Students receive flight scholarships

Sisters residents Katie Ryan and Keegan Kroytz received unique full-scholarship opportunities for flight training in the amount of $11,000, thanks to EAA Chapter 1345 of Bend and the Ray Aviation Scholarship program administered by the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Ryan received a Ray Scholarship from the Ray Foundation and Kroytz received a Jack Watson Service Scholarship made possible by the local EAA Bend Chapter. The EAA seeks to improve the flight training success rate from the current industry standards of 20 percent to 80 percent for program participants. Local EAA chapters are responsible for identifying youth for the scholarships and qualifying them for the program.

Ryan will be training at Leading Edge Aviation and Kroytz is training at Bend Aircraft, both based at the Bend Airport. The scholarships are designed to support a flight student through both written and practical segments of flight training that are part of successful FAA pilot certification.

EAA chapters play a critical role in the success of the Aviation Scholarship programs. Chapters interested in participating are prequalified by EAA through an application process.

If selected, they mentor and support the scholarship recipient throughout their flight training journey. Once selected as a scholarship participant, candidates also commit to volunteer service with the local EAA chapter.

EAA Chapter 1345 is one of 900 local chapters of the Experimental Aircraft Association, the world’s largest organization for recreational flying.

It meets at the Bend Builder’s Assist hanger on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.