February 2008 173
Ryan Naccarato
Ryan Naccarato of Burbank,
California, is the recipient of an
$8,500 Charles Hampson Grant
Scholarship, a $5,000 Telford
Scholarship, and a $2,500 Toledo
Weak Signals Club award. He is
receiving $16,000 from various
scholarship programs.
Completing high school with a
cumulative GPA of 3.96 out of a
possible 4.49, Ryan graduated from
John Burroughs High School.
As a Boy Scout, Ryan has
volunteered much time to his
community. He has performed
numerous hours of service working
at local parks, churches, museums, and wildlife reserves and recently
attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Ryan has taken part in the Odyssey of the Mind, an international
educational program that provides creative problem-solving
opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. He
received first place regionally through the program. Additionally,
Ryan participated two years in Mathematical Modeling where teams
of undergraduates use mathematical modeling to present their
solutions to real-world problems.
Ryan is the son of Tony Naccarato Jr. and grandson of Addie
Mae Naccarato. Both well-known aeromodelers, it is easy to see
where Ryan got his knack for flying as well as desire. He is a
member of the Black Sheep Squadron, originally named the Black
Sheep Exhibitionists, founded by his father.
As a member of the Black Sheep Squadron, Ryan has had the
opportunity to teach at schools and attend shows such as the AMA
Convention to fly and demonstrate models. He enjoys flying all
types of models from RC to hand-launched gliders (HLG). He
especially enjoys FF models of all types.
“I fondly recall memories of chasing models around the desert on
my motorcycle and timing them at events,” Ryan wrote.
Ryan is an avid modeling competitor. Beginning in 1995, he has
competed in events including the United States FF Championships,
the Navy Carrier Society’s Carrier Championships, and the Black
Sheep FF Championships. Ryan holds two Indoor HLG national
records, the first when he was 9 years old, and took two first places
in CL Navy Carrier at the 2004 Nats.
Although a full-time student, Ryan found the time to maintain a
few jobs. He worked at his father’s hobby shop, T & A Hobby
Lobby. He also spent summers at a 9-5 job working at a
manufacturing company in Los Angeles as a CAD operator.
Ryan plans to attend the University of California at Davis. He
intends to double major in chemistry and mathematics to fulfill his
dream to be an anesthesiologist.
Congratulations and good luck at the University of California!
Nathan Rice
Nathan Rice of Spring Mills,
Pennsylvania, is the recipient of a
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
totaling $7,500. He is a graduate of
Penns Valley Area Junior/High
School where he was one of 11
valedictorians in his class with a 4.0
out of a possible 4.0.
Nathan was involved in the
National Honor Society, Science
Olympiad, Technology Student
Association (TSA), and the F1 in
Schools program. Through TSA,
Nathan competed in Flight
Endurance and earned third place at
the state level. He also competed in
CAD Animation Engineering 3D and earned first place in the
national competition held in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the F1 in Schools competition, Nathan served as a design and
manufacturing engineer on a five-person team. His team placed
second and earned Judges’ Choice at the state competition. At the
national level, the team placed fourth. “This was our school’s first
year in the program,” Nathan wrote. “I think we did pretty good!”
Nathan was part of the school’s concert band playing the clarinet.
He took part in the school’s jazz band playing baritone sax and has
played piano since he was in third grade.
In the community, Nathan participated in many club
demonstrations. Each year he volunteers for his church’s Harrisburg
Service Retreat, which benefits a poor community in the inner city
of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Joining AMA in 2003, Nathan was hooked on RC flight. A
demonstration put on by the State College Radio Control club
(SCRC) inspired him. Nathan is now part of SCRC and even
participates in the demonstrations that first peaked his interest. A
strong interest in helicopters has encouraged him to learn to fly his
Century Hawk Sport 30.
For his high school graduation project, Nathan assembled a Great
Planes Ultra Sport 40 Plus from a kit. He continues to fly the Ultra
Sport and Hawk Sport occasionally, but his favorite model is a
Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Pro graphite 60. Nathan is in the process
SINCE 1970, the Academy of Model
Aeronautics has provided scholarships to
young men and women seeking to continue
their education in colleges and universities.
The primary awards are presented through
the Charles Hampson Grant scholarships.
In 2007, six individuals received a
portion of the $35,000 Charles Hampson
Grant awards. These monies came from a
variety of sources including gifts,
memorials, and the AMA general fund.
The top winner of the Grant award also
receives an award provided by the Toledo
Weak Signals from monies generated from
the club’s annual trade show and
exposition. This year the Weak Signals
contributed $2,500.
An additional scholarship program
awarded funds this year. The Sig award, a
memorial in honor of the late Glenn
Sigafoose, is presented by Hazel Sig-Hester
and Sig Manufacturing Company. Given to
one or more individuals, the award is based
upon financial need and aeromodeling
activity. This year’s scholarship was
$3,500.
A new program, the Telford
Scholarship, honoring the late Cliff Telford,
is based on participation in competition
activity in the AMA and FAI classifications
including national and world-class
competition. This year the award was
$5,000.
This year, 14 applicants met the
established criteria and were considered by
the committee. Evaluated by a four-member
committee, the applicants are rated in
several major areas including grade
average, test results, school and community
activities, and modeling activities. High
achievement in all of the categories is
important for the maximum amount of
scholarship awarded to an individual.
Again this year, the committee members
were extremely close to one another in their
evaluations of the applications. Six students
were granted awards this year out of 14
applicants and $46,000 was awarded in all.
The students’ planned majors include
chemistry and mathematics, mechanical
engineering, commercial aviation,
architecture, and business.
