2013 AMA Scholarship Winners

We are pleased to report the 2013 recipients of the Charles Hampson Grant, Cliff Telford, Toledo Weak Signals and Dorothy and Basil Cooper awards.  The number of applicants this year (23) increased as compared with previous years, and the competition for the top awards was, as usual, rigorous. 

The 2013 AMA Scholarship winners and their awards are as follows:

Alexander Evangelatos- – $5,000 Charles Hampton + $1,000 from the Weak Signals club = $6,000

• City/State: Westbury, New York
• Brown University: Mechanical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Began flying, modifying building with his father at age 10. Scratch-builder, aerobatic pilot, competing in fun-fly event and flight instructor for local Boy Scouts at his club.  Built an Extra 300 from scratch and states that his experience with radio control airplanes over the years, led to his choice of engineering as a field of study and future profession.
• School Activities and Community Service: Class Salutatorian, Member and leadership roles in the National Honor Society as well as the English, Math, Science, Music, and Italian National Honor Societies.  President of school’s First Robotics club.  Organized tutorial services for local elementary school students.
• Work History: Private academic tutor, data entry technician and website designer for private companies since 10th grade.

Ricardo Mirandes- 4,500 Charles Hampton Grant $500 from the Weak Signals club = $5,000

• City/State: San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Notre Dame – Aerospace Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Soloed an Ugly Stick at age six.  With his father’s assistance, built a Top Flite 172 that he flew for many years in local pattern and fun-fly events, eventually leading to 6th place at age 14, at the Top Gun in the Pro Am Sport category.  Currently flying jets in airshows: States that flying jets…has sharpened my skills as an RC pilot and a future engineer.

• School and Community experience: Member, National Honor Society, high honors in all courses; 1st place in regional science fair; Syracuse University 6-week summer engineering program; Puerto Rico high school football league, captain 2010 to present; participant in two church-sponsored mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
• Work experience: baby-sitting and local carwash activities

Magdalina Moses – $4,500 Charles Hampton Grant + $500 from the Weak Signals club = $5,000

• City/State: Falls Church, Virginia
• Virginia Polytechnic – Aeronautical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: Qualified for the Junior Team for the FAI World Space Modeling Championships, every year from 2008 to present; qualified for the Junior Team in 2008 in gyrocopter models; is in the process of designing gyrocopter blades, based on blades used in more advanced indoor FF model propellers; enjoys indoor FF models as member NFFS; scratch-built a matched set of a radio-controlled C-47 and an FF CG-4a Waco glider to commemorate her grandfather’s service in “Operation Market Garden” in WWII.
• School and Community Activities:  National Honor Society, Math Honor Society; Program Manager for Team America Rocketry Challenge; Project Manager for NASA’s Student Launch Initiative for two years; volunteer assistant at local elementary school

Dianne Collard – $4,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Olathe, Kansas
• Kansas State University – Electrical and Mechanical Engineering
• Modeling Experience: “Father, mother, brother and I, have soloed and upgraded from trainer planes.”  Youngest officer (Secretary) in two clubs; pilot, builder (and repairer) of many models (electric and gas); participant in fun-fly competitions (touch and go’s, spot landings, mock dogfights).
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society, National Physics Olympiad; leader member in First Robotics, local service club, Technology Students Association, soccer team (highest and most consistent scorer); ham radio operator; speaks three foreign languages (Korean, Japanese, Spanish)
• Work Experience: summer intern in mechanical drafting

Luke Grandland – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Oak Park, Minnesota
• Concordia College – Physics
• Modeling Experience: began flying at four as 3rd generation pilot, member if two AMA clubs, 3 D pilot of an E3D by Gary Wright.
• School and Community Activities; National Honor society, president; lettered in track and Math League; Central Minnesota Big Brother of the Year; Boy’s State delegate
• Work experience: website designer and maintenance for local web applications business

Aaron Greifzu – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Auborn, Illinois
• Bradley University – Civil Engineering
• Modeling experience: 13 year member of the AMA, began building at age 11, rubber-powered Stinson Voyager; E-Fest participant (Blade mCX, Parkzone Vapor); flies MS Boom with video camera; instructor for AMA grant to local club for radio-control flying at local community college.
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society, treasurer; football, letter; won regional and competed in state championship World Youth Science and Engineering Challenge; Boy Scouts, Sea Scouts, 4-H club member; volunteer for numerous church and community service activities
• Work Experience: employee and local sports shooting club as well as paid farm hand

