Republic High School Air Force JROTC Cadets 2 of 150 in world to receive pilot scholarship

Republic High School Air Force JROTC cadets, Allison Zahner and Taylon East are two of 150 stu- dents from around the world to receive the 2019 Flight Academy Private Pilot Scholarship from Max- well Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. More than 1,560 cadets applied for this scholarship worth ap- proximately $20,000. As recipients Allison and Tay- lon will choose to attend a summer program at one of the partnering universities for this private pilots licensing training.
The Flight Academy Private Pilot Scholarship is an initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage. It will cover transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot license. Air Force JROTC has been charged by the Air Force Aircrew Crisis Task Force to bring back the “luster of avia- tion” to high school students and increase diversity in aviation fields.
Applicants of the scholarship must be AFJROTC cadets, at least 16 years old, have a minimum cumu- lative GPA of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) to submit a package or be nominated. Applicants may be current sophomores, juniors or seniors.
Those who participate in the program do not in- cur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s com- missioning programs.