Information regarding applications may
be obtained from Jack Frost at AMA
Headquarters or from the AMA Education
Web site at http://www.modelaircraft.org/
education.aspx.
2007 Scholarship Recipientsof building an airplane on CAD software based off the Jack Barns
Racer, which was featured in the September 2005 MA.
Nathan’s career plan is appropriate as his past work experience
follows the same path. He worked with a friend’s dad in housing
construction. He took up working for Nittany Engineering &
Associates, LLC, working as a CAD draftsman for the firm.
Nathan plans to attend Pennsylvania State University enrolled in
its architecture program. He is one of only 75 students accepted into
the program each year.
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best in your
future.
Brian Gilkey
Brian Gilkey of Sterling Heights, Michigan, is the recipient of a
$5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and $1,750 Sig
Memorial Scholarship with a combined total of $6,750 awarded
from the AMA Scholarship Program. Brian graduated magna cum
laude from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.
Extra-curricular activities were a big part of Brian’s high school
career. He played football and
baseball for several years.
Brian traveled with the school’s
marching band to perform at places
including the Detroit Thanksgiving
Day Parade, Disney World, and
Carnegie Hall. The band took part
in the City of Romeo’s Peach
Festival/Memorial Day Parade.
Brian dedicated time to helping
those less fortunate. He performed
community service through the
Macomb County Rotating
Emergency Shelter Team
(MCREST) Foundation, Meals on
Wheels, and other various groups
affiliated with his church to assist
the homeless. Through Brian’s
involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, he organized and
collected for canned food drives.
Hard work is not foreign to Brian since he has held several odd
jobs since the age of 12. He babysat, mowed and raked lawns in his
neighborhood, and was the equipment assistant for the Great Lakes
Sweet Adeline Chorus.
Brian’s first regular job was writing for a national modeling
magazine. He worked with his dad to co-write the monthly “Combat
Ribbons” column in RC Report.
Brian worked in the engineering department of TRW automotive
as a design/engineering systems intern. He also worked at Wendy’s,
an experience he believes helped him learn about working with
others as a team.
Modeling has been a part of Brian’s life since he was six years
old. He started out building AMA Cubs and other FF designs. He
gained experience assembling different types of gliders and rubber
band-powered models. Brian’s favorite thing to do was designing
and building his own models.
Over the years, Brian experimented with all facets of model
aviation. He worked with his father to build and then experience all
forms of flight. When he was 8 years old, Brian soloed in RC. He
went on to compete in various competitions including fun-flys,
aerobatic contests, and RC Combat.
RC Combat is arguably Brian’s favorite type of flight and
competition. He has competed in Nats events for two years in the
RC Combat Open and Scale categories. Brian has received first- and
second-place finishes in both.
Brian plans to attend Kettering University with an intended major
in mechanical engineering.
AMA wishes you well, Brian, and congratulations!
Nathan Bush
Nathan Bush of Milan, Illinois, is the recipient of a $6,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. The son of Steve and Julie
Bush, Nathan has a great deal of aviation experience.
Graduating with academic
honors from Alleman Catholic
High School, Nathan made the
Honor Roll, Principal’s List, and
was a member of the National
Honor Society. He ran track and
cross-country receiving a Most
Improved Award and serving a
year as team captain.
Leadership is a strong quality of
Nathan’s. He was president, vice
president, and secretary of the
Rockridge Royals 4-H Club. He
was student ambassador for his
high school, table leader for his
junior retreat, and core leader for
the Saint Maria Goretti Youth
Group.
Nathan has a wide range of community involvement. He actively
participated in several organizations for teens and religion including
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Teens Encounter Christ, Walk
on Water Youth Ministries, and Vacation Bible School. He has
received numerous awards, been a peer justice juror, participated in
food drives, and Habitat for Humanity, and was altar server at Saint
Maria Goretti Church.
In addition to his after-school activities, Nathan has worked at
various jobs. He’s been a snowboard instructor and landscaper.
Nathan is a member of his local Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA) chapter and through this was an intern and camp
counselor. He was one of only two interns selected from nationwide
applicants. While working with the EAA, Nathan received flight and
ground school training.
Nathan’s grandfather, a World War II pilot, was the inspiration
for his love of model aviation. “Flying is in my blood,” Nathan
wrote. “My grandfather taught me to make my first—rather
complicated—paper airplane.”
Purchased at age 10, Nathan’s first airplane was a kit rubberband-
powered Super Cub. He has since built numerous models of all
types.
In honor of his grandfather, Nathan converted a FF P-51 Mustang
into an RC model as a 4-H project. The Mustang was so well built
and detailed that it won a Superior rating and Best of Show at the
county and state levels. Placed on display at the Illinois state capital,
the model was a tribute to the “Best of the Best.”
In November 2005, Nathan soloed in full-scale flight. On June
28, 2006, at the age of 17, he earned his Private Pilot’s License.
Keeping with this passion, Nathan will be attending the University
of North Dakota studying commercial aviation.
“AMA and model airplanes have helped make me who I am,”
Nathan wrote, “and have deepened my knowledge of flight, inspired
my passion for aviation, taught me to be a safe pilot, and inspired
my dream to pursue a career in commercial aviation.”
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best of luck at the
University of North Dakota.
Timothy Spath
Timothy Spath of Hilton, New
York, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
and $1,750 Sig Memorial
Scholarship for a total of $5,750
from the AMA Scholarship
Program. Tim is the son of Todd and
Carol Spath.
A graduate of Hilton High
School, Tim was a scholar athlete in
the top 10% of his class
accumulating a GPA of 95.52 out of
a possible 100. In high school he
was active in junior varsity track,
varsity cross-country, and varsity
swimming as well as Ski Club and
174 MODEL AVIATIONStage Crew. He was inducted into the National Honor Society his
junior year and maintained membership throughout his senior year.
