EAA Chapter 179 awarded over $110.000 in scholarships to forty six recipients from 2017 through 2023, including Chapter 179 Scholarships and Air Academy Tuition.  Since 2017 we qualified for participation in the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program SIX times with grants up to $10,000 supporting our scholars to complete their Private Pilot certificate.

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2023 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</strong></span>

<em>Michael Wing – Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship
</em><em>Isabella Baldonado – Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em><em>
Sophia McIntyre – Reimer Memorial Scholarship
</em><em>Benjamin DeGuio – Reimer Memorial Scholarship</em><em>
Christian Guerra – RC “Doc” Weaver Aviation Scholarship
</em><em>Daisy Belmares Ortega – Luke Vaughn Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Nathanial Parks – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em><em>
William Reese – Advanced Air Academy Scholarship
Mia Alderete – Advanced Air Academy Scholarship
</em><em>TBD – EAA Ray Scholarship</em>

<strong> </strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2022 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</strong></span>
<em>Scott Hofmann – Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em><em>
Scarlette McIntyre – Reimer Memorial Scholarship
Ashlee Simkins – RC “Doc” Weaver Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Daisy Belmares Ortega – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship
</em><em>Veronica Bearup – Ray Scholarship
</em><em>Mia Alderete – EAA Ray Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">2021 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</span></strong></span>
<em>Scott Hofmann - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship
</em><em>Everett Taylor - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship
Vladislav Sevostianov - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Sergio Morales - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship
</em><em>Luke Vaughn – EAA Ray Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">2020 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</span></strong></span>
<em>Jacob Edington - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Jesus Perez - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Madison Thompson - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Sophie Haag - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship
</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #000000;">2019 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</span></strong></span>
<em>Taylor Jenkins – Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Matthew McKelvey – Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Kiera Bethke – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Samuel Cortes – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Christian Orehek – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Rowan Phlieger – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Alec Villarreal – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt;">2018 Aviation Scholarship Recipients</span> </strong></span>
<em>Madison Thompson - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Kyle Usiak  -  Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Luke McKee - EAA 179 Scholarship</em>
<em>Sam E. Baczkiewicz -  EAA 179 Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2017 Aviation Scholarship Recipients    <span style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><a href="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/2017ScholarshipWinners.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Presentation (pdf)</a></span></span>
<em>Zachary Andrews - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Nathan Mendoza - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Ryan Moloney - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Nicholas Pashenkov - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Kasia Segieda - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2016 Aviation Scholarship Recipients </strong></span>
<em>Riley Brainard - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Joshua Skeen - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Ryan Moloney- George Applebay Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Isaac Wilson – EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2015 Aviation Scholarship Recipients </strong></span>
<em>Joel Stribling - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Andrew Volgenin-Kulikoff - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Isaac Wilson - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>
<em>Mark Chappell - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2014 Aviation Scholarship Recipients </strong></span>
<em>Gerald Gayle - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Ruth Darsey - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Seth Rozzelle - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2013 Aviation Scholarship Recipients </strong></span>
<em>Leigh Tu - Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Jeffrey Salazar - Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship</em>
<em>Connor Welch - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>2011 Aviation Scholarship Recipients </strong></span>
<em>Justin Denman - </em><em>EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship
Maya Robinson - EAA 179 Aviation Scholarship
</em>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Advanced Air Academy Scholarship Recipients</strong></span>
<i>2020     Scott Morgan and Nicholas Romo  (scheduled to attend in 2021)</i>
<i>2019     Joel Inventor and Jesus Perez</i>
<i> 2018     Alec Villereal</i>
<i>2017     Sam Baczkiewicz</i>
<i>2016     Ryan Moloney</i>
<i>2015     Ryan Moloney</i>
<i>2014     Mark Chappell</i>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Basic Air Academy Scholarship Recipients</strong></span>
<i>2015     Ashley Fried
2014     Mark Chappell
</i>

<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Ray Scholar Recipients</strong></span>
<h3><strong><a href="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mia-Alderete.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-6425" src="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mia-Alderete.jpg" alt="" width="169" height="204" /></a>2022 RAY SCHOLAR, Mia Alderete</strong></h3>
Mia is the 6<sup>th</sup> EAA Ray Scholarship winner for Chapter 179 since 2019.  Mia has a passion for flying and has a dedicated commitment to fly for one of the major airlines.  She’s just making great strides to get her PPL, having completed her first solo in June 2023. And has been accepted to Southwest's training program to become ultimately a Southwest pilot.

