By Robbie Culver
In April 2024, the Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund reached a milestone of 500 completed Ray scholars who have earned their pilot certificate through the program. A corn roast in the EAA Chapters Pavilion was held on Monday, July 22, to celebrate the milestone.
James Ray served in World War II and flew B-17s, and after the war he was successful in business. He started the Ray Foundation in 1963 to use aviation to give back and help young adults learn valuable life skills such as self-discipline, self-confidence, personal responsibility, problem-solving, and decision-making. Learning to fly helps teach them those things. The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship was established in 2019 with the support of the Ray Foundation to fulfill this mission.
Chris Gauger, chapter field representative at EAA who manages the Ray Aviation Scholarship, said, “No matter what age you are as a student pilot, you are going to learn a lot in the process and learn a lot about yourself. For someone who is 16 through 19 years old like our Ray scholars are, that’s a pivotal moment in their life where they’re discovering a ton about who they are as they transition to adulthood. They’re learning all these skills that set them up for success, not just in aviation but also in the rest of their lives.”
The Ray scholarships are funded by the Ray Foundation and managed by EAA headquarters. Chapters in the United States and Canada can apply each year to administer a Ray scholarship. If the chapter is approved, then the chapter picks a young person to receive it.
The chapter can put out a call to young people who have taken a Young Eagles flight or participated in chapter events and activities, or it can make connections through a local high school that has an aviation program or through the Civil Air Patrol or other organizations.
The young adults apply through the chapter, are vetted, and if selected by the chapter, the youth then sends an application to EAA headquarters for final review and approval. If approved, EAA notifies the chapter, and the young adult may begin flight training as a Ray scholar. EAA then sends the scholarship funds to the chapter to be administered for the scholar’s training.
The Ray scholarship currently offers up to $11,000 for private pilot, sport pilot, or glider pilot training, totaling $1,800,000 in annual scholarship funding meant to help cover the cost of flight training. It is not only the money that is intended to help, but equally as important is the mentorship and support provided by the EAA chapter.
The chapter appoints a scholarship coordinator who meets with the scholar at least once a month to check on their status, help mentor them, and assist in solving any problems that come up. Other chapter members can help mentor the scholar, as well as provide direction and encouragement.
Flight training can be a difficult process. Having other people who are rooting for you and who can help you feel better about your flight training can help you stay motivated to follow through to complete your training.
The chapter application for 2025 will open on November 1, 2024.