By Sharon Puschmann, EAA 1382843
Pilots come in all shapes and sizes with different motivations, drives, and desires. Some are inspired by family members, military ambitions, or dreams of becoming an airline pilot. Our 2023 Ray scholar, Josiah Harding, EAA 1481653, opened our eyes to something more.
The Ray Aviation Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship program that is funded by the Ray Foundation and administered by individual EAA chapters. Through the generous support of the Ray Foundation, EAA provides up to $11,000 to deserving youths to help cover their flight training expenses, totaling $1,800,000 in annual scholarship funding. Our local EAA Chapter 382 at the Greene County – Lewis A. Jackson Regional Airport (Ohio) was fortunate to receive one of these $11,000 scholarships in 2023.
At EAA Chapter 382, we hold in-person interviews with our scholarship applicants. It gives us an opportunity to hear from the applicants, meet their parents, and understand their motivations. Josiah (Joey) was a quiet young man who had just begun learning to fly at our local airport. Then, when we asked why he was inspired to learn to fly, he lit up. He told us that when he learned about the Jungle Aviation and Radio Service (JAARS) organization, he knew that he wanted to be part of it.
Founded in 1948, JAARS is a nonprofit, worldwide, mission aviation, and support organization with a primary focus on Bible translation support. Their pilots fly into remote areas to provide access to translators, support staff, consultants, linguists, Christian mission organizations, hospitals, and governments. Their services can also include medical evacuation and disaster relief work.
Once Joey found his calling, he focused on achieving his goal. He competed for and received the Lewis A. Jackson Aviation Scholarship as well as the Ray Aviation Scholarship. Joey made plans to attend the School of Missionary Aviation Technology (SMAT) in Michigan after graduating high school. In the interim, he decided to stop running cross country in high school and gave up guitar lessons to have more time to fly and study. Next, he applied for a job at the Greene County airport to be near his passion of flying. Although too young initially to become a mechanic’s apprentice, Joey started washing airplanes. Once he turned 18, he joined the MacAir mechanic staff — absorbing and learning as much as he could. This knowledge will be instrumental in helping him as he navigates worldwide areas as a JAARS pilot. While juggling this full-time job, he supported our EAA chapter by helping at Young Eagles rallies and meetings — even taking on the role as head grill master at our chapter’s recent cookout.
Joey became a private pilot on August 5, 2024. His family, his instructor, and EAA Chapter 382 are his biggest supporters. We all know, Joey, that you will achieve your dreams.
Joey packed up to drive to SMAT on August 21, 2024. He moved into his new location and met other SMAT students from around the world, all seeking to focus on maintenance and flying skills to serve God and others through aviation.
The sky above us will miss him being here, and the mechanic staff at MacAir will definitely miss him. But for Joey, the sky is yours. You inspire all of us!
EAA gratefully acknowledges Lightspeed Aviation, which supports the Ray Aviation Scholarship program with substantial and generous donations of headsets for scholars.