Tim participated in the Science Olympiad in the Wright Stuff
Competition. The competition required participants to build a freeflight
device and compete for the greatest time aloft. Tim competed
multiple times with airplanes built from plans and from his original
designs.
In addition to his scholastic accomplishments, Tim contributed
to community service events and maintained a job. He helped raise
money for the Rotary Club in his area, volunteered at a marathon
aid station, rang a bell with the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle
Campaign, and took part in several public functions through the
local school district.
School counselor Cheryl Ohls wrote, “Tim has the maturity to
balance extra-curricular activities, sports, and a job extremely
successfully.” Tim proves this by maintaining a 20-hour-a-week job
at the local public library in addition to his extensive activities and
school schedule. He has also worked splitting wood, ice cream
sales, and CNC programming to profile and drill circuit boards.
Coming from a family of modelers, Tim has been one since the
age of 10. His father, grandfather, sister, two uncles, and two
cousins have all been or currently are AMA members.
Tim began his experience with various FF designs. He has
scratch-built a glider including a wire-cut foam wing and multiple
RC electric and glow-powered kits. Tim is designing and building a
profile Hawker Hurricane and has begun work on a brushless
electric motor to power the aircraft.
Tim plans to continue his education at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. He is enrolled in the Honors Program and plans to
study mechanical engineering.
“The introduction this hobby has given me in structures and
control systems,” Tim wrote, “is an interest that I feel will last for
the rest of my life.”
Best of luck in all you do, Timothy. Congratulations.
Patrick Bayer
Patrick Bayer of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. He attended Summit Country
Day School where he graduated with honors and a GPA of 3.875
out of a possible 4.2.
Patrick was active in high school and took advantage of the
number of activities open to students. He ran cross-country and
track, earning varsity letters in each. Each sport also presented him
with the Most Valuable Runner
award. Patrick played basketball for
three years, earning a varsity letter
and the Hustle Award.
Apart from his involvement in
sports, he spent time tutoring
underclassmen through the National
Honor Society.
In addition to his extracurricular
activities, Patrick made time for
employment and community
service. Through a program called
Stepping Stones, he worked with
mentally handicapped children and
adults. Patrick used his sport
expertise to teach underprivileged
kids the basics of golf through the
Tony Yates Golf Program. When
not at Stepping Stones or teaching golf, he volunteered his time at a
local nursing home and helped empty recycling bins around his
school.
Patrick’s scholarship application reflects an enjoyment for being
outdoors. The majority of his after-school and community service
activities were outside as was most of his after-school employment.
He did landscaping and upkeep on three rental properties and also
worked as a lifeguard, taught swim lessons, and helped at a YMCA
summer camp.
In correlation with his outdoor activity is Patrick’s love of
modeling and flight. “Modeling has almost always been a
significant part of my life,” Patrick wrote. He joined AMA at the
age of 7, with his father, Larry. His first model was a Sturdy Birdy.
At age 12, Patrick bought a foam cutter and started making kits
for a popular Combat model: the Gremlin. He sold the kits to club
members. When the Gremlin fad wore out, Patrick began designing
and building unique models for himself. As a member of the
Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club, Patrick participated in the
club’s Flying Circus and Kid’s Fly Charity Event.
Patrick will be attending Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He plans to major in business and sports management. “Modeling is
a large part of my life and has taught me many things,” Patrick
wrote, “especially the truth that ‘with hard work anything is
possible.’”
Congratulations, Patrick, and good luck in all you do.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/02
Page Numbers: 173,174,175
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/02
Page Numbers: 173,174,175
February 2008 173
Ryan Naccarato
Ryan Naccarato of Burbank,
California, is the recipient of an
$8,500 Charles Hampson Grant
Scholarship, a $5,000 Telford
Scholarship, and a $2,500 Toledo
Weak Signals Club award. He is
receiving $16,000 from various
scholarship programs.
Completing high school with a
cumulative GPA of 3.96 out of a
possible 4.49, Ryan graduated from
John Burroughs High School.
As a Boy Scout, Ryan has
volunteered much time to his
community. He has performed
numerous hours of service working
at local parks, churches, museums, and wildlife reserves and recently
attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Ryan has taken part in the Odyssey of the Mind, an international
educational program that provides creative problem-solving
opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. He
received first place regionally through the program. Additionally,
Ryan participated two years in Mathematical Modeling where teams
of undergraduates use mathematical modeling to present their
solutions to real-world problems.
Ryan is the son of Tony Naccarato Jr. and grandson of Addie
Mae Naccarato. Both well-known aeromodelers, it is easy to see
where Ryan got his knack for flying as well as desire. He is a
member of the Black Sheep Squadron, originally named the Black
Sheep Exhibitionists, founded by his father.
As a member of the Black Sheep Squadron, Ryan has had the
opportunity to teach at schools and attend shows such as the AMA
Convention to fly and demonstrate models. He enjoys flying all
types of models from RC to hand-launched gliders (HLG). He
especially enjoys FF models of all types.
“I fondly recall memories of chasing models around the desert on
my motorcycle and timing them at events,” Ryan wrote.
Ryan is an avid modeling competitor. Beginning in 1995, he has
competed in events including the United States FF Championships,
the Navy Carrier Society’s Carrier Championships, and the Black
Sheep FF Championships. Ryan holds two Indoor HLG national
records, the first when he was 9 years old, and took two first places
in CL Navy Carrier at the 2004 Nats.