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<h3><strong><a href="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Veronica-Bearup.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-5986 alignright" src="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Veronica-Bearup.jpg" alt="" width="205" height="196" /></a>2022 RAY SCHOLAR, Veronica Bearup</strong></h3>
Veronica (Roni) had also received a Junior ROTC flight scholarship to a school in South Carolina.  And just like Luke, COVID and an instructor shortage had her returning to Albuquerque needing about 12-15 hours additional training to complete her Private Pilot’s License.  To further upset her aviation training, she moved to Nebraska and needed to complete her training and take her check ride there.  All’s well that ends well; Roni received her PPL on 2 July 2022.

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<h3><strong><a href="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Luke-Vaughn.jpg"><img class="wp-image-5985 alignright" src="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Luke-Vaughn.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="181" /></a>2021 RAY SCHOLAR, Luke Vaughn</strong></h3>
Luke was selected as Chapter 179’s fourth Ray Scholar in 3 years.  He began his flight training at the University of North Dakota, having previously won a Junior ROTC flight training scholarship.  Because of COVID and a shortage of flight instructors he returned to Albuquerque in the summer of ’21 needing his cross-country work to complete his Private Pilot’s License.  He completed license just 2 weeks before heading to the Air Force Academy, where he is in the 2026 graduating class.
<h3>2020 RAY SCHOLAR, Sophia H</h3>
[caption id="attachment_3912" align="alignright" width="200"]<img class="wp-image-3912" src="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/1stSolo-Sophie-Haag-300x225.jpeg" alt="Sophie Haag, 2020 Ray Scholar" width="200" height="150" /> Sophia Haag, w/"Legs"[/caption]
<h3>aag</h3>
For 2020, <strong>Sophie Haag</strong> was selected, after she had already soloed on New Year's Day 2020.  Sophie proceeded to complete her written exam and passed her Private Pilot check ride in August 2020! Congrats Sophie!

Sophie is now a member  of the class of 2025 at the US Air Force Academy and will pursue her dream of becoming a military pilot very soon.  Congrats Sophie!
<h3>2020 RAY SCHOLAR,  Jacob Edington</h3>
With remaining funds, Chapter 179 selected <strong>Jacob Edington</strong> as a second 2020 Ray Scholar.  Jacob had just started his flight training, using the chapter scholarship. Unfortunately, Jacob had a serious accident riding his bicycle one day and had to curtail his flight training before heading off to college in Texas.
<h3><a href="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_2100-e1568250168627-scaled.jpg"><img class="wp-image-6426 alignright" src="https://eaa179.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IMG_2100-e1568250168627-923x1024.jpg" alt="" width="169" height="188" /></a>2019 RAY SCHOLAR, Rowan Phlieger</h3>
Chapter 179 was awarded EAA’s 2019 Ray Aviation Fund Scholarship.<strong> Rowan Phlieger</strong> was selected from 2019 chapter scholarship applicants to receive this $10,000 flight training scholarship to complete Private Pilot training. Rowan completed her PPL over the summer in time to start at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ.

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<a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=9Y4X5MZJS8A9Y"><img class="jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled alignleft" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/webstatic/en_US/btn/btn_donate_cc_147x47.png" alt="Donate Button with Credit Cards" width="152" height="49" data-lazy-loaded="1" /></a><strong>Want to Contribute?  DONATE TODAY!</strong> We appreciate donations of any amount to our main scholarship fund, <em>the Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship, or Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship</em><em>. </em>Chapter 179 is a 501c(3) tax exempt charitable organization.  Donate online or send a check to “EAA  179 Scholarship”; P.O. Box 3583; Albuquerque, NM 87190.