scholarships

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

Thirteen students awarded a total of $50,000 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, $50,000 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 $1.1 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: Matthew J. Harmon (Peachtree City, GA): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Lucas Javier Gandarillas (Pembroke Pines, FL): $3,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Andrew Sabini: $1,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Benjamin Robert Mills (Ozark, MO): $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $1,500 Ryan Sherrow Memorial Scholarship Lily Gwendolyn Mikes (Oklahoma City, OK): $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Ethan Ater (Louisville, KY): $4,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Luke Young (Greenbrier, TN): $2,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Rylan Ritch (Magnolia, TX): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Robert van Zyl (Peachtree City, GA): $1,500, Basil and Dorothy Cooper Memorial Scholarship Nicole Kane (Arlington Heights, IL): $7,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $500 Toledo Weak Signals Club Scholarship Jack Spencer Ireland Samson (Olympia, WA): $3,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship Sabrina Fogel (San Diego, CA): $6,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $5,000, Clifford and Nancy Telford Memorial Scholarship Donnie Petsche (Chula Vista, CA): $4,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $500, Toledo Weak Signals Club Scholarship

The AMA Foundation has received a gift of $135,000 to assist with scholarship efforts.  The AMA and AMA Foundation would like to thank the family of Ronald Hesselbrock,Oxford, Ohio,  for this generous gift. Ronald, a Heritage and Legacy Society member of the AMA Foundation, requested these funds be allocated upon his passing. Ronald died on his birthday, Monday, July 22, 2019 at Westover Nursing Home in Hamilton, OH. Born July 22, 1948 in Cincinnati, he is the son of Loretta (nee Meyer) and Edward Hesselbrock. Ronnie had a passion for model aeronautics and built and flew model airplanes. Throughout his life, he enjoyed Ham Radio and competitive target shooting. He was active with the Butler County Sportsmen where he served as a Trustee, and he also helped with the 4-H Shooting Sports Club. Ronnie served in the Army National Guard of Ohio, and as a Reserve of the Army. He is survived by many cousins and was preceded in death by his parents. Ronald's contribution will  have a major impact on the lives of future students who participate in the model aviation hobby. Each year the AMA awards approximately $50,000 in scholarships to students pursing higher education. Ronald's gift will assist with these efforts for many years.

Dick Smith, 87 of Rockwall passed away Saturday, August 31, 2019. He was born July 29, 1932, in Dallas to Robert G. Smith and Theda Balcome Smith. Dick graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, OK, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout during his school years and later studied Engineering and Music at “The Oklahoma State University” located in Stillwater, OK. It was in the music department where he met and courted Norma Jean Collyar. He married Norma Jean on December 23, 1953, in Stillwater, OK. In addition to his bride, Dick had many loves, most notably model airplanes, but also playing the piano and singing. Norma Jean’s educational background was in music, so between the two of them, there was always music, piano playing and singing in their home. He took great pride in his home, always making home improvements, room renovations and working in the yard. He enjoyed building model airplanes from the age of 12, football, fishing, camping, opera, playing cards, especially Bridge, as long as the other players were experienced Bridge players. Dick was a mentor and was always willing to offer singing, automotive, appliance, home repair, and career advice to those who would ask and listen. His children generally left the room or covered their ears at the start of sporting events due to his very vocal critiques of the singer’s interpretation of the National Anthem. He was recognized as an operatic tenor, studying music at Oklahoma State, Evansville, IN, singing in Central City, CO, and the Armed Services choir. Most of all he loved his Lord and Savior, and his family. Dick took care of his beloved Norma Jean up until her death in 2007. He was of the Presbyterian faith, and a member of Sertoma International, Society of Automotive Engineers and several free-flight model airplane clubs such as The Tulsa Glue Dobbers, The Central Ohio Free-Flight Club and most recently, The Texas Cloud Climbers. Dick served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. A Celebration of Dick’s life will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2019, at Reflections Chapel at Rest Haven Funeral Home in Rockwall. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations may be made to The Academy of Model Aeronautics Scholarship Fund (https://amafoundation.modelaircraft.org/scholarships).

Thirteen students awarded a total of $50,000 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, $50,000 total was awarded to students. Student scholarships are awarded each year thanks to the generous support of AMA members and AMA Foundation patrons across the country. AMA has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships since founding the scholarship program. AMA is happy to announce that 13 high school graduates from across the nation will benefit from the AMA scholarship fund this year. The scholarship money is generated through donations by model aviation organizations, individuals, and AMA members, and a portion of AMA member dues. 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 others:

1. Robert Van Zyl (Peachtree, GA): $7,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship; $1,000 Weak Signals Club Scholarship

1. Stoil Avramov (Elkridge, MD): $2,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship; $5,000 Clifford and Nancy Telford Scholarship 

1. Sparsh Desai: $6,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship; $500 Weak Signals Club Scholarship

1. Thomas Holcomb (Marietta, GA): $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $500 Weak Signals Club Scholarship

1. Jacob Pulsipher (West Richland, WA): $4,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, $1,000 Ryan Sherrow Memorial Scholarship

1. Joseph Thibodeau (Appling, GA): $4,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Trevor Burke (Dallas): $3,500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Kyle Albrecht (Fenton, MI): $3,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Darius Rieger (Cape Elizabeth, ME): $2,500, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Julia Minicozzi (Babylon, NY): $2,000, Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Linda Markham (Carrollton, GA): $1,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

1. Joshua McCreary (Suffolk, VA): $1,000 Basil and Dorothy Cooper Memorial Scholarship

1. Edward Bukowski (Parkland, FL): $500 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship

Every year the Weak Signals club (link is external) of Toledo, OH sells raffle tickets to those attending the Toledo R/C Expo show to raise money in support of the AMA’s scholarship program. This year, the club raised $1,000 for AMA scholarships.

This donation will be split between this year’s top three AMA scholarship award recipients.

We would like to thank the members of the Toledo Weak Signals for the continued support of the scholarship program.

Learn more about the Weak Signals RC club on modelaircraft.org.

Terry Wiles and his wife won an AMA Goldberg award with a check for $200. After receiving the award with the check, the Wiles decided that they wanted to give back to the District IX Camp AMA Scholarship Fund. In the fall of 2015, Jim Tiller was new to the AMA Executive Council. Tiller was informed of a young man who would be a great candidate for Camp AMA. After returning home from an event, Tiller had received an $800 donation from the 95th Street Club in Kansas City to go towards money for AMA youth programs. The check was a memorial taken up by the club for one of their longtime members, Darrell Watts. After receiving the check, it was arranged for Matt Carlson to be the first recipient of the District IX Camp AMA Scholarship. With the generosity of local clubs and members like Terry Wiles, five more tuition scholarships have been given since the first. The recipients have been Toby Ray, Denver, CO, Austin Axmann, Kansas City, KS, Ethan Thibault, Rapid City, SD, Morgan Young, Denver, CO and Ashton Newton, Dakota City, NE. In February 2019, Wiles and his wife decided to donate 24 lasered cups from their business which is about $200 worth in their cost. By selling the cups, Wiles figured it would bring in around $480 to the scholarship fund. The cups sold in one day so they lasered an additional 24 cups which also sold in one day. The Wiles expect to raise over $1000 from the original $200 Goldberg check.