Although a full-time student, Ryan found the time to maintain a
few jobs. He worked at his father’s hobby shop, T & A Hobby
Lobby. He also spent summers at a 9-5 job working at a
manufacturing company in Los Angeles as a CAD operator.
Ryan plans to attend the University of California at Davis. He
intends to double major in chemistry and mathematics to fulfill his
dream to be an anesthesiologist.
Congratulations and good luck at the University of California!
Nathan Rice
Nathan Rice of Spring Mills,
Pennsylvania, is the recipient of a
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
totaling $7,500. He is a graduate of
Penns Valley Area Junior/High
School where he was one of 11
valedictorians in his class with a 4.0
out of a possible 4.0.
Nathan was involved in the
National Honor Society, Science
Olympiad, Technology Student
Association (TSA), and the F1 in
Schools program. Through TSA,
Nathan competed in Flight
Endurance and earned third place at
the state level. He also competed in
CAD Animation Engineering 3D and earned first place in the
national competition held in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the F1 in Schools competition, Nathan served as a design and
manufacturing engineer on a five-person team. His team placed
second and earned Judges’ Choice at the state competition. At the
national level, the team placed fourth. “This was our school’s first
year in the program,” Nathan wrote. “I think we did pretty good!”
Nathan was part of the school’s concert band playing the clarinet.
He took part in the school’s jazz band playing baritone sax and has
played piano since he was in third grade.
In the community, Nathan participated in many club
demonstrations. Each year he volunteers for his church’s Harrisburg
Service Retreat, which benefits a poor community in the inner city
of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Joining AMA in 2003, Nathan was hooked on RC flight. A
demonstration put on by the State College Radio Control club
(SCRC) inspired him. Nathan is now part of SCRC and even
participates in the demonstrations that first peaked his interest. A
strong interest in helicopters has encouraged him to learn to fly his
Century Hawk Sport 30.
For his high school graduation project, Nathan assembled a Great
Planes Ultra Sport 40 Plus from a kit. He continues to fly the Ultra
Sport and Hawk Sport occasionally, but his favorite model is a
Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Pro graphite 60. Nathan is in the process
SINCE 1970, the Academy of Model
Aeronautics has provided scholarships to
young men and women seeking to continue
their education in colleges and universities.
The primary awards are presented through
the Charles Hampson Grant scholarships.
In 2007, six individuals received a
portion of the $35,000 Charles Hampson
Grant awards. These monies came from a
variety of sources including gifts,
memorials, and the AMA general fund.
The top winner of the Grant award also
receives an award provided by the Toledo
Weak Signals from monies generated from
the club’s annual trade show and
exposition. This year the Weak Signals
contributed $2,500.
An additional scholarship program
awarded funds this year. The Sig award, a
memorial in honor of the late Glenn
Sigafoose, is presented by Hazel Sig-Hester
and Sig Manufacturing Company. Given to
one or more individuals, the award is based
upon financial need and aeromodeling
activity. This year’s scholarship was
$3,500.
A new program, the Telford
Scholarship, honoring the late Cliff Telford,
is based on participation in competition
activity in the AMA and FAI classifications
including national and world-class
competition. This year the award was
$5,000.
This year, 14 applicants met the
established criteria and were considered by
the committee. Evaluated by a four-member
committee, the applicants are rated in
several major areas including grade
average, test results, school and community
activities, and modeling activities. High
achievement in all of the categories is
important for the maximum amount of
scholarship awarded to an individual.
Again this year, the committee members
were extremely close to one another in their
evaluations of the applications. Six students
were granted awards this year out of 14
applicants and $46,000 was awarded in all.
The students’ planned majors include
chemistry and mathematics, mechanical
engineering, commercial aviation,
architecture, and business.
Information regarding applications may
be obtained from Jack Frost at AMA
Headquarters or from the AMA Education
Web site at http://www.modelaircraft.org/
education.aspx.
2007 Scholarship Recipientsof building an airplane on CAD software based off the Jack Barns
Racer, which was featured in the September 2005 MA.
Nathan’s career plan is appropriate as his past work experience
follows the same path. He worked with a friend’s dad in housing
construction. He took up working for Nittany Engineering &
Associates, LLC, working as a CAD draftsman for the firm.
Nathan plans to attend Pennsylvania State University enrolled in
its architecture program. He is one of only 75 students accepted into
the program each year.
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best in your
future.
Brian Gilkey
Brian Gilkey of Sterling Heights, Michigan, is the recipient of a
$5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and $1,750 Sig
Memorial Scholarship with a combined total of $6,750 awarded
from the AMA Scholarship Program. Brian graduated magna cum
laude from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.
Extra-curricular activities were a big part of Brian’s high school
career. He played football and
baseball for several years.
Brian traveled with the school’s
marching band to perform at places
including the Detroit Thanksgiving
Day Parade, Disney World, and
Carnegie Hall. The band took part
in the City of Romeo’s Peach
Festival/Memorial Day Parade.
Brian dedicated time to helping
those less fortunate. He performed
community service through the
Macomb County Rotating
Emergency Shelter Team
(MCREST) Foundation, Meals on
Wheels, and other various groups
affiliated with his church to assist
the homeless. Through Brian’s
involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, he organized and
collected for canned food drives.
Hard work is not foreign to Brian since he has held several odd
jobs since the age of 12. He babysat, mowed and raked lawns in his
neighborhood, and was the equipment assistant for the Great Lakes
Sweet Adeline Chorus.
Brian’s first regular job was writing for a national modeling
magazine. He worked with his dad to co-write the monthly “Combat
Ribbons” column in RC Report.
Brian worked in the engineering department of TRW automotive
as a design/engineering systems intern. He also worked at Wendy’s,
an experience he believes helped him learn about working with
others as a team.
