Foundation Announces 2006 Aviation Scholarship Winners

The International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Foundation has awarded eight scholarships to deserving men and women to help them further their skills in aviation. The Foundation sponsors several aviation-related scholarships each year, which are awarded to recipients to either begin or further their aviation or aerobatic training or obtain their Airframe & Powerplant License. Each scholarship commemorates a loved and much-missed member of the close-knit air show community. An overview of the scholarships and winners is outlined below.

Charlie Hillard Scholarship

Charlie R. Hillard was a fiercely determined man, and throughout his life, built an amazing list of "firsts". He bought his first airplane at age 18, became the first skydiver in the US to pass a baton in a free-fall, won four National Aerobatic Championships and was the first American to win the world aerobatic title. He led the Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team for more than 25 years and then began another amazing career as a solo aerobatic pilot. Throughout his life Charlie was recognized many times for his aerobatic excellence. While he was key to the advancement of precision aerobatics, Charlie was also an enthusiastic contributor and volunteer in his community, particularly devoted to family and children's causes and organizations. The Charlie Hillard Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a young man or woman age 18 to 30 who has demonstrated community involvement, and provides $1,000 to further their aviation training.

Kimberly Blair resides in South Colby, WA and holds an FAA Private Pilot Certificate with Single-Engine Land and Instrument Ratings. Kim recently received her tailwheel endorsement in a Cessna 140 and began aerobatic training in an American Champion Decathlon. She is a member of the Boeing Employees Flying Association where she is working towards a Commercial Pilot Certificate. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from Western Washington University and continual education in management and leadership. She received her private land and instrument ratings at Crest Airpark. Kim is a member of Women in Aviation, The 99s, Aircraft Owner's and Pilots Association, the Washington Pilots Association, Experimental Aircraft Association and the International Aerobatics Club. Kim was fortunate to be the recipient of the Greater Seattle Chapter of the 99s internal scholarship in 2005. "It was very exciting to be honored in this way alongside other successful female aviators and this assistance helped take me further along my journey," she said. Outside of work and flying Kim enjoys running, racing sailboats, riding her bike and scrap booking.

French Connection Scholarship

Daniel Heligoin and Montaine Mallet (right) together formed the French Connection AirShow for over 26 years. Following their deaths during a practice session in May of 2000, family members, friends, and fans worked together to create a memorial fund that could be used to give, as Daniel would say, "the gift of wings". The French Connection Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a male and a female flight instructor who need financial help acquiring aerobatic training so he or she can do a better job teaching, or to seek a position giving aerobatic instruction. The scholarship provides $1,000 to be applied toward aerobatic training.

Jackie Tatelbaum resides in Tempe, Arizona. She is a Certified Flight Instructor and her passion is to impart to her students the same passion that she feels for aviation. "Ever since I was eight years old I wanted to parachute from an airplane and be a pilot who teaches people to fly," she said. It wasn't until 2002 that she began to fulfill her dream. In January 2002, she went to Eloy, AZ and participated in a tandem parachute jump from a Twin Otter. Twenty days later she began to work on her Private Pilot license. Jackie currently holds ratings for Single Engine Land, Instrument, Commercial, Certified Flight Instructor, Advanced Ground Instructor, and Commercial/Instrument Multi-Engine Land.

Patrick Carter resides in Redding, CA but was born and raised in North Central Arkansas. Patrick obtained his Private Pilot's License on his 17th birthday, and his instrument rating shortly thereafter. Since flying was his ultimate goal, he continued into a career as a civilian aviator. He enrolled in the Aeronautical Science Program at Henderson State University where he received a Bachelor's Degree in December of 2004. He obtained his Commercial Pilot's License and CFI upon turning 18. This allowed Patrick to support himself and build flight hours by working as a flight instructor throughout college. After graduation, he was offered a job as a Corporate Pilot flying a Cessna Citation II in Redding, California.

Jan Jones Memorial Scholarship

Jan Jones died May 9, 1995 from injuries sustained in an aircraft accident. She was not only a respected aerobatic pilot; she was loved for her sparkling, energetic personality, her passion for flying, and her willingness to share her knowledge with others. The Jan Jones Memorial Scholarship has been made possible through an endowment from Jan's parents, William and Mary Jones, and other generous donors. The scholarship provides $1,000 to any female who already holds a private pilot's license, and must be applied toward aerobatic training.

Rachel Thomas resides in Orlando, FL and has a dream of becoming a professional pilot. Currently she is a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines. She holds the following ratings: instrument rating, commercial certificate, and multi-engine add-on rating. She attends FAA safety meetings, and conventions. "As a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Women in Aviation International and the Ninety-Nines, I find the field of aviation very rewarding and challenging," she said. She hopes to one day become a professional pilot for a major airline.

Leo Loundenslager Scholarship

Leo Loudenslager was a seven-time winner of the United States Aerobatic Championship, and in 1980, he became the World Aerobatic Champion. His career ended on July 28, 1997 when he died from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. But it all began in 1964 when Leo took leave from his job as an airman at Travis Air Force Base to attend the Reno Air Races, and was inspired to become a pilot. He was entirely self-taught. Except for ground school training, he learned everything else aviation on his own, including his commercial, flight instruction and instrument licenses. The Leo Loudenslager scholarship honors Leo's background as a military enlisted man who taught himself to fly and went on to make aerobatic history. It is given in rotation to an enlisted member of the US Navy Blue Angels, the US Air Force Thunderbirds, and the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, and provides a $2,000 stipend towards flight training.

