By Jeff Malcomb, EAA 680359
EAA Chapter 1328 (North Vernon, Indiana) Ray Scholarship winner John Reen (center) was presented with his $11,000 scholarship to earn his private pilot certificate by President Bryan Swank (left) and Scholarship Coordinator Jeff Malcomb (right). The scholarship is for promising students who are participating in their local chapter and have shown a strong desire to become a pilot. John was awarded at the chapter’s monthly gathering on Saturday, June 17.
EAA 1328 has chapter meetings at 9 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, a chapter aircraft build on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. encouraging youth participation, fly-outs, fly-ins, and two Young Eagles rallies annually. Our chapter has funded three smaller scholarships in the past to help promising students finish their pilot certificate, but this is our first Ray Scholarship that will most likely cover the entire cost of obtaining a private pilot certificate.
Our chapter is very happy to have this opportunity provided by EAA and the Ray Foundation and to mentor an outstanding young person like John. John’s interest in aviation was sparked by a Young Eagles flight provided by Bryan Swank a few years ago and he’s now planning to pursue a career as a professional pilot. John is obtaining flight instruction from Cherry Hill Aviation in Seymour, Indiana. John was chosen as our first recipient because we are certain that he will be successful, paving the way for future Ray Scholarship winners in our North Vernon EAA chapter. Congratulations, John!
Editor’s Note: John Reen flew his first solo flight on June 23, 2023, at Freeman Municipal Airport (KSER) in Seymour, Indiana. Congratulations, John!