Modeling has been a part of Brian’s life since he was six years
old. He started out building AMA Cubs and other FF designs. He
gained experience assembling different types of gliders and rubber
band-powered models. Brian’s favorite thing to do was designing
and building his own models.
Over the years, Brian experimented with all facets of model
aviation. He worked with his father to build and then experience all
forms of flight. When he was 8 years old, Brian soloed in RC. He
went on to compete in various competitions including fun-flys,
aerobatic contests, and RC Combat.
RC Combat is arguably Brian’s favorite type of flight and
competition. He has competed in Nats events for two years in the
RC Combat Open and Scale categories. Brian has received first- and
second-place finishes in both.
Brian plans to attend Kettering University with an intended major
in mechanical engineering.
AMA wishes you well, Brian, and congratulations!
Nathan Bush
Nathan Bush of Milan, Illinois, is the recipient of a $6,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. The son of Steve and Julie
Bush, Nathan has a great deal of aviation experience.
Graduating with academic
honors from Alleman Catholic
High School, Nathan made the
Honor Roll, Principal’s List, and
was a member of the National
Honor Society. He ran track and
cross-country receiving a Most
Improved Award and serving a
year as team captain.
Leadership is a strong quality of
Nathan’s. He was president, vice
president, and secretary of the
Rockridge Royals 4-H Club. He
was student ambassador for his
high school, table leader for his
junior retreat, and core leader for
the Saint Maria Goretti Youth
Group.
Nathan has a wide range of community involvement. He actively
participated in several organizations for teens and religion including
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Teens Encounter Christ, Walk
on Water Youth Ministries, and Vacation Bible School. He has
received numerous awards, been a peer justice juror, participated in
food drives, and Habitat for Humanity, and was altar server at Saint
Maria Goretti Church.
In addition to his after-school activities, Nathan has worked at
various jobs. He’s been a snowboard instructor and landscaper.
Nathan is a member of his local Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA) chapter and through this was an intern and camp
counselor. He was one of only two interns selected from nationwide
applicants. While working with the EAA, Nathan received flight and
ground school training.
Nathan’s grandfather, a World War II pilot, was the inspiration
for his love of model aviation. “Flying is in my blood,” Nathan
wrote. “My grandfather taught me to make my first—rather
complicated—paper airplane.”
Purchased at age 10, Nathan’s first airplane was a kit rubberband-
powered Super Cub. He has since built numerous models of all
types.
In honor of his grandfather, Nathan converted a FF P-51 Mustang
into an RC model as a 4-H project. The Mustang was so well built
and detailed that it won a Superior rating and Best of Show at the
county and state levels. Placed on display at the Illinois state capital,
the model was a tribute to the “Best of the Best.”
In November 2005, Nathan soloed in full-scale flight. On June
28, 2006, at the age of 17, he earned his Private Pilot’s License.
Keeping with this passion, Nathan will be attending the University
of North Dakota studying commercial aviation.
“AMA and model airplanes have helped make me who I am,”
Nathan wrote, “and have deepened my knowledge of flight, inspired
my passion for aviation, taught me to be a safe pilot, and inspired
my dream to pursue a career in commercial aviation.”
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best of luck at the
University of North Dakota.
Timothy Spath
Timothy Spath of Hilton, New
York, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
and $1,750 Sig Memorial
Scholarship for a total of $5,750
from the AMA Scholarship
Program. Tim is the son of Todd and
Carol Spath.
A graduate of Hilton High
School, Tim was a scholar athlete in
the top 10% of his class
accumulating a GPA of 95.52 out of
a possible 100. In high school he
was active in junior varsity track,
varsity cross-country, and varsity
swimming as well as Ski Club and
174 MODEL AVIATIONStage Crew. He was inducted into the National Honor Society his
junior year and maintained membership throughout his senior year.
Tim participated in the Science Olympiad in the Wright Stuff
Competition. The competition required participants to build a freeflight
device and compete for the greatest time aloft. Tim competed
multiple times with airplanes built from plans and from his original
designs.
In addition to his scholastic accomplishments, Tim contributed
to community service events and maintained a job. He helped raise
money for the Rotary Club in his area, volunteered at a marathon
aid station, rang a bell with the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle
Campaign, and took part in several public functions through the
local school district.
School counselor Cheryl Ohls wrote, “Tim has the maturity to
balance extra-curricular activities, sports, and a job extremely
successfully.” Tim proves this by maintaining a 20-hour-a-week job
at the local public library in addition to his extensive activities and
school schedule. He has also worked splitting wood, ice cream
sales, and CNC programming to profile and drill circuit boards.
Coming from a family of modelers, Tim has been one since the
age of 10. His father, grandfather, sister, two uncles, and two
cousins have all been or currently are AMA members.
Tim began his experience with various FF designs. He has
scratch-built a glider including a wire-cut foam wing and multiple
RC electric and glow-powered kits. Tim is designing and building a
profile Hawker Hurricane and has begun work on a brushless
electric motor to power the aircraft.
Tim plans to continue his education at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. He is enrolled in the Honors Program and plans to
study mechanical engineering.
“The introduction this hobby has given me in structures and
control systems,” Tim wrote, “is an interest that I feel will last for
the rest of my life.”
Best of luck in all you do, Timothy. Congratulations.
Patrick Bayer
Patrick Bayer of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. He attended Summit Country
Day School where he graduated with honors and a GPA of 3.875
out of a possible 4.2.
Patrick was active in high school and took advantage of the
number of activities open to students. He ran cross-country and
track, earning varsity letters in each. Each sport also presented him
with the Most Valuable Runner
award. Patrick played basketball for
three years, earning a varsity letter
and the Hustle Award.