Sergeant Christian Scala was born in Boeblingen, Germany and currently resides in Pensacola, FL. He is now serving in the United States Marine Corps as a Sergeant (E-5) Avionics Technician and is assigned to the United States Navy Jet Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels. He is studying at Embry Riddle University for a Bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Management. Christian has participated in many training exercises around the world. This scholarship will allow him to begin his flight training. One of his goals in life is to become a Naval Aviator and eventually fly what he has been maintaining for the past 7 years, which is the Navy's F/A-18 Hornet. His second goal is to attend Sean D. Tucker's flight school and become as inspirational an aerobatic pilot as Sean. Lastly, Christian wishes fly commercially.

Red Baron Memorial Scholarships

The Red Barons Memorial Scholarship honors two pilots who flew the #2 and #4 positions in the Red Baron Pizza Squadron. Sonny Lovelace and Randy Drake perished in 1998 while performing in a charity air show to benefit the ICAS Foundation. Since 1979, the Red Baron Pizza Squadron has kept the legend of the Baron alive with its fleet of vintage aircraft. Today, the Squadron is the longest-running, non-military air show act in history. The two $1,000 scholarships is awarded to a US citizen, age 16 years of age or older, and must be used towards instruction in tail wheel aircraft operations or aerobatic flight. The recipients of the Red Baron Memorial Scholarships are selected by a committee headed by Kathleen (Kay) Drake, widow of Randy Drake. Kay is joined by Pat Lovelace, widow of Sonny Lovelace, and Red Baron pilots John Bowman and Bryan Regan.

Brandi Lueken resides in Saint Charles, MO. Brandi is a Private pilot who originally thought her dream of flight would remain a dream instead of a reality. By the age of 18 she had experienced not only the exhilaration of learning to fly but the extreme disappointment of having it taken from her life. By the age of 24, she had open-heart surgery, her first pacemaker, and every glimpse of becoming a pilot wiped away. For medical reasons Brandi thought she would never realize her dream, but she persisted and eventually received her medical certificate, allowing her to resume her passion for aviation. But her accomplishments go well beyond aviation. In 2001, she founded the American Pediatric Heart Fund, which provides life saving cardiac treatment and services to uninsured children. She is the founder of the American Foundation for Healthcare Reform, whose mission is to achieve high-quality, comprehensive healthcare for all Americans through innovative public policy and reform. She competed in endurance cycling, completing a 1,400-mile bike ride from Saint Louis, Missouri to Orlando, Florida to raise money for research. She competed as Team MET-Rx in the 1999 Race Across America from Irvine, California to Savannah, Georgia. As the recipient of this scholarship, Brandi will use her talent, passion and opportunity to ensure that her aerobatic ability and aerobatic competitions are used to promote the 'special issuance' medical and to voice its importance to aviation in hopes of inspiring those who never thought that becoming a pilot was within their reach.

Chelsea Engberg resides in Loomis, CA. She started flying in 2002. Chelsea has become deeply involved with the local aviation community at Auburn Municipal Airport, not only working with their aviation association as a board member and the newsletter editor, but also founding their youth auxiliary for 13-18 year olds who are interested in aviation. She became a dispatcher for a Part 91 aircraft sales and management company and had the opportunity to fly King Airs. Her passion is aerobatics and flight instruction so decided to move on to work at a flight school. Now she is working within the community she loves, doing what she truly loves. "By receiving this scholarship I hope to give back to the aviation community and help introduce many future generations to the amazing world of aviation and aerobatics," she said.

Sean DeRosier Scholarship

The Sean DeRosier Memorial Scholarship honors Sean's spirit by assisting other young men and women in their aviation goals. He lost his life in October of 2004 doing what he knew best - flying. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a male or female with a private pilot's license, between the ages of 18 and 31 and residing in the western United States, defined as the states of California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada or Idaho. The scholarship monies must be applied towards aerobatic flight training or schooling towards obtaining his/her A&P license. The selection committee consists of Sean's parents, Ben and Doris and his fiancé Tami.

Brittany Loeschnig resides in Murrieta, CA. Brittany is a full time student studying autism therapy and wishes to become a mission pilot. She is an accomplished private pilot working on completing her instrument and commercial check rides. She is also working on completing her studies as an A&P. These qualifications would be necessary for Brittany to fly anywhere in the world without worrying about simple mechanical problems. She wishes to reach the people and spread the purpose-driven life and living it by igniting a passion within. Brittany also enjoys being with her wonderful family.

The ICAS Foundation is an organization dedicated to preserving the air show industry's valuable heritage through cataloging and storing of artifacts, articulating the value of air shows and demonstration flying to the public, helping families of those in the air show industry who have been touched by tragedy, and supporting pilots and performers of the future through scholarships. In addition to the scholarships program, the Foundation sponsors a Hall of Fame program to commemorate those who made a significant contribution to the air show industry.

FMI: www.icasfoundation.org