AMA News - 2012/02

February 2012 155
AMA News
Announcements, news, and information from the
Academy of Model Aeronautics and the elected district representatives.
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 scholarship funds.
In 2011, five individuals received a portion of the $32,500
Charles Hampson Grant awards. These funds came from a variety
of sources including gifts, memorials, and the AMA general fund.
AMA has established a Scholarship Endowment to help
sustain the scholarship program. This further supports student
success and opportunity by creating a permanent fund for
scholarships and safeguarding the promise of an education for
future generations.
By giving to the Scholarship Endowment, you will help create
a permanent fund for student scholarships, helping to ensure that
more students have the opportunity to realize their potential.
Invest in the future of young aeromodelers and help them prepare
for the challenges of tomorrow.
The top winner of this year’s Grant awards also received a
scholarship provided by the Toledo Weak Signals from monies
generated from the club’s annual trade show and exposition. This
year the Weak Signals contributed $2,000.
In its fifth year, the Telford Scholarship, honoring the late
Cliff Telford, is based on participation in competition activity in
the AMA and FAI classifications including national and worldclass
competition. This year’s award was $5,000.
This year, 16 applicants met the established criteria and were
considered by the three-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 close to one
another in their evaluations of the applications. Five students
were granted awards this year and $39,500 was awarded in all.
The students’ planned majors include engineering, physics
education, aviation technology, computer design and animation,
and mechanical engineering.
Information regarding applications may be obtained from
April Hathaway at AMA Headquarters or from the AMA
Education website at www.modelaircraft.org/education.aspx. The
deadline to apply for 2012 scholarships is April 30, 2012.
If you would like to support the growth of the Education
Endowment, please contact April at (765) 287-1256, extension
516, or email her at [email protected].
2011 Scholarship Recipients
James Van Sant
James Van Sant, Langhorne,
Pennsylvania, is the recipient of a $7,500
Charles Hampson Grant award, a $5,000
Telford Scholarship, and a $2,000 Weak
Signals Scholarship. He is using the $14,500
to attend Penn State University and study
mechanical engineering.
James is a graduate of Neshaminy High
School, where he played in the jazz,
marching, and symphonic bands, as well as
a woodwind ensemble. He was a member of
the Mathletes and the National Honor
Society, and promoted and led a blood drive
at his high school. He was a trumpet tutor
and performed at a local nursing home for
the holidays.
Through his involvement with his
church, he created care packages for
children who needed school supplies. He
ranked 51st in a class of 697 students.
James has been flying CL models for 14
years—attending his first Nats in 2000 at the
age of seven. He has competed in every Nats
since, and also in a World Cup, World
Championships, and in various events near
his home. His building experience includes a
1/2A Profile Proto, and Speed and sport
aircraft.
James holds many speed records in
several classes, including 1/2A, A, and B. He
also enjoys competing in CL Racing events
such as Clown, Mouse I, Mouse II, and
F2CN. He was a member of Junior World
Team and was the National Junior/Senior
Champion for eight consecutive years.
“I love flying and wish to continue the
hobby for the rest of my life because it is
such a big part of who I am,” James wrote in
his scholarship application. “I have been
flying since I was very young and hope to
pass it on to my children as well.” He
became an AMA member in 1998.
James began working for the Canine
Academy, a daycare for dogs, in August
2009, where he monitored the dogs’
behavior and cleaned. His love of animals
shows through his work in training his own
dog to work as a therapy dog.
Stephen Konowal, a physics teacher at
Neshaminy High School, wrote that James’
strength “is his pursuit of his own learning.
“I have every confidence that James will
excel in his collegiate career,” the teacher
wrote in late 2010.
In his scholarship application, James
stated that he hoped being awarded the
money would allow him to graduate without
debt, so he would have more money to
spend on building models and competing.
James is a true modeler. Best of luck!
Ryan Clark
Ryan Clark, Canton, Michigan, hopes to
one day view his hometown from the sky.
The Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship
winner plans to become a professional pilot.
He is using his $7,000 scholarship to pursue
a degree in aviation technology at Eastern
Michigan University.
Aviation has been part of his life since he
was 13 years old. He first became interested
in model aviation when his father purchased
an Aerobird from a local hobby shop. Ryan
later received a flight simulator. He spent
hours practicing difficult flying maneuvers,
which led to flying 3-D with a Saito 100. He
joined the AMA in 2007.
Eventually, he purchased a Yak 1.20 and
practiced International Miniature Aerobatic
Club (IMAC)-type maneuvers. He flew in
his first IMAC contest in 2008, winning the
Mid-Michigan Challenge in Basic Class. In
2009, he competed in a Sportsman contest,
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placed first, and decided to give
Intermediate a try. This resulted in him
being crowned the National Champion in the
Scale Aerobatics Intermediate Class. He
moved up to Advanced in 2010, and walked
away with another National Championship.
