How does $5,000 sound to help someone pursue their dream of becoming a professional ag pilot? Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available under the 2018 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program to assist four aspiring ag pilots in their journey.

The goal of NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program is to strengthen the aerial application industry by helping operator members bring new pilots into the profession and help fund their training. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member, and scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible.

The scholarship program is administered by NAAA and funded by educational grants provided by BASF and Thrush. This year, NAAA will award up to four scholarships valued at $5,000 each. This is a win-win for NAAA Operator members and individuals seeking training funds to support their pursuit of becoming a professional ag pilot.

How to Apply

To be considered for the 2018 scholarship, every applicant must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member sponsoring the applicant.
• An essay of 250 words or less explaining why you want to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how you would use NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further your education and training.
• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

The deadline to apply for a 2018 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31.

NAAA will award the recipients of the 2018 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in December at the Ag Aviation Expo in Reno, Nev. Last year NAAA awarded scholarships to five young individuals who represent the future of ag aviation: Jonathan Aslesen of Buffalo, Minn. ($5,000); Cade Sallee of Fowler, Colo. ($5,000); Kyle Tate of Walsh, Colo. ($5,000); Justin Welling of Clark, S.D. ($5,000), and Colton Tidwell of Lonoke, Ark. ($2,500).