Education Through Aviation - 2011/02

154 MODEL AVIATION
IF I DON’T LAUGH, I’m not happy …
hmmm, that’s a bit confusing! What I mean
is that life is best lived with a smile and
good laugh. As Mark Twain once said,
humor is indeed a blessing.
By now it’s the end of January, a great
holiday season is behind you, and thoughts
of the upcoming flying season are spinning
in your head. Those of us in the parts of the
country that have winter know about
dreaming of those great days spent at the
flying field. We also know what great fun it
is to spend time in the gym flying the small
electric stuff!
Maybe you were lucky enough to get
something fun as a holiday gift. When
you’re building it, flying it, or just talking
about it, have fun and a good laugh with
your flying buddies!
We have many people involved in the FAA
effort, but I’ll go ahead and risk mentioning
an individual’s name. Dave Mathewson has
worked tirelessly on maintaining and
developing our model aviation activities
within the FAA directive.
Keeping the balance between the FAA and
our interests is not easy. Because the FAA
controls the National Air Space (NAS), it’s an
issue to be taken seriously. Limiting our
enjoyment of model aviation hasn’t been an
option for us. Dave, Rich Hanson, our
Executive Council, and many others have
stepped up for this challenge.
If you haven’t considered it yet, take a
moment to thank the leadership of this
organization who work as unpaid volunteers,
spending countless hours on your behalf.
Those hours right now are as critical—or
more so—as they were in the 1990s with the
FCC.
I write this on my six-month anniversary
as a member of the staff of AMA. As a
longtime member, I have to admit that much
of what is done here I simply took for
granted. Don’t make the same mistake I did.
Take a moment to drop an e-mail or card of
thanks to let these people know that what
they’re doing is not only critical, but greatly
appreciated.
It has been said that times of great
challenge reveal the character of our nation.
This challenge should illuminate to our
membership not only the great character of
this organization, but also the quality and
quantity of time spent by your district
officers and all the volunteer leadership we
have. It comprises people who simply care
enough about our activity to give so freely
of their time and talent.
AMA will be celebrating its 75th anniversary
year this summer. To help put that in
perspective, Craig Fuller, president of the
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
(AOPA), wrote in his December 2010
column in AOPA Pilot that 71 years ago the
AOPA’s founders “recognized the need for
an organization to prevent encroachment on
our freedom to fly.”
The AMA started even before that and
we’re doing the same thing today: working
to make sure that our membership continues
to enjoy this great activity!
In mentioning the 75th celebration this
summer, I guess I should admit that I was
the guy who accidentally had his hand up at
the wrong time and, before knowing what
was going on, became the co-chairman of
flying activities with Jay Smith.
We’re scheduled to have our 75th
Anniversary Celebration July 14-17. It’s my
sincere hope that each and every flying site
available is full of flying activities all four
days. Think about the Nats of old—multiple
model disciplines going on simultaneously!
We’ve contacted all of our SIGs with the
details. I’ve received confirmation from our
jet and helicopter fliers. If you can make it
to Muncie, Indiana, during these dates,
please bring something to fly!
The year 2010 has been very productive.
We’ve engaged the EAA Young Eagles,
developed a membership program to allow
all youth free membership, and awarded
nearly $40,000 in scholarships.
If you know of a youth member with 36
months consecutive membership, please have
him or her check out our scholarship
opportunities! I am not satisfied with the
number of applications we receive, and am
determined to raise that number. This is
simply too great an opportunity for our
members—you—to ignore. More information
and the application itself may be found on our
Web site at www.modelaircraft.org.
I will be traveling soon to Maxwell Air
Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, to
meet with my counterpart at the Civil Air
Patrol headquarters. I hope to engage this
great organization into another collaborative
effort of providing kids, through the
Academy of Model Aeronautics, the joy of
learning through model aviation!
The addition of a new AMA charterd
club program, the Model Aviation School
Club (MASC), is also exciting for us. Kids
can now form their own clubs at school and
it’s all about fun and learning through
aviation!
It’s free and easy to do, so if you know
of an educator who is a modeler, or a
school employee interested in using
aviation as a medium for educational
activities, please have him or her check the
AMA Web site for an application.