Apart from his involvement in
sports, he spent time tutoring
underclassmen through the National
Honor Society.
In addition to his extracurricular
activities, Patrick made time for
employment and community
service. Through a program called
Stepping Stones, he worked with
mentally handicapped children and
adults. Patrick used his sport
expertise to teach underprivileged
kids the basics of golf through the
Tony Yates Golf Program. When
not at Stepping Stones or teaching golf, he volunteered his time at a
local nursing home and helped empty recycling bins around his
school.
Patrick’s scholarship application reflects an enjoyment for being
outdoors. The majority of his after-school and community service
activities were outside as was most of his after-school employment.
He did landscaping and upkeep on three rental properties and also
worked as a lifeguard, taught swim lessons, and helped at a YMCA
summer camp.
In correlation with his outdoor activity is Patrick’s love of
modeling and flight. “Modeling has almost always been a
significant part of my life,” Patrick wrote. He joined AMA at the
age of 7, with his father, Larry. His first model was a Sturdy Birdy.
At age 12, Patrick bought a foam cutter and started making kits
for a popular Combat model: the Gremlin. He sold the kits to club
members. When the Gremlin fad wore out, Patrick began designing
and building unique models for himself. As a member of the
Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club, Patrick participated in the
club’s Flying Circus and Kid’s Fly Charity Event.
Patrick will be attending Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He plans to major in business and sports management. “Modeling is
a large part of my life and has taught me many things,” Patrick
wrote, “especially the truth that ‘with hard work anything is
possible.’”
Congratulations, Patrick, and good luck in all you do.
Edition: Model Aviation - 2008/02
Page Numbers: 173,174,175
February 2008 173
Ryan Naccarato
Ryan Naccarato of Burbank,
California, is the recipient of an
$8,500 Charles Hampson Grant
Scholarship, a $5,000 Telford
Scholarship, and a $2,500 Toledo
Weak Signals Club award. He is
receiving $16,000 from various
scholarship programs.
Completing high school with a
cumulative GPA of 3.96 out of a
possible 4.49, Ryan graduated from
John Burroughs High School.
As a Boy Scout, Ryan has
volunteered much time to his
community. He has performed
numerous hours of service working
at local parks, churches, museums, and wildlife reserves and recently
attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
Ryan has taken part in the Odyssey of the Mind, an international
educational program that provides creative problem-solving
opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. He
received first place regionally through the program. Additionally,
Ryan participated two years in Mathematical Modeling where teams
of undergraduates use mathematical modeling to present their
solutions to real-world problems.
Ryan is the son of Tony Naccarato Jr. and grandson of Addie
Mae Naccarato. Both well-known aeromodelers, it is easy to see
where Ryan got his knack for flying as well as desire. He is a
member of the Black Sheep Squadron, originally named the Black
Sheep Exhibitionists, founded by his father.
As a member of the Black Sheep Squadron, Ryan has had the
opportunity to teach at schools and attend shows such as the AMA
Convention to fly and demonstrate models. He enjoys flying all
types of models from RC to hand-launched gliders (HLG). He
especially enjoys FF models of all types.
“I fondly recall memories of chasing models around the desert on
my motorcycle and timing them at events,” Ryan wrote.
Ryan is an avid modeling competitor. Beginning in 1995, he has
competed in events including the United States FF Championships,
the Navy Carrier Society’s Carrier Championships, and the Black
Sheep FF Championships. Ryan holds two Indoor HLG national
records, the first when he was 9 years old, and took two first places
in CL Navy Carrier at the 2004 Nats.
Although a full-time student, Ryan found the time to maintain a
few jobs. He worked at his father’s hobby shop, T & A Hobby
Lobby. He also spent summers at a 9-5 job working at a
manufacturing company in Los Angeles as a CAD operator.
Ryan plans to attend the University of California at Davis. He
intends to double major in chemistry and mathematics to fulfill his
dream to be an anesthesiologist.
Congratulations and good luck at the University of California!
Nathan Rice
Nathan Rice of Spring Mills,
Pennsylvania, is the recipient of a
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
totaling $7,500. He is a graduate of
Penns Valley Area Junior/High
School where he was one of 11
valedictorians in his class with a 4.0
out of a possible 4.0.
Nathan was involved in the
National Honor Society, Science
Olympiad, Technology Student
Association (TSA), and the F1 in
Schools program. Through TSA,
Nathan competed in Flight
Endurance and earned third place at
the state level. He also competed in
CAD Animation Engineering 3D and earned first place in the
national competition held in Nashville, Tennessee.
In the F1 in Schools competition, Nathan served as a design and
manufacturing engineer on a five-person team. His team placed
second and earned Judges’ Choice at the state competition. At the
national level, the team placed fourth. “This was our school’s first
year in the program,” Nathan wrote. “I think we did pretty good!”
Nathan was part of the school’s concert band playing the clarinet.
He took part in the school’s jazz band playing baritone sax and has
played piano since he was in third grade.
In the community, Nathan participated in many club
demonstrations. Each year he volunteers for his church’s Harrisburg
Service Retreat, which benefits a poor community in the inner city
of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Joining AMA in 2003, Nathan was hooked on RC flight. A
demonstration put on by the State College Radio Control club
(SCRC) inspired him. Nathan is now part of SCRC and even
participates in the demonstrations that first peaked his interest. A
strong interest in helicopters has encouraged him to learn to fly his
Century Hawk Sport 30.
