Avionics News August 2023 - 56

F
AEA Educational
Foundation
AEA announces scholarship
winners for 2023-24
The Aircraft Electronics Association Educational Foundation recently announced the names of the individuals who were awarded
scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. The scholarship recipients are students pursuing a career in avionics or aircraft maintenance,
as well as students from AEA member companies. Individuals interested in one or more of these scholarships may download an application
after Oct. 1, 2023, by visiting aea.net/scholarship. The deadline to submit applications for the 2024-25 academic year is April 1, 2024.
Bill Barnes Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Plane of
Somerville, Massachusetts, is a student at
the National Aviation Academy. He plans to
obtain airframe and powerplant ratings with
inspection authorization and take the M1/R1
Advanced Composite Structures Fabrication
and Damage Repair class. After graduating
from the University of Utah in 2011 with a bachelor's
degree in economics, Plane followed his family into aviation.
His father was a pilot, and his mother has scheduled
private aircraft for 30 years. He plans to work in corporate
aircraft maintenance.
Chuck Freeland Memorial Scholarship: Matthew
Ruggiano of Coral Springs, Florida, will attend
the CTI Professional Flight Training School.
He started his aviation career as an apprentice
technician and received his A&P certificate
in April 2021. In the fall of 2021, Ruggiano
attended Gulfstream G550 maintenance school
at FlightSafety International in Savannah Georgia. He has
recently been to four countries, including Iceland and Israel,
to repair aircraft in the field. Ruggiano plans to continue his
career in corporate aviation as a technician.
Chuck Peacock Memorial Scholarship: Lei Huot of St.
Augustine, Florida, is a student at EmbryRiddle
Aeronautical University. She is pursuing
a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance
science, with a minor in avionics
line maintenance, computer science, and an
additional area of concentration in avionics
cyber-technology and security. Huot is a member of the
Society of Aerospace Technicians club and looks forward to
joining the aviation maintenance competition team. She also
had the opportunity to apprentice with a local chief aircraft
technician. Huot was awarded a summer internship with a
South Carolina-based aerospace and defense organization.
56 avionics news * august 2023
David Arver Memorial Scholarship: Cindy Le of Stafford,
Texas, is a student at Aviation Institute of
Maintenance. She is currently working to
graduate with an A&P certificate and has successfully
passed her written general exam. Le
is proud to be among a community of technicians
who appreciate the delicate intricacies
of aircraft and are uncompromising in efforts to improve
and uphold aviation safety.
Dutch and Ginger Arver Memorial Scholarship:
Cedar Sobek of Litchfield, Connecticut, is a
student at Liberty University and is working
to earn the A&P certificate. He has passed the
powerplant oral and practical exam and plans
to receive his airframe rating. Sobek plans to
obtain a bachelor's degree in aviation maintenance
and management. After graduation, he hopes to land
a job as either a lineman or mechanic at a small airport and
work in aviation management.
Field Aviation Scholarship: Alea Mclaren of Vancouver,
British Columbia, is a student at British
Columbia Institute of Technology. After
graduating in June 2024, she will work
with an array of aircraft to gain avionics
experience, specializing on helicopters and/
or seaplanes. Mclaren aspires to become a
strong representative for girls in aviation and STEM-related
careers. She is a member of the BC chapter of Women in
Aviation International. Since her schooling began, Mclaren
has received the Elevate Aviation Aircraft Maintenance
Engineer Bursary and the BCIT Alumni Association
Award. Her most thrilling venture was co-piloting a Cessna
172 to feel the fascination of flying and develop a deeper
understanding of what pilots require from avionics.

http://www.aea.net/scholarship

Avionics News August 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News August 2023