This is also a great opportunity for our
chartered clubs to reach kids at school,
become active and validated in your
community, and reap the rewards regarding
club challenges such as potential flying site
issues down the road!
I had a great phone conversation with Bob
Hunt, one of our CL legends and Editor
Emeritus of this magazine. We were
discussing the 75th celebration and flying
opportunities for our CL members when the
conversation turned to education.
I plan to make CL a larger part of the
education offerings we have for 2011.
That’s how I started in modeling, and no
doubt many of you did as well. For some,
especially kids, CL is simply more
accessible than RC. There is a huge
difference in costs and finding a place to fly
is much easier.
Bob said something that has really stuck
with me. In our discussion about education
and what the AMA can do, he said, “What if
everyone in the AMA adopted this saying?
Each one, teach one.” Wow, talk about a
solution to membership decline. Outreach,
youth, and so many areas that we all must
address are solved with this simple, timely,
and poignant phrase!
Do the math, and let the exponential
thing happen.
What if each one of us simply taught
one? Whether it is FF, RC, CL, or
helicopters, it doesn’t matter. Each one,
teach one!
Go have a good laugh with your flying
buddies and don’t ever forget how much you
enjoy this hobby.
“You can observe a lot by just watching.”
—Yogi Berra
Fly and Have Fun!
Education Through Aviation Bill Pritchett | [email protected]
“Humor is mankind’s greatest blessing.”
5161 E. Memorial Dr.
Muncie IN 47302
(765) 287-1256, ext. 515
[email protected]
—Mark Twain
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February 2011 155
Oliver Cai
Oliver Cai of Orange, Connecticut, is the
recipient of a $7,300 Charles Hampson Grant
award, a $750 Weak Signals Scholarship,
and a $5,000 Telford Scholarship. Oliver is
receiving $13,050 to attend the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
In first grade, Oliver began playing the
piano. Since then he has explored classical
music and participated in many recitals.
Every year Oliver takes part in the Young
Musicians Festival at Fairfield University.
Additionally, he has played in concerts to
raise money for global causes including the
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2008
Sichuan earthquake.
Oliver’s FF career took off in 2001 at
the Eli Whitney Museum summer camp
programs in Hamden, Connecticut. Shortly
after, he joined the Wilbur & Orville
Society, an FF organization at the museum,
where he was educated by Art Ellis. Within
a year, Oliver advanced from small Rubber
models to the P-30. He built a variety of
hand-launch and catapult gliders that he
took to his first Nats in 2003.
Oliver began working as an apprentice
for the Eli Whitney Museum at the age of
13. For two years, he spent a day every
week helping put together hands-on projects
for children and instructing group events.
During these two years Oliver was also a
counselor for summer camp programs
including aeromodeling camp.
In 2007, Oliver became president of the
Wilbur & Orville Society. He is also
webmaster for the organization’s Web site.
Oliver participated in numerous
competitions starting in 2003. He flew in
Nats events from 2003-2007 and also took
part in Society of Antique Modelers
contests, National Cups, America Cups, and
more. In 2006 Oliver received the
Skyscrapers Youth Achievement Award
and a second place team medal from the
F1A Junior World Championships.
A graduate of Amity Regional High
School in Connecticut, Oliver ran cross
country and track. In his freshman and
sophomore years, Oliver was heavily
involved in science fairs around
Connecticut. He participated in the
Southern Connecticut Invitational Science
& Engineering Fair at Staples High School,
the Junior Science and Humanities
Symposium at the University of
Connecticut, the Connecticut Science Fair
at Quinnipiac University, and the Norwalk
Science Fair at Norwalk Community
College.
In 10th grade, with Art Ellis mentoring,
Oliver produced a science project studying
the effects of temperature on elastic
polymers. This project won the Connecticut
Science Fair Special Award from the
American Society of Medals Hartford
Chapter.
Oliver will be attending the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study
electrical engineering.
Deborah Day, Oliver’s Science Research
Instructor, wrote “Oliver Cai would be an
exceptional candidate for any field—
particularly engineering and/or design—that
requires flexibility of thought, challenging
problem solving, technology-based
learning, creativity, and insight. He is
indeed capable of setting and accomplishing
very high academic standards for himself
and I recommend him without reservation.”
