Crew Lounge: $46,000 in Scholarships Awarded at Projet Aviation’s 9th Annual Aviation Education and Career Expo
/
Approximately 600 students, educators, and parents attended the 9th Annual Aviation Education & Career Expo hosted by ProJet Aviation at Leesburg Executive Airport. The event, targeting youth aged 16-20, featured keynote speakers, industry leaders, performers, and demonstrations. Representatives from more than 50 aviation and aerospace businesses met with students throughout the day to share their experiences, and opportunities for future employment.
$46,000 in college aviation scholarships and flight training awards were awarded to students who submitted essays describing their aviation aspirations.
This year’s scholarship winners were:
- Sammie Lushinski, Stonebridge High School, VA: $16,500 Liberty University
- Duncan Campbell, Homeschooled, MD: $8,500 Kansas State University
- Ryan Kinzie, Brunswick High School and CTC of Frederick, MD: $8K Embry Riddle
- Sarah Morgan, Loudoun Valley High School, VA: $4K Monetary
- Maryclaire Muskett, Homeschooled, VA: $3K to Aviation Institute of Maintenance
- Nathan Eschbach, Gov. Thomas Johnson H.S. and CTC of Fred. MD: $2K Monetary
- Daniel Speck, Homeschooled, MD: $1K to Pittsburgh Institute of Maintenance (PIA)
- Patrick Beyer, Dominion High School, VA: $500 to Bowling Green State University (BGSU)
- Adrian Gairy Bobb, Tuscarora H.S. and CTC of Fred. MD: $500 to BGSU
- David Smith, current PIA student: $500 Monetary
- Christopher Watford, Virginia Tech: Ground School Flight Training (Aviation Adventures)
- Jeremiah Robinson, Eagle Ridge M.S. & Leesburg Civil Air Patrol: Ground School (Av-Ed)
- Casey Jung, CTC of Frederick, MD: Ground School (Atlantic Airways)
“This regional event is opening up new opportunities to hundreds of students,” said Julie O’Brien, ProJet Aviation’s Director of Marketing. “What we have been able to accomplish in 9 years is simply amazing!”
Scholarships were donated by the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), Atlantic Airways, Av-Ed Flight School, Avemco Insurance, Aviation Adventures, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Bowling Green State University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Greater Washington Business Aviation Association (GWBAA), The Hoxton Agency, Kansas State University, Liberty University, ProJet Aviation, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics, and Eastern Shell Fuels. Other corporate sponsors for the event included: National Agricultural Aviation Association, National Air Transportation Association, Toth Financial, USAIG Insurance, and Women in Aviation. All students that submitted scholarship essays were awarded IMAX theatre tickets, courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.