Happy Thanksgiving! My name is Wesley Franz and I am currently in a Part 61 flight school, studying to become a pilot. I was born and raised in Palmetto Bay, Florida. Where I spent much of my time volunteering all over my community through park clean ups, Eagle Scout projects, and events at the church. My troop was one of the largest troops in Florida, so every other Saturday my whole family would wake up at 7am and get our “mulching shoes on”. My recent volunteer work has been through Habitat for Humanity. I’ve been excited to start working on a build project. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been any in my area, so I’ve been volunteering at the ReStore which has been fun. I’ve helped accept donations from people’s homes, organize the store, and even help with a couple sales! I have also done research and soon plan on joining a local community farm that grows food and gives it away to those in need. I attended college at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Where I commissioned into the U.S. Naval Reserves upon graduation. I have been sailing the last 4 years. As the end of my commitment comes nearer, I have realized that I want to follow in the footsteps of my father (commercial pilot) and grandfather (Air Force pilot in Vietnam). Whenever I am shoreside, I have been taking flight lessons. I have recently finished ground school with a 97% on my written test. I have spent the last year working hard and putting away as much money as I could. I would benefit greatly from the scholarship because the lessons are prohibitively expensive and I had to use some of these savings to buy a car so that I can get to and from the airport. I appreciate all that you have done for your country and community. I express my sincerest condolences about the loss of your niece, Tracy. She is lucky to have an aunt and uncle like yourselves who keep her memory alive by helping others. Thank you for your consideration. Wesley