2021

Twelve students awarded a total of $59,360 for academic pursuits

The Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) has helped graduating seniors achieve their dreams since 1970, with individual scholarships ranging from $500 to $8,000 each year. This year, $59,360 was awarded to students. Student scholarships are awarded each year thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation donors across the country. AMA has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships since founding the scholarship program.

Award designations are set by the AMA Scholarship Committee, which is made up of model aviation pilots and enthusiasts. The committee evaluates each application and ranks it based on GPA, community involvement, model flying experience, and model flying competition participation.

AMA and its foundation want to thank each family that has contributed to the memorial scholarships, as well as the hundreds of other donors to the scholarship program. Without their generous contributions, these gifts would not be possible.

AMA would like to congratulate the following students who have been selected this year to receive the Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and other scholarships:

Jack Tian (Fullerton, CA): $11,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship; $1,500 Ryan Sherrow Memorial Scholarship

Jacob Shutic (Painesville, OH): $8,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Joshua Shutic (Painesville, OH): $8,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Roman Stalick (Longview, WA): $6,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Zack Cozzolino (Pueblo, CO): $5,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Adealaide Machado Ulm (Fairfax, VA): $4,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Elihu Conant-Haque (Greenfield Center, NY): $4,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Joseph Daly (Lynbrook, NY): $3,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Titus Smith (Elizabeth, CO): $3,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Ivan Valishev (Geneva, IL): $2,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship; $5,000 Clifford and Nancy Telford Memorial Scholarship

Dalton Rogers (Houston, TX): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Ryan Wheless (Flagstaff, AZ): $1,360 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Mark Sedlak: $1,500 Basil and Dorothy Cooper Memorial Scholarship

 

A total of $65,431.12 has been awarded in grants.

Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of the Flying Site Improvement Grant and the Take Off and Grow Grant.

 

Flying Site Improvement Grant (FSIG)

34 clubs were awarded Flying Site Improvement Grants in 2021! AMA established the Flying Site Improvement Grant program to invest in the continued improvement and growth of AMA chartered clubs and fields. Grant funding is provided through an allocation of membership dues each year as well as from funding from the AMA Foundation. These clubs are making a difference in the model aviation community, and the communities in which they operate. This year, $53,497.87 was awarded.

Fairborn Flying Aces RC Club

Kent County Aeromodelers Inc.

LoveAir RC Club

Corsair Model Aircraft Club

Aero Radio Club of Syracuse (ARCS)

Las Vegas Soaring Club

Boerne Area Model Society (BAMS)

R I Aeromodelers

River City Radio Controllers

Greater Southwest Aeromodelers

Tulip City Air Force Model Airplane Club

York County Flyers

Clovis Area Modelers

Indianapolis Radio Control Modelers Club

Casper Airmodelers Association

Texoma RC Modelers

Johnston County Aeromodeling Club (JCAC)

Fox Valley Aero Club

Millersburg R/C Modelers

Desert Eagles Model Airplane Flying Club

Catalina RC Modelers, Inc.

Blennerhassett Area RC

Susquehanna Valley Modelers

Raleigh Durham Radio Control Club

Kansas City Radio Control Club

Northern VA RC Club Inc.

Wingbusters Model Aircraft Club

Old Town Valley Flyers RC Club

Southeast Missouri Modelers Association

South Davis Modelers

American Turf Flyers and Sportman's Club, Inc.

Snohomish Radio Aero Club

Flying Pilgrims

Midwest Air Wing R/C Club

$581.25

$843.48

$962.00

$2,794.65

$1,010.34

$1,270.12

$1,386.58

$1,061.73

$1,101.17

$1,066.72

$3,000.00

$494.53

$3,000.00

$1,276.67

$436.06

$902.00

$628.45

$170.00

$3,000.00

$443.75

$3,000.00

$293.06

$1,346.17

$3,000.00

$437.34

$1,324.23

$3,000.00

$1,479.00

$2,852.81

$3,000.00

$344.66

$3,000.00

$3,000.00

$1,991.10

 

Take Off and Grow (TAG) Grant

14 clubs were awarded Take Off and Grow Grants in 2021! AMA Awards up to $1,000.00 to clubs that implement a Take Off and Grow (TAG) program in the local communities. TAG programs provide newcomers to model aviation an opportunity to learn about the hobby as well as practice flying model aircraft with experienced club members. TAG grants are awarded each year, thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation donors across the country. This year, $11,933.25 was awarded.

Flying Knights MAC

Flying WingNutz of WV

Colonel's Flyin' Aces

Seminole RC Club

Central Alabama Sport Flyers

Huntington County Modelers

Anderson Preparatory Academy

Indianapolis Radio Control Modelers Club

Paducah Aeromodelers

Capital Area Radio Drone Squadron

Casper Airmodelers Association

Tucson RC Club

Casa Grande RC Flyers

Xaviators

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

$723.25

$400.00

$1,000.00

$910.00

$1,000.00

$500.00

$500.00

$900.00

$1,000.00

$1,000.00

In August of 2020, the Lone Tree RC Flyers' flying site experienced damage due to a Derecho that passed through their area. The wind storm tore up their runway from the right edge up to the center seam. This was previously fastened with 12" staples and roof sealant, but it still wasn't strong enough to withstand the wind. The remaining fabric on the left side of the runway suffered damages as well; patches of tears and holes between the fibers running the length of the runway that were not repairable.

After assessing the damage to the runway and evaluating their budget, the club decided to apply for AMA's Disaster Relief Grant and was awarded the maximum amount of $500 to help rebuild their site. With the grant money, the Lone Tree RC Flyers were able to purchase two 300 foot rools of runway fabric that they will be laying down in the Spring of 2021.