Congratulations to our 2017 Cascade Warbirds Memorial Scholarship winners!

WWII veteran guests pose with 2017 scholarship winners. Photo: Dan Shoemaker

We had quite the diverse group of applicants this year, from folks who had aspirations to become animation illustrators to one who was already a rated balloon pilot. The number of applications was up significantly over previous years, attesting to the fine job done by Kerry Edwards and others in getting the word out. Now, meet your 2017 Aviation Scholarship winners.

Ryan Check is a junior at Woodinville High School. He’s a National Honor Society member, plans to obtain a mechanical engineering degree, and become an airline pilot.

Pavel Hoffelner is a sophomore at Issaquah High School and wants to become an airline pilot. He’d like to earn an aeronautical science degree and attend Central Washington University.

Antonio Martorano is a senior at Ballard High School and is currently a candidate for appointment to both the Naval Academy and the Air Force Academy. His ultimate goal is to become a military test pilot.

Austin Mix is in the Running Start program at Green River College where he’s working toward a degree in aeronautical science. He says the pinnacle would be as a Captain for UPS.

Blake Nelson is a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School in Tacoma and already taking classes at Tacoma Community. He hopes to finish at UW with a degree in aeronautical engineering. His grandfather was a Boeing employee and his father a pilot. His goal: airline captain.

Jake Peterson is a sophomore at Emerald Ridge High School in Puyallup and is enrolled in their aviation program. He intends to enlist in the Air Force after graduation and apply for flight school. After his service obligation, he’d like to become an airline captain.

With our partner, Galvin Flight Training at Boeing Field, these scholarships include tuition and all books and supplies for the Private Pilot Ground School plus two instructional flights. We thank Galvin for their part in our Aviation Scholarship Program and wish these young scholars the very best in their aviation careers.
And then we did something special for our 2015 scholar Alex Jonson. After he gave a brief report on what our scholarship had meant to him and how he was progressing in his aviation career, we awarded him a $1,000 check to continue his private pilot training at Galvin Flight Training.