Ryan is a member of the Weak Signals
and Flying Pilgrims clubs. He flies
demonstrations for both clubs, and has
flown an RC blimp at the Toledo Walleye
Hockey Team’s home games.
His building experience includes
designing the covering scheme for a 125-
inch Carden Pro he constructed with his
father.
The Salem High School graduate served
as captain of the school’s varsity boys
bowling team for three years, and was
named to the All-State First Team, Detroit
Free Press Dream Team, and All Observer
First Team for his bowling achievements.
He also qualified for the Michigan High
School Athletic Association State Finals for
bowling in 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Outside of school, he volunteered for the
Plymouth Kiwanis and served as the Youth
Vice President for the Western Wayne
Youth Traveling Classic Bowling League.
He also kept busy working in customer
service for Nankin Hardware Company
(ACE).
He was enrolled in Advanced Placement
Classes in high school and was 78th in a
class of 488 students.
Kathie Hahn, head coach of the Salem
High School Varsity Bowling Team, said
Ryan was the, “leader, heart, and soul of the
20-member” team. “His teammates and our
coaching staff recognized his special
qualities and elected Ryan as our team
captain early in his sophomore year.
“Ryan has been a decorated Scholar
Athlete each of the years he has been part of
the team, and I know this is an honor he
takes very seriously and should be proud
of,” Hahn wrote.
“I wish to convey my highest
recommendation for Ryan Clark, as I am
confident that this very special young man
will continue to be a successful student and
leader in his chosen endeavors. Above all,
Ryan is a wonderful person who ‘gets it’ and
is definitely ‘going somewhere,’” the coach
wrote.
We hope your dreams come true, Ryan.
Aaron Bauer
Aaron Bauer, of Chicago, is the recipient
of a $6,500 Charles Hampson Grant
Scholarship and is attending Loyola
University of Chicago where he is studying
physics education.
“In choosing the teaching of physics as
my field of study, I have the opportunity to
bring together two interests in my life—
physics and helping people,” he wrote in his
scholarship application. “While some people
may think that these two interests are very
divergent, I actually believe that they can
lead to a fulfilling career.”
Aaron became an AMA member in 1993
(the year he was born) and his first
aeromodeling experience was when he was
four years old. That year (1997) he built a
Carl Goldberg Li’L Wizard with his father
and grandfather. He continued to build and
flew a Volksplane at his first Nats in August
of 1997, winning the National Association
of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) Flight
Achievement Award and placing first in the
Profile Scale Junior Class. He has competed
in the Nats every year since then.
He took home first-place awards in a
variety of CL Nats competitions in 1997-
2000, and 2003-2010. In the other years he
competed, he placed second.
Aaron is a graduate of Loyola Academy,
where he was a member of the Junior
Engineering Technical Society/Worldwide
Youth in Science and Engineering,
American Institute of Architecture Students,
Science Olympiad, the FC Drive Soccer
team, International Thespians, the Loyola
Academy Sailing Club, and the Fringe Film
Society. He also served as Head of
Sound/Head of Lighting/Sound Crew/Light
Crew for the Loyola Academy Theater.
Aaron was head usher for St. Clement
Church throughout his school years, and
worked as a chemistry lab assistant at his
high school. Other work experience includes
serving as a junior counselor at Fred’s Camp
in Chicago, and working at Four Pi, his
grandfather’s model airplane company,
where he sorted and assembled parts bags
for RC airplane kits, packaged orders, and
set up the company’s booth at iHobby Expo.
Nicole Gavigan, a guidance counselor at
Loyola Academy, wrote a recommendation
as part of Aaron’s scholarship application.
“Aaron’s true love is the world of model
airplanes. Talking with Aaron about this
cross-generational passion that he shares
with his grandfather and father is a joy to
witness. It is one realm of his life he truly
can relax and channel his creative, quirky
self into designing and building elaborate
airplanes, then plan trips around the country
to compete in national championships!” she
wrote.
“He loves problem-solving and has an
aptitude for technical endeavors. He chose
to take our three-year integrated science
curriculum, which allows students
opportunities to combine the domains of
chemistry and physics over two years with
Integrated Biology rounding out the three
years. It is extremely challenging, but Aaron
loves to learn.
“His artistic side is also seen in his
choice to pursue honors-level theater classes
as well as honors architectural design.
“He has so many opportunities; I look
forward to hearing where they lead.”
We hope you achieve great things!
Edwin Manson
Edwin Manson, McLean, Virginia, has
been awarded a $6,000 Charles Hampson
Grant Scholarship. He is attending the
University of Virginia, where he is studying
engineering. He hopes to become an
aeronautical engineer or pilot and work for
The Boeing Company or Lockheed Martin
Corporation.