For his high school graduation project, Nathan assembled a Great
Planes Ultra Sport 40 Plus from a kit. He continues to fly the Ultra
Sport and Hawk Sport occasionally, but his favorite model is a
Miniature Aircraft X-Cell Pro graphite 60. Nathan is in the process
SINCE 1970, the Academy of Model
Aeronautics has provided scholarships to
young men and women seeking to continue
their education in colleges and universities.
The primary awards are presented through
the Charles Hampson Grant scholarships.
In 2007, six individuals received a
portion of the $35,000 Charles Hampson
Grant awards. These monies came from a
variety of sources including gifts,
memorials, and the AMA general fund.
The top winner of the Grant award also
receives an award provided by the Toledo
Weak Signals from monies generated from
the club’s annual trade show and
exposition. This year the Weak Signals
contributed $2,500.
An additional scholarship program
awarded funds this year. The Sig award, a
memorial in honor of the late Glenn
Sigafoose, is presented by Hazel Sig-Hester
and Sig Manufacturing Company. Given to
one or more individuals, the award is based
upon financial need and aeromodeling
activity. This year’s scholarship was
$3,500.
A new program, the Telford
Scholarship, honoring the late Cliff Telford,
is based on participation in competition
activity in the AMA and FAI classifications
including national and world-class
competition. This year the award was
$5,000.
This year, 14 applicants met the
established criteria and were considered by
the committee. Evaluated by a four-member
committee, the applicants are rated in
several major areas including grade
average, test results, school and community
activities, and modeling activities. High
achievement in all of the categories is
important for the maximum amount of
scholarship awarded to an individual.
Again this year, the committee members
were extremely close to one another in their
evaluations of the applications. Six students
were granted awards this year out of 14
applicants and $46,000 was awarded in all.
The students’ planned majors include
chemistry and mathematics, mechanical
engineering, commercial aviation,
architecture, and business.
Information regarding applications may
be obtained from Jack Frost at AMA
Headquarters or from the AMA Education
Web site at http://www.modelaircraft.org/
education.aspx.
2007 Scholarship Recipientsof building an airplane on CAD software based off the Jack Barns
Racer, which was featured in the September 2005 MA.
Nathan’s career plan is appropriate as his past work experience
follows the same path. He worked with a friend’s dad in housing
construction. He took up working for Nittany Engineering &
Associates, LLC, working as a CAD draftsman for the firm.
Nathan plans to attend Pennsylvania State University enrolled in
its architecture program. He is one of only 75 students accepted into
the program each year.
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best in your
future.
Brian Gilkey
Brian Gilkey of Sterling Heights, Michigan, is the recipient of a
$5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and $1,750 Sig
Memorial Scholarship with a combined total of $6,750 awarded
from the AMA Scholarship Program. Brian graduated magna cum
laude from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.
Extra-curricular activities were a big part of Brian’s high school
career. He played football and
baseball for several years.
Brian traveled with the school’s
marching band to perform at places
including the Detroit Thanksgiving
Day Parade, Disney World, and
Carnegie Hall. The band took part
in the City of Romeo’s Peach
Festival/Memorial Day Parade.
Brian dedicated time to helping
those less fortunate. He performed
community service through the
Macomb County Rotating
Emergency Shelter Team
(MCREST) Foundation, Meals on
Wheels, and other various groups
affiliated with his church to assist
the homeless. Through Brian’s
involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, he organized and
collected for canned food drives.
Hard work is not foreign to Brian since he has held several odd
jobs since the age of 12. He babysat, mowed and raked lawns in his
neighborhood, and was the equipment assistant for the Great Lakes
Sweet Adeline Chorus.
Brian’s first regular job was writing for a national modeling
magazine. He worked with his dad to co-write the monthly “Combat
Ribbons” column in RC Report.
Brian worked in the engineering department of TRW automotive
as a design/engineering systems intern. He also worked at Wendy’s,
an experience he believes helped him learn about working with
others as a team.
Modeling has been a part of Brian’s life since he was six years
old. He started out building AMA Cubs and other FF designs. He
gained experience assembling different types of gliders and rubber
band-powered models. Brian’s favorite thing to do was designing
and building his own models.
Over the years, Brian experimented with all facets of model
aviation. He worked with his father to build and then experience all
forms of flight. When he was 8 years old, Brian soloed in RC. He
went on to compete in various competitions including fun-flys,
aerobatic contests, and RC Combat.
RC Combat is arguably Brian’s favorite type of flight and
competition. He has competed in Nats events for two years in the
RC Combat Open and Scale categories. Brian has received first- and
second-place finishes in both.
Brian plans to attend Kettering University with an intended major
in mechanical engineering.
AMA wishes you well, Brian, and congratulations!
Nathan Bush
Nathan Bush of Milan, Illinois, is the recipient of a $6,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. The son of Steve and Julie
Bush, Nathan has a great deal of aviation experience.
Graduating with academic
honors from Alleman Catholic
High School, Nathan made the
Honor Roll, Principal’s List, and
was a member of the National
Honor Society. He ran track and
cross-country receiving a Most
Improved Award and serving a
year as team captain.
Leadership is a strong quality of
Nathan’s. He was president, vice
president, and secretary of the
Rockridge Royals 4-H Club. He
was student ambassador for his
high school, table leader for his
junior retreat, and core leader for
the Saint Maria Goretti Youth
Group.
Nathan has a wide range of community involvement. He actively
participated in several organizations for teens and religion including
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Teens Encounter Christ, Walk
on Water Youth Ministries, and Vacation Bible School. He has
received numerous awards, been a peer justice juror, participated in
food drives, and Habitat for Humanity, and was altar server at Saint
Maria Goretti Church.