Congratulations on your award, Oliver!
Ryan Feathers
Ryan Feathers of Shofield, Wisconsin, is
the recipient of a $7,300 Charles Hampson
Grant Scholarship and a $750 Weak Signals
scholarship. Ryan is using his $8,050 award
to attend the University of Wisconsin-
Madison and major in engineering.
A graduate of D.C. Everest Senior High
School in Weston, Wisconsin, Ryan was the
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 2010, five individuals received a portion of the $32,500
Charles Hampson Grant awards. These monies 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 winners 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 $1,500.
In its fourth 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, 15 applicants met the established criteria and were
considered by the committee. Evaluated by a 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 extremely close
to one another in their evaluations of the applications. Five
students were granted awards this year and $39,000 was awarded
in all.
The students’ planned majors include materials science,
aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, chemistry, and
anthropology.
Information regarding applications may be obtained from April
Hathaway at AMA Headquarters or from the AMA Education
Web site at www.modelaircraft.org/education.aspx. The deadline
to apply for next year’s scholarships is April 30, 2011.
If you would like to support the growth of the Education
Endowment, please contact April at (765) 287-1256, extension
516, or e-mail her at [email protected].
2010 Scholarship Recipients
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156 MODEL AVIATION
treasurer for the National Honor Society,
skip of the varsity curling team, co-captain
of the Science Olympiad, and a leader
member of the school’s first place math
team. He was enrolled in several advanced
placement (AP) courses, earning a 2009 AP
Scholar with Honor award and a 2010
National AP Scholar award. Ryan was able
to complete 41 college credits while in this
program.
Ryan is a 10-year member of the AMA.
He was approximately nine years old when
he helped build his first model, a Dynaflite
Butterfly. Learning through buddy-box
flying with his dad, Ryan made his first solo
flight in 2003 at 11 years old.
That fall Ryan picked up RC Combat
flying. From then on, he traveled to many
contests throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota,
and Illinois.
Ryan participated in his first RC Combat
Nationals at the AMA in 2004. He returned
again in 2005 for competition. He continues
to fly RC with his father, mostly with their
electric foam jets.
Ryan is an avid member of the Boy
Scouts of America. He joined the Scouts as
a Tiger in 1998 and worked his way to Eagle
Scout in 2008. At age 18, Ryan volunteered
to be an assistant Scoutmaster for his troop.
He spent the summers of 2008 and 2009
working as a camp counselor at Tesomas
Boy Scout Camp in Rhinelander, Wisconsin.
He is active in the Order of the Arrow,
the Boy Scout’s Honor Society, and serves
on the Lodge Executive Committee of Tom
Kita Chara Lodge. Ryan was the newsletter
editor and is now in his second year as vice
chief of administration. In the summer of
2010, he took on the role of Order of the
Arrow coordinator in which he organizes
and runs the camp’s OA program.
In his letter of recommendation, Ryan’s
school counselor Robert Hinck wrote,
“These words come to my mind when I
think of Ryan Feathers: personable,
intelligent, creative, athletic, cooperative,
growing, and one of his class’ best … Ryan
is also an excellent young man that
surrounds himself with positive students
making positive decisions. I recommend him
highly without reservation.”
Congratulations, Ryan, and best of luck
at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Jessica Goodman
Jessica Goodman of Palm Harbor,
Florida, is the recipient of a $6,300 Charles
Hampson Grant Scholarship.
Jessica’s experience with aeromodeling
began with her father. Jeffery Goodman is
the owner of JGRC, a retailer for radio
control hobby items, based in Palm Harbor.
She started flying at the age of three. By five
years old, Jessica was flying at clubs
affiliated with the AMA.
Although she typically flies her dad’s
models, Jessica has had a few she
constructed herself. The first model she built
was a Kadet at age five. Jessica admits she
had quite a bit of adult assistance.
While Jessica does not fly competitively,
she does participate in Class C events. She
attends not only as a pilot, but as an
unofficial employee of her father’s store.
She has helped her father in his business for
more than five years.
