The Heart of Texas Miniature Aircraft Club recently received an AMA Club Recognition and Reward grant for $75. The club hosted their 36th Annual Greater Southwest Jet Rally on September 6, 2018. The jet rally ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m and was free to the public but donations were accepted to fund a Texas State Technical College aviation scholarship. In 2017, club president, Steven Bird, requested the club members to think of ideas for a possible community charity which would be the clubs focus. The club came up with many ideas but decided on a scholarship that would fund a financially needing, local Aviation Program Student Pilot attending Texas State Tech College. The club agreed on an annual $1,000 scholarship to the board for consideration and possible vote. The board voted to grant the Scholarship which would be the clubs annual community charity for one local student from the county or immediate surrounding counties attending TSTC Aviation Pilot program who demonstrates financial need. The Waco Chamber of Commerce, Aviation Alliance Division helped the club announce the new scholarship to the local press and community at their first quarterly luncheon of 2018. In January 2018, the scholarship was awarded to Hunter Anderson, a local student from the immediate area. Donations from the clubs annual Jet Rally along with their Big Bird event and Spring Club 40/EF1 races all contribute towards the scholarship and the clubs maintenance. The AMA Club Recognition and Reward Program was established to encourage clubs to promote model aviation. The AMA offers clubs cash incentives for positive local media coverage for a public event, public service, club announcement, or other coverage. Click here to learn more about this program.