The McLean High School graduate was
active in many sports and clubs throughout
his high school career. He was a member of
Key Club, the International Association of
Marketing Students, and the Technology
Student Association. He also was a member
of the baseball and basketball teams, and
swam in the Northern Virginia Swimming
League in the summers.
For keeping a grade point average above
3.5 while participating in sports, he was
awarded the Scholar Athlete Award.
Because of his academic achievements,
the honor student was a member of the
National Honor Society, Alkahest
(Chemistry and Science Honor Society), and
Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society).
Outside of school, he was an eighth
grade boys’ basketball coach, and twice was
a guest speaker for an aviation sciences class
at a local high school. He also ran his own
business, Highlands Lawn Service, and
worked at the Washington Golf Country
Club. Having his own business taught him
how to perform expected services in a
timely fashion.
He began aeromodeling at the age of 10
and joined the AMA in 2004. He and his
father learned how to fly with a trainer
airplane and a flight simulator. Edwin built
his first model, a CA Models’ Epsilon, in
the spring of 2005. He also built a Microball
and a modified Smac.
Edwin has participated in local, regional,
and national fun-fly contests, as well as
Precision Aerobatics competitions. He
attended his first Pattern contest in 2006,
and has flown in 10 National Society of
Radio Control Aerobatics (NSRCA) District
2 Pattern contests since. He participated in
his first Nats in 2007, and also competed in
2009 and 2010. He was named the 2009
NSRCA District 2 Champion for the
Intermediate Class.
12February_11amanews.qxd 12/19/2011 11:30 AM Page 156His other hobbies include golf,
basketball, and water sports.
“Charismatic, engaging, and
academically driven, Edwin has a passion
for math and science which supports his
goal of becoming an aeronautical engineer,”
John Allman, McLean High School
counselor, wrote. “He is notably [level]-
headed in the face of challenge and willing
to do whatever it takes to accomplish his
goals.
“Edwin enjoys learning about aviation
and flying model airplanes and helicopters
in his spare time. In parallel, he developed
an interest in aerodynamics, completing
science projects on factors affecting the
efficiency of airfoil lifting surfaces and the
design of wind turbines for generating
electricity.
“Edwin knows what he wants and is very
capable of identifying ways to get there. He
never quits and always strives to be at his
best. His dedication and persistence have
enabled him to be successful at McLean and
will continue to serve him in the future.”
Best of luck, Edwin!
Kylie Narance
Kylie Narance, Galion, Ohio, is a 2011
recipient of a $5,500 Charles Hampson
Grant Scholarship. She is attending Kent
State University in Kent, Ohio, where she is
studying computer design and animation.
Despite maintaining a busy schedule, she
was ranked fourth in her class of 127 at
Galion High School. In addition to being a
member of several school clubs, she also
volunteered, babysat, and served as a tutor
and counselor.
She was a member of the Spanish Club,
Teen Green, Art Club, Play/Theater, and
National Honor Society. She also attended
the Women in Technology Conference,
participated in the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Writing Contest, Cleveland Clinic Art
Contest, and Governor’s Art Show.
When she wasn’t participating in school
activities, she worked as a math tutor, sold
tickets at school athletic events, served as a
bell-ringer for the Salvation Army, and was
a youth group leader at her church.
She was a member of the Galion
Historical Society, Galion Public Library
Teen Board, a women’s cycling group at
church, and helped with a youth reading
program. She was a babysitter and a
counselor at a Boy Scout camp.
Kylie also found time for aeromodeling.
“My experience with modeling began
with my father,” Kylie wrote in her
scholarship application. “I can remember
him taking me down to the basement
workshop of our house when I was around
three or four. Dad would place me into the
portable child playpen while he would work
on a model airplane. What fun we had … I
watched him build a variety of rubber- and
gas-powered models. He told me that he had
similar childhood experiences with his
father. Dad has a basement filled with kits
and airplanes hanging all over the place. I
would look upward to the ceiling and
imagine dog fights and record-breaking
flights around the world.”
Kylie’s own modeling experience began
a short time later and she built balsa gliders,
the AMA Dart, a Sig Cub, a Sig Dewey
Bird, and the Sterling Baby Ringmaster. She
joined the AMA when she was six years old,
and when she was roughly 10 years old, she
and her father competed as a team at the
Cleveland Free Flight Society (CFFS)
Indoor meet. Kylie continued to compete at
CFFS meets.
She hopes to use her college degree to
make films for Walt Disney Studios or to
design flight simulators. Kylie is also
interested in designing simulators to teach
doctors and nurses how to perform
surgeries.
“Perhaps Kylie’s most significant
strength is the way she treats and positively
interacts with people. She possesses a quiet,
yet determined, demeanor. When given a
task, she thoroughly completes it. She is an
excellent listener and readily accepts
constructive suggestions,” the principal of
her high school, Andy Johnson, wrote in a
letter of recommendation for her scholarship
application.
Congratulations, Kylie!