratic system of government in Germany enabled the German people to be able to vote in free and fair elections. However, one politician devised the total annihilation of this system throughout the country. After his rise to the role of chancellor in 1933, Adolf Hitler began the complete disassembly of Germany's democratic system until no traces of democracy were left standing. Until the end of the war, the German people faced the wrath of tyrannical rule without the promise of citizens' freedom. Acting as a polar opposite to this scenario, America has always enabled its citizens with this inalienable right of freedom. From its very inception, influxes of immigrants flooded the country to escape tyrannical rule and reach a new "promise land". With its promise of freedom, America was able to overcome its social and economical challenges to become the world's sole superpower. This role as the sole superpower has only since solidified Americans' rights to freedom. With this freedom, the students of America are able to achieve their dreams; in my case, that dream is becoming an Airline pilot. Over the last four years, I have been fortunate enough to receive the phenomenal opportunity to reach this dream by being a part of Hudson High School's Aviation Program. With this program, I have been able to receive my certification as a Commercial Drone Pilot and will soon be taking the written portion of my Private Pilot's License (PPL). Afterward, I plan to complete the remainder of flight training for my PPL and eventually gain my certification as a commercial pilot. To be able to pursue this, I have considered the numerous vocational schools that will enable me in pursuing this career. But at the end of the day, I must take time to reflect and realize the true reasoning for my opportunity to be able to pursue this career. The American principle of Freedom. The fundamental that has inspired previous generations and the fundamental that will empower the generations of the future.