Jessica spent most of her life involved in
a large number of academic extracurricular
activities. She attended the Palm Harbor
University High School in the International
Baccalaureate program. She was a member
of Mu Alpha Theta, a national math honors
society, since 2006. She was also the
group’s historian. Jessica was an active
member and tutored other students in math
and attended mathematical competitions at
the regional, state, and national levels.
Jessica was also a member of her school’s
Spanish Honors Society, Academic Team,
and Palm Harbor Jewish Union of Students.
Outside of school, Jessica volunteered at
Sunrise Senior Living, a local assisted-living
facility. At Sunrise, she coordinated group
activities and visited with individual
residents to provide companionship. She
helped at the facility throughout high school
and accumulated approximately 250 hours
of community service.
During part of high school, Jessica was
employed at a local Chinese take-out
restaurant. She greeted customers, put in
orders, and ran the phones. Jessica had to
quit the job in March of 2009 because of the
increasing difficulty of her school work.
Jessica’s International Baccalaureate
Program Counselor, Michael Burkett, wrote,
“Jessica is a very kind, giving person who
has devoted herself to learning and also to
helping others. The more I learn about
Jessica, the more I am impressed and
surprised by her interests, her talents, and
especially by her humility.
“Simply put, Jessica Goodman is the
kind of student who has made the most of
her education thus far, and will continue to
do so through college studies and beyond. It
is therefore my pleasure to recommend her
most enthusiastically for a scholarship from
the Academy of Model Aeronautics.”
In September 2010, Jessica began
attending the University of South Florida.
She is double majoring in anthropology and
interdisciplinary classical civilizations with
a minor in chemistry.
Good luck in your future, Jessica!
Emily Brown
Emily Brown of Kingman, Arizona, is a
$6,300 Charles Hampson Grant recipient.
She is using her award to attend Northern
Arizona University for her undergraduate
degree in chemistry and a minor in
electronic media.
Twelve years of homeschooling gave
Emily many opportunities. She developed
strong study skills and responsibility and
had the flexibility to be involved in many
activities. Emily was industrious in the
Kingman Modelers Club, which led to many
other opportunities to be active in her
community.
It all began with a trip to her neighbor’s
hobby room. Emily’s interest piqued at the
sight of all the brightly colored airplanes of
every shape and size. Her first model was a
Dynaflite Daydream glider.
When Emily joined the Kingman
Modelers, the club’s flying field was in an
isolated area often subject to vandalism.
Emily, with her brother and support of the
club, set out to raise money to erect a barbed
wire fence along the field’s perimeter. They
raised the money for the project in less than
two months.
Emily and her dog, Molly, participate in
the “Read to a Dog” program in local
elementary schools and visit nursing homes
as a certified dog therapy team with
Kingman Therapaws. In 2006, she started
her own pet sitting service. To promote her
business, she created brochures and
distributed them throughout her
neighborhood. It did not take long for Emily
to acquire many clients and sge realized she
loved working with animals so much it
never seemed to be a chore for her.
The summer of 2009 Emily worked at
the Manzanita Animal Hospital. She cleaned
and maintained the facilities, cared for pets
at the hospital, and even assisted in surgery
monitoring patient vitals and passing
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instruments to the veterinarians. This helped
cultivate her passion for animals and made
her choose to pursue a career in veterinary
medicine. Emily’s dream is to open her own
practice someday.
While in high school Emily began taking
classes at Mohave Community College.
With her concurrent enrollment at the
college, she graduated from high school and
also received her associate’s degree with a
science emphasis.
At the college Emily was involved with
Chi Sigma Christian Student Association,
the Conservative Students Club, and Phi
Theta Kappa Honor Society. She was
nominated to Team One of the 2010 All-
USA Academic Team and earned several
outstanding-student awards from Mohave
Community College.
In his recommendation, Emily’s
principal, Clark Brown, wrote, “Throughout
[Emily’s] twelve years of home school
education, she has excelled academically,
socially, and in her service to others. Her
personal and leadership skills also
demonstrate her rich potential for success. I
also have complete confidence that an
investment in her future will result in
excellent long-term rewards for each of
those elements that have already figured
prominently in her success, including the
model aviation industry.”
Congratulations, Emily!
