AOPA Foundation has awarded more than 130 flight training scholarships totaling nearly $1.2 million which will help high school students and teachers, aspiring pilots, pilots seeking advanced ratings, and those pursuing aviation maintenance or other aerospace careers reach their aviation goals. 

Each scholarship aims to help individuals cover the cost of training for a private, sport, or recreational pilot certificate, or to provide funds for advanced ratings and certificates. These scholarships are awarded annually by the AOPA Foundation, and the 2022 awards include the largest group of recipients and the most scholarship funds distributed to date. 

The flight training scholarship program would not be possible without donations to the AOPA Foundation. One very generous contributor is the Ray Foundation. Founded by the lates James C.. Ray, an aviator, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, the Ray Foundation has contributed $1 million to the AOPA Foundation in 2022 to fund flight training scholarships for high school students and teachers. This year 100 scholarships worth $10,000 each were awarded for the purpose of obtaining a private pilot certificate.

"These scholarships change life and we are grateful to the donors who make them possible," said Elizabeth Tennyson, senior vice president of the AOPA Foundation and You Can Fly. "This year's scholarhsip winners were selected from among more than 4,000 applicants and include high school students, teachers, and people of all ages who want to learn to fly or grow their skills. It's a talented and committed group of recipients and I can't wait to see what they achieve."