Alaska Airmen Association Scholarships

2022 Scholarship Season

Our members are proud to support the growth of aviation as an industry and lifestyle. We partner with aviation legends to award multiple scholarships each year, designed with the next generation of aviation professionals and enthusiasts in mind. We know how expensive the aviation industry is, which is why we are so excited to award over $60,000 worth of scholarships!

The 2022 Scholarship application window is from January 1st, 2022 through March 1st, 2022 at 11:59 PM.

How to Apply:

Obtain documented proof of Alaska residency. This can include:
1. A copy of your Driver's License/State ID
2. PFD Stub
3. A utility bill with your name on it
4. A notarized statement
5. A lease agreement
A letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your professional work ethic. If you are already partway through your training/education, obtain a letter from someone familiar with your progress.
1. One letter is required. You may submit more if you would like.
Click this "Apply Now" button:

Apply Now

OUR SCHOLARSHIPS

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PREVIOUS WINNERS

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Other Scholarships to apply for

The Alaska Airmen's Association's mission is to promote Aviation in Alaska. It is our dream to see more people catch the flying bug. We want to give you as many options as possible! These are a few of our friends in the industry, giving away some great scholarships.

- Women in Aviation: https://www.wai.org/education/scholarships

- 99's Scholarship: https://www.ninety-nines.org/scholarships.htm
  - Alaska Chapter 99's: http://ak99s.org/scholarships.html

- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association: https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/flight-training-scholarships?utm_source=you_can_fly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=scholarships&utm_term=members&utm_content=learn_more_button

- Seaplane Pilot Association: https://www.seaplanepilotsassociation.org/seaplane-scholarship/apply/apply-for-the-scholarship/

- National Gay Pilots Association: https://www.ngpa.org/scholarships

- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): https://www.faa.gov/education/grants_and_scholarships/aviation/

- Leroy W. Homer Jr. Foundation Flight Training: https://leroywhomerjr.org/scholarships/application/

- University Aviation Association: https://www.uaa.aero/scholarships.php

- Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association: http://amfanational.org/index.cfm?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Education

- Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA): https://eaa.org/eaa/youth/Aviation-Scholarships

https://alaskacf.org/blog/scholarships/2020-dream-to-fly-jeff-cheng-memorial-scholarship/

https://edubirdie.com/scholarship-map

https://www.aaero.com/aviation-scholarships/

https://aea.net/educationalfoundation/scholarships.asp

https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/students/flight-training-scholarships

https://youcanfly.aopa.org/high-school

Our Scholarships

Professional Pilot Scholarships

Who it’s for? Applicants who apply must have their Private Pilot Certificates. These scholarships are to help further their experience to potentially fly for hire; including but not limited to, Certified Flight Instructor, Cargo pilot, Major/regional airlines, Air Taxi, Law enforcement, etc.

CHRISTIAN D. BOHRER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - $2,500

Christian was a successful, young flight instructor who always looked to share his passion for aviation in Alaska's community. Christian was a natural teacher with a constant focus on 'safety first". Christian passed away in 2016, at age 20, when the aircraft he was a passenger in was brought down by a bird strike. Christian's dream to become a professional pilot will live on through the Alaska Airmen's Association's $2,500 scholarship in his honor, aiding fellow Alaska residents in pursuing their piloting careers.

This scholarship awards an applicant $2500 toward the pursuit of a professional piloting career.

MAJOR WILLIAM JAMES HEAD AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP- $2,500

Major Bill J. Head (Ret.) flew both fixed wing and rotary wing during his twenty year career in the U.S. Army. After his retirement from the Army he continued his flying for both fun and, on and off, as a commercial pilot. He passed on a great love of aviation to his two sons, both of whom have pilot certificates. Bill was continually on a quest for knowledge in whatever field caught his fancy at the time, and it is in this vein that his family wishes to help someone follow their quest to fly, whether for fun or for occupation (or maybe both).

"The person with the most gold when they die isn't the winner, it is the person with the most stories."

This scholarship was donated by Beluga Air and will award an applicant $2,500 toward the pursuit of a professional piloting career.

JOHN P. CULHANE PROFESSIONAL PILOT SCHOLARSHIP - $2,500

To his friends at the Alaska Airmen’s Association John Culhane was known simply as “Jack”. We are honored to be awarding $2,500 dollars to a deserving aviator, in the memory of one of our own. Jack contributed much of his time to the industry of aviation in Alaska, through his position as Director for the Alaska Airmen Association. We are proud to carry on his legacy, by helping the Professional Piloting industry grow stronger every year with a scholarship for a career seeking pilot.

This scholarship awards an applicant $2500 toward the pursuit of a professional piloting career.

ADDITIONAL ALASKA AIRMEN'S PROFESSIONAL PILOT AWARDS - $2,500 each

The Alaska Airmen's Association has budgeted $40,000 for our scholarship program! Our commitment is to help fund young aviators pursue their aviation endeavors. Thank you to all our members and supporters for helping us achieve this commitment!

Private Pilot Scholarships

Who it’s for? Applicants who do not have their Private Pilot Certificate and are pursuing it for any number of reasons such as: Recreational use, help with search and rescue operations, volunteer time for non-profits, become an aircraft salesman, etc.

JOE STANCIL JR. FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP- $3000

For would-be pilots looking towards aviation as a life goal and not a career, the Alaska Airmen partner with Joe Stancil Jr. to award a $3,000 private pilot scholarship. This scholarship is open to all Alaska residents who are in pursuit of their private pilot license and are planning to fly in Alaska. This includes building hours in the cockpit toward their private pilot license. Proof of ground school participation via letter from instructor or course transcripts and CFI letters of recommendation will be required.

