This piece originally ran in the November 2025 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
The 2025 Dorothy Hilbert Award was presented to Carol Corona, EAA Lifetime 545619, who has been volunteering for more than 40 years. The award recognizes a female volunteer who embodies the same enthusiasm and heartfelt dedication to volunteerism that Dorothy Hilbert was known for. Carol’s efforts have impacted the community and showcase what EAA is all about.
Carol has been volunteering at Flight Line Operations since she was 15, sparking a lifelong passion for aviation.
“I was fortunate to grow up in Oshkosh and even live close enough to the airport to see much of the air show from my backyard, as long as I was willing to stare into the sun,” she said. “I first attended AirVenture … when I was 4 years old. My dad got me a ride in a Piper Cub — I sat on his lap — and we were able to see our house from the air. I even saw my mom hanging up laundry in the backyard! I have been attending every year since (1975 to the present).”
Carol started volunteering because of her dad, who worked in many areas on the grounds until he settled at the Flight Line Operations, but she soon turned to love it herself.
“I started volunteering because my dad volunteered since EAA came to Oshkosh,” Carol explained. “By volunteering I was able to learn about airplanes and make friends who had similar interests.”
Shortly after she began volunteering, her sister and four of her cousins followed, forming what they call the “Cousin Crew.” They all worked under her dad, Jim Casper, EAA Lifetime 56712, who ran the parking area in the North 40 until he took over as chair of Flight Line Operations.
As the years passed, Carol began taking on more responsibilities. As she learned the inner workings of Flight Line Ops, she became a crew leader and then went on to be the chair of GA Parking, taking over for her dad. In 2017 she became the chair of Flight Line Ops with her dad as a co-chair. “Being part of EAA is being part of a chosen family that also happens to include several of my actual family members,” she said.
“The friends I have met through EAA are lifelong friends. Many of us grew up together, and I have watched some of the younger generation grow up each summer,” she said. “It is truly exciting to bring more people into this wonderful family.”
Winning such a prestigious award means a lot to Carol.
“I am part of a volunteer group in which the less attention you get the better because if you are doing things right, no one should be hearing about you,” she explained. “My dad was also very humble and passed that along to me. So, I am incredibly surprised and honored to be part of the small group of women who have received this award.”
Growing up in Oshkosh meant being at the heart of EAA, something Carol never took for granted. Her hard work as a dedicated volunteer will always be remembered.
Volunteers make EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — and just about everything else EAA does — possible. This space in EAA Sport Aviation is dedicated to thanking and shining the spotlight on volunteers from the community. Sadly, it cannot capture all of the thousands of volunteers who give so much to the community every year. So, next time you see a volunteer at AirVenture or elsewhere, however they are pitching in to make EAA better, be sure to thank them for it. It’s the least we can do. Do you know a volunteer you’d like to nominate for Volunteer Spotlight? Visit EAA.org/Submissions.