Ray Aviation Scholarship Funds Up to $12,000

Young students pursuing a pilot certificate can now point to a scholarship that covers up to $12,000 in flight training costs.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Scholarships

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 83 named 16-year-old Annabelle Longmire the first Ray Aviation Scholar, awarding up to $12,000 toward flight training in Terre Haute, Indiana. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 83 has selected 16-year-old Annabelle Longmire as the first Ray Aviation Scholar, a scholarship providing up to $12,000 toward flight training. The chapter, based at Terre Haute Regional Airport in Indiana, made the selection in November 2026.

Why it matters

The Ray Aviation Scholarship is aimed at students who want to pursue flight training, a path that can be costly without outside funding. Longmire's selection shows how a local flying organization can help a young student move from an introductory flight toward a pilot certificate.

The Ray Aviation Scholarship provides up to $12,000 toward flight training, and the first recipient is 16 years old. Eligibility rules, application deadlines, and the number of scholarships offered in future years were not included in the announcement.

The players

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 83

A local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association based at Terre Haute Regional Airport that sponsors youth aviation programs and nominated the scholarship recipient.

Annabelle Longmire

A 16-year-old student and the first recipient of the Ray Aviation Scholarship, who plans to earn her private pilot certificate before high school graduation.

The details

Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 83 nominated Longmire for the scholarship and then selected her as the program's first Ray Aviation Scholar. Longmire first flew in 2023 during an introductory Young Eagles flight, organized in partnership with Clark County 4-H. The chapter described her as one of its most enthusiastic Young Eagles, and she plans to complete her flight training and earn a private pilot certificate before graduating from high school.

2023: Longmire takes her first flight in an introductory Young Eagles flight.
November 10, 2026: Longmire is named the first Ray Aviation Scholar.

Education Landscape

Flight training is a specialized field of study with costs that can exceed what many families can cover, so targeted scholarships help widen access to aviation careers. Awards like the Ray Aviation Scholarship fit within a broader set of career-specific funding that supplements general college aid.

If you are considering flight training, ask your school's financial-aid or admissions office and local aviation organizations about career-specific scholarships. Students interested in aviation can also check whether their local EAA chapter sponsors youth programs.

The takeaway

Targeted scholarships can open doors to specialized careers that carry high upfront training costs. Students exploring aviation should look for local chapter programs and ask about funding early in their planning.