Local Pilots Giving Back with Scholarships

Local Aviation Students Get Financial Boost

from the Chicago Executive Pilots' Association (CEPA)

Choosing a career in aviation is an exciting and fulfilling option and the opportunities for advancement today are among the top choices in careers say many career experts. Airline pilot shortages are becoming a challenge globally as fewer young people have made a choice to go into the aviation field. As a result, many airlines are struggling to find competent, experienced pilots to answer the growing demands for airline transportation. Costs of training and the number of hours required to qualify for airline jobs are among the top reasons many students have found aviation careers unattainable. Yet, many options exist within aviation besides pilot jobs. Management, maintenance, and engineering are among some of the other fields a student interested in aviation may look to determine if airline transportation services are right for him/her.

Annually, the Chicago Executive Pilots' Association (CEPA) provides two scholarships to students who have decided to make flying be their career. This year, at the annual CEPA picnic held at Chicago Executive Airport, Logan Smith and Matt O’Reilly were awarded a $1000.00 and $500.00 scholarship respectively. Scholarship chair, Jason Simpson, said of the two recipients, “we were honored to give Logan and Matt a boost toward their dream to one-day fly planes commercially. The scholarship fund was created to help future pilots and members of CEPA are very passionate and want to help our young pilots.”

Awarding the scholarships, CEPA President, Madeleine Monaco added, “I have gained so much from aviation personally and being up close and very hands-on in training pilots, I see how this field can change you. As a Certified Flight Instructor, I have the chance to train pilots like Logan and Matt, seeing and experiencing their challenges and the breakthroughs when it all begins to click. CEPA is a highly dedicated and committed group of pilots and I am always excited for this presentation event.”

To learn more about the Chicago Executive Pilots' Association (CEPA) and the PAPA scholarships visit www.pwkpilots.org

To raise funds for the PAPA scholarship, raffle tickets were sold and the grand prize was a ride in this Citation Mustang Jet. CEPA would like to thank generous donations made to help fund their mission to help young aviators.