In addition to his after-school activities, Nathan has worked at
various jobs. He’s been a snowboard instructor and landscaper.
Nathan is a member of his local Experimental Aircraft
Association (EAA) chapter and through this was an intern and camp
counselor. He was one of only two interns selected from nationwide
applicants. While working with the EAA, Nathan received flight and
ground school training.
Nathan’s grandfather, a World War II pilot, was the inspiration
for his love of model aviation. “Flying is in my blood,” Nathan
wrote. “My grandfather taught me to make my first—rather
complicated—paper airplane.”
Purchased at age 10, Nathan’s first airplane was a kit rubberband-
powered Super Cub. He has since built numerous models of all
types.
In honor of his grandfather, Nathan converted a FF P-51 Mustang
into an RC model as a 4-H project. The Mustang was so well built
and detailed that it won a Superior rating and Best of Show at the
county and state levels. Placed on display at the Illinois state capital,
the model was a tribute to the “Best of the Best.”
In November 2005, Nathan soloed in full-scale flight. On June
28, 2006, at the age of 17, he earned his Private Pilot’s License.
Keeping with this passion, Nathan will be attending the University
of North Dakota studying commercial aviation.
“AMA and model airplanes have helped make me who I am,”
Nathan wrote, “and have deepened my knowledge of flight, inspired
my passion for aviation, taught me to be a safe pilot, and inspired
my dream to pursue a career in commercial aviation.”
Congratulations, Nathan! AMA wishes you the best of luck at the
University of North Dakota.
Timothy Spath
Timothy Spath of Hilton, New
York, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
and $1,750 Sig Memorial
Scholarship for a total of $5,750
from the AMA Scholarship
Program. Tim is the son of Todd and
Carol Spath.
A graduate of Hilton High
School, Tim was a scholar athlete in
the top 10% of his class
accumulating a GPA of 95.52 out of
a possible 100. In high school he
was active in junior varsity track,
varsity cross-country, and varsity
swimming as well as Ski Club and
174 MODEL AVIATIONStage Crew. He was inducted into the National Honor Society his
junior year and maintained membership throughout his senior year.
Tim participated in the Science Olympiad in the Wright Stuff
Competition. The competition required participants to build a freeflight
device and compete for the greatest time aloft. Tim competed
multiple times with airplanes built from plans and from his original
designs.
In addition to his scholastic accomplishments, Tim contributed
to community service events and maintained a job. He helped raise
money for the Rotary Club in his area, volunteered at a marathon
aid station, rang a bell with the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle
Campaign, and took part in several public functions through the
local school district.
School counselor Cheryl Ohls wrote, “Tim has the maturity to
balance extra-curricular activities, sports, and a job extremely
successfully.” Tim proves this by maintaining a 20-hour-a-week job
at the local public library in addition to his extensive activities and
school schedule. He has also worked splitting wood, ice cream
sales, and CNC programming to profile and drill circuit boards.
Coming from a family of modelers, Tim has been one since the
age of 10. His father, grandfather, sister, two uncles, and two
cousins have all been or currently are AMA members.
Tim began his experience with various FF designs. He has
scratch-built a glider including a wire-cut foam wing and multiple
RC electric and glow-powered kits. Tim is designing and building a
profile Hawker Hurricane and has begun work on a brushless
electric motor to power the aircraft.
Tim plans to continue his education at the Rochester Institute of
Technology. He is enrolled in the Honors Program and plans to
study mechanical engineering.
“The introduction this hobby has given me in structures and
control systems,” Tim wrote, “is an interest that I feel will last for
the rest of my life.”
Best of luck in all you do, Timothy. Congratulations.
Patrick Bayer
Patrick Bayer of Cincinnati, Ohio, is the recipient of a $4,000
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship. He attended Summit Country
Day School where he graduated with honors and a GPA of 3.875
out of a possible 4.2.
Patrick was active in high school and took advantage of the
number of activities open to students. He ran cross-country and
track, earning varsity letters in each. Each sport also presented him
with the Most Valuable Runner
award. Patrick played basketball for
three years, earning a varsity letter
and the Hustle Award.
Apart from his involvement in
sports, he spent time tutoring
underclassmen through the National
Honor Society.
In addition to his extracurricular
activities, Patrick made time for
employment and community
service. Through a program called
Stepping Stones, he worked with
mentally handicapped children and
adults. Patrick used his sport
expertise to teach underprivileged
kids the basics of golf through the
Tony Yates Golf Program. When
not at Stepping Stones or teaching golf, he volunteered his time at a
local nursing home and helped empty recycling bins around his
school.
Patrick’s scholarship application reflects an enjoyment for being
outdoors. The majority of his after-school and community service
activities were outside as was most of his after-school employment.
He did landscaping and upkeep on three rental properties and also
worked as a lifeguard, taught swim lessons, and helped at a YMCA
summer camp.
In correlation with his outdoor activity is Patrick’s love of
modeling and flight. “Modeling has almost always been a
significant part of my life,” Patrick wrote. He joined AMA at the
age of 7, with his father, Larry. His first model was a Sturdy Birdy.
At age 12, Patrick bought a foam cutter and started making kits
for a popular Combat model: the Gremlin. He sold the kits to club
members. When the Gremlin fad wore out, Patrick began designing
and building unique models for himself. As a member of the
Greater Cincinnati Radio Control Club, Patrick participated in the
club’s Flying Circus and Kid’s Fly Charity Event.
Patrick will be attending Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
He plans to major in business and sports management. “Modeling is
a large part of my life and has taught me many things,” Patrick
wrote, “especially the truth that ‘with hard work anything is
possible.’”
Congratulations, Patrick, and good luck in all you do.