James Bumbaugh
James Bumbaugh of Wexford,
Pennsylvania, is the recipient of a $5,300
Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship.
An AMA member since 1995, James’
interest in modeling began when he was five
years old. He is a longtime member of the
Model Airplane Recreation Society (MARS)
and has served as the club’s vice president
since 2007.
In 2005, James placed third in the basic
division of the Matt Chapman Youth
Masters and in 2006 took fourth in the
advanced division. At the Keystone Indoor
Electric Fly (KIEF) 2008, James received
the Best Helicopter Award after flying his
T-Rex 500 at the noontime demonstration.
He flew in the event again this past year, this
time with a T-Rex 450 Pro. Also in 2009,
James was a semi-finalist in the
International Radio Controlled Helicopter
Association (IRCHA) Amateur Nationals.
Throughout high school, James was
active in Air Force Junior ROTC. He also
participated on the bowling team, in model
rocketry, and in the Kitty Hawk Honor
Society. As a member of the honor society,
James volunteered at a local personal care
home, visiting with residents, playing
games, and serving refreshments.
James was the squadron commander for
his ROTC unit, which required his
attendance at staff meetings and promotion
board meetings. Each year at the annual JR
ROTC banquet, James has received an
award. His awards include the Military
Order of World Wars, Outstanding Cadet,
the Air Force Award, and the American
Legion Scholastic Excellence award.
Starting in April 2005, James ran a lawn
care service. He maintained several lawns as
well as provided spring and fall clean-up
and any other related duties his customers
requested. For several years James worked
for Luke and Sue Simion of Luke’s RC
Planes where he helped sell products and
answer questions at major shows and fly-ins.
James is attending Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University to follow a career in
aerospace engineering. His enthusiasm for
aviation was reinforced when he flew a
combat demonstration with Matt Chapman
at the Thistledown International Miniature
Aircraft Association (IMAA) mini fest in
September of 2006.
Peter Martorelli, James’ school
counselor, wrote, “James is an exceptionally
versatile, talented, and personable young
man. Not only has he excelled academically,
but James is also a key leader within our
high school and community.” He continued,
“He exhibits all the skills, characteristics,
and talents we try to develop in all our
young adults. I have no doubt James has the
ability to not only succeed, but to excel in
any career path he should choose for
himself.”
Best of luck, James!
Each year, the Academy of Model
Aeronautics awards Charles Hampson
Grant Scholarships to deserving highschool
seniors who will be pursuing a
continuing academic program at an
accredited college or university.
Applications received are processed by
a four-person selection committee and
roughly $40,000 annually is distributed in
various amounts based on AMA modeling
activities, scholastic achievement, and
citizenship achievement.
To be eligible for a scholarship, the
applicant must:
1) Have been an AMA member for the
last full 36 consecutive months prior to
the April 30 application deadline
2) Graduate from high school in the year
in which the award is to be granted
3) Have been accepted by a college or
university offering a certificate or
degree program
The Charles H. Grant Scholarship
Program contains other grants which
involve specific factors for determining the
award.
The Toledo Weak Signals Scholarship
is awarded to the top recipient of the
AMA/Charles H. Grant Scholarship.
The Telford Scholarship is based on
participation in competition activity in the
AMA and FAI classifications listed in the
application packet.
Scholarship information and
applications or information regarding
donations to the programs can be obtained
by calling AMA Headquarters at (765)
287-1256, ext. 516, or by e-mailing
[email protected] or education@
modelaircraft.org.
Applications are also available on the
AMA Web site under Education at
www.modelaircraft.org/education.aspx.
The application deadline is April 30,
2011.
AMA/Charles H. Grant
Scholarships
Schedule for 2011
Executive
Council Meetings
The following dates were set for this
year’s Executive Council meetings. These
dates are subject to change.
January 9
EC Meeting
Ontario, California
April 9-10
EC Meeting
Muncie, Indiana
July 16-17
EC Meeting
Muncie, Indiana
October 29-30
EC Meeting
Muncie, Indiana
All regularly scheduled council
meetings are open to any AMA member
to attend.
The AMA General Membership
meeting will be held Thursday May 12
during the Joe Nall event.
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