Avfuel Awards Three Additional Scholarships to Aspiring Aviators

Avfuel Corporation announces Trent Long of Pasadena, Maryland as the the recipient of the 2nd Annual Pilot-in-Training Scholarship, in addition to Andrew Traficante of Boynton Beach, Florida and Ann Hornick of Poplar Grove, Illinois.

As a long term member of the Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics magnet program, and captain of a 60 person robotics team, Trent Long will use his $1,500 scholarship to complete a PPL in preparation for college where he will major in aviation engineering. Through his education and internship at the Navy Annapolis Flight Center, Long hopes to become a pilot and flight instructor so he can share his excitement for flying with others.

Andrew Traficante intends to use the $1,000 scholarship to complete his flight training at Lynn University while he also finishes high school. At the age of seven, he took his first lesson and has since developed a passion for flying and aerospace engineering.

Hornick, a student and an employee at Poplar Grove Airport, will use her $500 scholarship to complete a PPL prior to joining the United State Naval Academy or similar program. It is with the support of her airport community that she hopes to inspire other young women to pursue a career in aviation.

These scholarships are in addition to the 21st Annual AVTRIP Scholarship winners announced last week. Recipients included Wayne Manning of Provo, UT, Stacy Everitt of Miami, FL and Elayna Hall of Fargo, ND.

Currently working in the aerial survey and charter business, Manning will use the $2,000 scholarship to earn his ATP license and further his services by fighting fires from the air as an aviator. Upon receiving notification of the prize, Manning explained his desire to earn his ATP, “I’ve seen lives affected, such that when the aviators go out and they are able to make a difference in terms of where that fire is going to go or where it’s not going to go, it literally makes the life and death difference to the individuals they’re working with, and it was just so profound and impacting, I wanted to be a part of that…with an ATP I know I can make that difference.”

Clearly Manning has a love for aviation. When asked about its biggest contribution to society, Manning replied, “Having the world shrink by making travel quick, inexpensive and safe has revolutionized civilization and taken us into an incredible age. With all the benefits of aviation to society, I feel that the bringing together of people from across the globe is aviation's finest contribution.”

“We are continually impressed by the caliber of applications we receive year after year,” said Marci Ammerman, vice president of marketing for Avfuel. “We didn’t original set out to have more than one recipient, but I’m glad it worked out that we could award these deserving pilots who can’t wait to do more in aviation.”

Everitt, an active participant in Women in Corporate Aviation, will use her $1,000 scholarship to pursue advanced ratings as soon as possible. Her enthusiasm for aviation is contagious. Everitt shares, “When I see an airplane flying or a maneuver, or if I’m taxiing out or I’m taking off…you know that feeling you get when you fall in love and you just love it, you love that experience? I love what I’m doing, I love the feeling of power pushing in the throttle, I love seeing an airplane, it’s beauty, it’s art, I love hearing the engines, I love the smell of jet fuel. I feel free when I’m in the air.”

Finally, Hall, will use her $500 scholarship to finish her degree in Airport Management from University of North Dakota. When asked what makes her an aviator, Hall responded, “In August of 2018, I officially became a private pilot. Some may say I became an aviator when I finished my training, others maybe when I started years prior. I

would argue that aviator and pilot are not synonymous. Pilot is a title, but aviator is an attitude. I believe that it is my constant desire to be part of and to improve aviation along with my pilot training that makes me an aviator.”

Ammerman added, “It’s humbling that these aviators took the time to share their stories with us and its an honor to be able to help six dedicated people achieve their goals. We look forward to following their stories and meeting next year’s pool of applicants.”