This scholarship awards an applicant $3000 toward a Private Pilot Certificate

SUBURBAN AIR EXPRESS INC. - $2500

Suburban Air Express generously donated $1,250 and took advantage of the Alaska Airmen's matching funds to create this great opportunity for an aspiring Private Pilot

This scholarship was Co-Funded with Suburban Air Express and will award an applicant $2,500 toward a Private Pilot Certificate.

MAT-SU VALLEY 99'S - $2500

Mat-Su Valley 99's generously donated $2,500 to award a female applicant the opportunity to pursue their Private Pilot Certificate.

**Applicant must have soloed prior to application deadline**

This scholarship was Co-Funded with Mat-Su Valley 99's and will award a female applicant $2,500 towards a Private Pilot Certificate.

ADDITIONAL ALASKA AIRMEN'S PRIVATE PILOT AWARDS - $2500 each

The Alaska Airmen's Association has budgeted $40,000 for our scholarship program! Our commitment is to help fund young aviators to pursue their aviation endeavors. Thank you to all our members and supporters for helping us to do so!

Maintenance Scholarships

Who it’s for: Applicants who are pursuing a career as an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic, Aviation Maintenance Engineer (AME), or Aviation Mechanical Technician (AMT)

DON AND CAROL BEDFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - TWO SCHOLARSHIPS WORTH $2500 EACH

Don and Carol Bedford were a team. Don had earned his Airframe and Power License and was well on the way to a degree in aeronautical engineering when he felt impelled to join the workforce at Lockheed Aircraft at the outbreak of WW II. Don later joined the Army Air Corps where he eventually joined the Aviation Cadet program. He was transitioning to fighters when the war ended. He returned to Lockheed where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Tony LeVere Howard Hughes and worked on the P-80 program. in 1947 Don took a job with Alaska Coastal Airlines in Juneau where he stayed through a series of mergers to retired from Alaska Airlines i n 1993. Carols was from the Chicago area where she attended business school. She traveled to Alaska on a whim took a job at Alaska Airlines where the two met. Don was one of the first authorized inspectors in Southeast Alaska, an area where he remained active throughout the rest of his life. He also flew and restored small aircraft. Carol supported Don in all his endeavors, kept up with the billing and paperwork and "tended the home fires."

Two scholarship that will award two applicants $2500 toward the pursuit of a professional career in aircraft maintenance.

**One of the two awards will be awarded to a female applicant pursuing an aviation related career.

F. ATLEE DODGE MAINTENANCE SCHOLARSHIP - $2500

Atlee Dodge is a well know name to every Alaskan Aviator. His knowledge of the inner workings of Alaskan Bush planes is unsurpassed and his improvements for all things Super Cub are felt and appreciated to this day. The Alaska Airmen are proud to continue on his journey of airplane advancements by providing $2,500 for a student looking toward Aircraft Maintenance as a career.

This scholarship awards an applicant $2500 toward the pursuit of a professional career in aircraft maintenance.

SUBURBAN AIR EXPRESS INC. - $2500

Suburban Air Express generously donated $1,250 and took advantage of the Alaska Airmen's matching funds to create this great opportunity for an aspiring Aircraft Mechanic.

This scholarship was Co-Funded with Suburban Air Express and will award an applicant $2,500 toward a career in aircraft maintenance

ADDITIONAL ALASKA AIRMEN'S MECHANIC AWARDS - $2500 each

Other Scholarships

Who it’s for: This scholarship is open for all individuals interested in pursuing aviation related fields. Priority will be given to individuals looking to pursue aviation management, ATC, dispatch, and fields other than mechanic and pilot.

BOB ELLIS MEMORIAL - $500

A war hero and pioneer aviator, Bob Ellis’s passion for aviation was equaled only by his commitment to Southeast Alaska. From making history in amphibious airplanes, to creating an airline that ultimately became what we know as Alaska Airlines, to becoming Ketchikan’s town mayor and two term Territorial Legislature Senator. Bob’s enthusiasm for aviation in the Southeast is carried on by the Alaska Airmen by awarding a $500.00 scholarship to a Southeastern Alaska Resident.

This $500.00 scholarship is open to residents of Southeast Alaska who intend to pursue a career in the aviation industry.

BOB REEVE AVIATION MANAGEMENT - $3000

The original “Glacier Pilot”, Bob Reeve is an undisputed legend in Alaska for the creation and management of his Airline, Reeve Aleutian Airways. A company that served wild Alaskan villages and remote islands for over 70 years. He knew better than anyone the skill, patience and effort required to manage pilots. The Alaska Airmen award $3,000 every year in his honor to an individual seeking a career in Aviation Management, Dispatch or ATC.

This scholarship awards an applicant $3000 toward a career in aviation management (to include areas of operations, safety, & education), dispatch, or a career in the ATC field.

ADDITIONAL ALASKA AIRMEN'S AWARDS - $2500 each

CO-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS

As part of our commitment to considerably strengthen our scholarship program through additional funding, the Airmen's Association has been partnering with other community and industry actors to co-fund even more scholarships for Alaska's aviation students.

If you would like to honor the name of an individual or have your business recognized while supporting the aspirations of young aviation enthusiasts, the Alaska Airmen's Association will match your donation up to $1,250 .

For more information, please email scholarships@alaskaairmen.org