Apply Now for a 2025 Ray Aviation Scholarship!
November 2024 – The chapter application period for next year’s EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship is now open! All EAA chapters and divisional chapters/squadrons in the United States and Canada are eligible to apply to administer a Ray Aviation Scholarship in 2025.
Thanks to the generous support of the Ray Foundation, EAA can provide these scholarships to deserving youths to help cover their flight training expenses. Ray Aviation scholars are the most engaged, excited, and motivated aspiring pilots an EAA chapter can have the pleasure of supporting. These scholarships are administered by EAA chapters, which have the responsibility of selecting a scholar and providing the crucial mentorship and support that will help the scholar succeed at becoming a pilot.
In 2025, the Ray Foundation will provide $2,250,000 to EAA to fund this scholarship program. The size of the scholarship has also been increased to $12,000 for private pilot training, $9,000 for sport pilot training, and $6,000 for glider pilot training. This will provide more funding to help scholars successfully complete flight training
The deadline for chapters to apply for the regular $12,000 scholarship is January 31, 2025. Chapter applications will be reviewed in February 2025, and chapters will be notified of their approval in late February. If approved, chapters can immediately begin nominating their scholars.
Chapter applications are scored based on the quality of the answers provided on the application, the chapter’s youth activities and previous scholarship experiences, and the chapter’s overall health and activity as determined by the EAA Chapter Recognition program. Since this scholarship is extremely competitive and involves a significant amount of responsibility, we encourage chapters to put serious effort into their applications so they can stand out from the pack.
Learn how to improve your chapter’s application
Matching Scholarships
EAA chapters with at least one successfully completed Ray scholar are eligible to apply for the 25/75 matching Ray Aviation Scholarship instead of the regular scholarship. With a matching scholarship, the chapter commits 25 percent of the funds, and the Ray Foundation commits the other 75 percent. This opportunity allows an eligible chapter to bypass the normal chapter review process and guarantees a matching scholarship in 2025. Chapters can apply for one or two matching scholarships each year.
With the increased scholarship amount of $12,000, the chapter commitment would be $3,000 for one matching scholarship or $6,000 for two matching scholarships. The deadline for chapters to apply for the matching scholarship(s) is December 31, 2024. Chapters awarded matching scholarships can begin nominating scholars in January 2025.
Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship
Chapters that receive a Ray Aviation Scholarship also have the option to pair it with the Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship. This endowed flight training scholarship is administered through the EAA chapter network and was created in memory of Kylie Murray, a flight instructor at Cub Air Flight in Hartford, Wisconsin. It provides an opportunity for a young woman to complete flight training, with the option of free training for an instrument rating if the recipient completes her private pilot training at Cub Air Flight — the flight school where Kylie learned to fly and instructed at.
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must meet the scholarship criteria and mention their interest in the Kylie Murray Memorial Flight Training Scholarship when completing the Ray Aviation Scholarship application through their local EAA chapter.
Chapter-approved candidates who meet these characteristics must submit their Ray scholar application to EAA by March 31, 2025, to be considered. Those who do not receive the Kylie Murray Scholarship will still be eligible to receive a Ray Aviation Scholarship.
Learn more about the Kylie Murray scholarship at EAA.org/KylieMurray.
Conclusion
Since its inception in 2019, the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship has to date enabled almost 600 youths and young adults to complete flight training and obtain their private, sport, or glider pilot certificate. Beyond helping these young people become pilots, the Ray Aviation Scholarship is also teaching valuable life skills to its recipients such as self-discipline, self-confidence, decision-making, and personal responsibility. Chapters involved in the Ray Aviation Scholarship have also benefited by gaining new members, expanding their youth activities, and developing new missions to pursue.
To learn more about the Ray Aviation Scholarship and program requirements, please visit EAA.org/RayScholarship. If you have any questions, please contact 800-564-6322 or rayscholars@eaa.org.