Ryan Seymour – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant + the Telford Award $5,000 = $8,000

• City/State: Radnor, Ohio
• Mount Vernon Nazarene University – Accounting
• Modeling experience: began flying at age 6, scratch and kit builder of balsa hand-launched gliders; junior winner at regional and Nats contests in catapult-launched gliders and rubber-powered P-30s; designed and built ½ A control-line model; as Telford applicant and award winner, has competed in seven Nats and World Championships, achieving Senior Hi-Point Champ.
• Work experience: three years of owning and managing commercial and residential lawn-mowing business

John Flatt – $3,000 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Portland, Tennessee
• Perdue University – Aeronautical Engineering
• Modeling experience:  Began flying at age 9 and became a modifier/builder of his first airplane that led construction and customizing numerous types and styles of electric-powered models, from kits to models he created and designed himself.  Attributes his chosen area of study to his experience in model-building and design.
• School and Community Activities: National Honor Society; member Math Team, Science Club, Aviation Club president; senior awards in science, drafting and chemistry.  Volunteer in a number of local service organizations.
• Work experience: Paid “helper” at local tool and die shop; cashier at local antique store; “server assistant” at local restaurant.

Paul Gentile – $2,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Jamesburg, New Jersey
• University of Utah – Computer science and engineering
• Modeling experience:  began flying nitro at age 10 but has concentrated mostly on electrics over the years.  Has flown in war-bird events with his father, and has earned Model Aviation Merit Badge in Boy Scouts. Has served as instructor pilot and builder in numerous scouting events.  Is a member of Fair Use Building and Research (FUBAR) where he met and has assisted Rutgers University engineering students in quadcopter design and construction.
• School and community activities: recipient, First Robotics, Presidential Achievement Award where he has served as lead programmer; Eagle Scout with numerous leadership roles; participant in High Adventure Sailing and Sea Base Out Island Adventure programs; more than 1000 hours of community service, including local hurricane “Sandy” relief efforts
• Work experience: graphic design intern for Monroe Township Public schools; paid instructor at local scout reservation; aquatics instructor and lifeguard.

Kelley Saylor – $2,500 Charles Hampton Grant

• City/State: Huber Heights, Ohio
• Wright State University – Engineering and Computer Science
• Modeling experience: Began flying 5 years ago and quickly became interested in 3D helicopter events at the 2009 XFC in Muncie; taught himself to fly heli’s on a simulator and now builds and flies all of his own – listing more than 35 different models!  Currently a “field rep” for Compass models.
• School and Community Activities: ranked in top 7% of class of more than 400 students; community service in local Hospice RC flying event raised more than $2,500 for the event; will enlist in the U.S. Air Force upon graduation to help defer college costs – interested in unmanned air vehicle testing and design.
• Work experience; three years in local hobby shop in sales and repair

Jonathan Elie -$500 Dorothy and Basil Cooper Memorial Scholarship.

• City/State: Hopewell Junction, New York
• Currently Enrolled in Dutchess Community College – Aviation Science, Fire Science Program; plans to transfer to a 4-yeary SUNY school to major in Mechanical Engineering Technology and Aviation Science; plans to acquire an A & P mechanic’s certificate.
• Modeling experience: As an RC and full-scale pilot, he is active in 3 AMA clubs, a member of EAA, SSA, AOPA and a local full-scale aviation club. He began RC flying at age 13, is a scratch builder and repairer of RC and free-flight models.  He is a full-scale glider and powered aircraft pilot, currently working on instrument and commercial ratings in powered aircraft, and instructor ratings for powered and glider aircraft.
• School and Community Activities: As a home-schooled student, he notes that, “it’s difficult to say what qualifies as an extracurricular activity….” He enjoys a variety of recreational sports – skiing, snowboarding, photography and video production.  He has served as a coach and judge for Science Olympiad competitions.
• Work experience: Two years as a “line boy” and, most recently, a “mechanic’s assistant,” at a local airport.

The AMA would like to say congratulations to all of our winners. The deadline for the 2014 AMA Scholarships is February 1st. The 2014 application will be available in a few weeks.