Morehead American Legion Post 126 Donates to Aviation Training Scholarship Program
The pictured check for $1,000 was presented to Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 1525 for their Flight Training Scholarship Program: “Giving Wings to our Next Generation”. Pictured (left to right) with the donation are: American Legion Member Scott Barker; EAA1525 Chapter President Lee Lipps; Rowan County Senior High School Principal Jordan Mann; Rowan County High School Aviation Teacher Dr. Shannon Murphy, and American Legion Member Larry Law. Funding for this donation comes from the estate of member Steve Fouch who recently passed away and asked the Legion to devote a portion of his estate to a worthy community cause. Major Fouch was an Air Force Veteran, and it was thought that a program supporting aviation training for youth would be most appropriate to honor his legacy. This check is the first that will be donated from Major Fouch’s estate to the EAA Flight Scholarship fund over the next 10 years.
The aviation career field is exploding with demand for young pilots, mechanics, and other related aviation professionals. Our local high schools in Rowan and Morgan have stepped up to the challenge by incorporating special aviation classes in their curriculum in order to help motivated students take first steps toward gaining their wings. Hands-on flight training, however, is a separate endeavor which is expensive and intense. Qualifying for a Private Pilot License is a foundational step for most aviation careers and must be funded over and above other related studies.
EAA Chapter 1525, headquartered at the Morehead Airport, has worked for the last two years to garner flight training scholarship funding for high school students expressing a serious interest in aviation careers. Two students (one from Rowan and one from Morgan) have so far benefitted from these scholarships. Some funding for aviation training is provided by EAA International, but such resources are limited and local EAA chapters are encouraged to seek local support to supplement the funding.
Flight training is a character-building endeavor. It requires mind/body discipline, academic ability, and personal perseverance. It is a worthy investment for the development of young people in our community. American Legion Post 126 believes Major Fouch would be pleased with this opportunity to help a young aviator earn his or her wings.