Sending the next generation to flight school.

Jordan Alexandria DiGrazia

Third-year aviation flight and aviation management student; she will receive a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management in spring 2012 and is seeking a career as a professional pilot. Private pilot certificate May 2009, instrument rating December 2010, now working toward her commercial certificate.

Alongside her studies she has worked since January 2011 as a dispatcher with the SIUC Dispatch and Weather Center.

• Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society; Honors Day Ceremony, Spring 2009–2011
• Also recognized with the LuAnn Gatewood Memorial Scholarship (2011), Victor L. Davis Memorial Scholarship (2010) and Aviation Flight Tuition Waiver Award (2009)
• President, SIUC Saluki Aviators Chapter of Women in Aviation, International (2010–present)
• “Let’s Wing It” volunteer; SIUC Aviation Ambassador; United, American and Corporate/General Aviation Career Day volunteer
• Banquet Coordinator, SIUC Aviation Management Society (2009–10); Summer Wings/NASA Wings Camp counselor (2010)

Rick Palkovic

Sophomore on the Dean’s list who will receive an Associate’s degree in Aviation Science in spring 2011, then plans to enroll in the Aviation Management program at Southern Illinois University for a B.S. in 2013.

• First flight 3/18/2008; solo 5/19/2008
• Private Pilot Certificate (single engine land) 10/9/2008; Instrument Rating 10/3/2009
• Commercial Certificate 11/14/2009; Flight Instructor Certificate 3/22/2010, just over two years from first flight
• Goals: instrument instructor, multi-engine ratings, Airframe & Powerplant certification, B.S. in Aviation Management (SIU, 2013), commercial airline pilot

“I am very grateful to be a recipient of the United Airlines’ scholarship in honor of Captain William S. Arnott. Support such as this makes aviation truly great. I have accomplished many of my goals and am making progress toward a career as an airline pilot, but recently have been weighed down by the high cost of my passion. This scholarship represents the final push I need to not only gain my instrument instructor rating, but also become the active member of the Mount San Antonio College Flying team I would not have otherwise been able to finance.”— Rick to the Foundation

Kevin Dummer

Senior who will receive a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aviation Management and graduate cum laude in May 2010; on the Dean’s Honor List. He holds his Commercial and Instrument certificates, received his FAA Class I Medical Certificate in December 2009, and is a member of SIU’s Aviation Management Society and AOPA.

Special training included a Practicum in Air Carrier Operations, serving as Pilot in Command on a pressurized Cessna 421/340 carrying university officials in a crew environment, and a Technically Advanced Aircraft course on the Garmin G1000 glass cockpit. After graduation he hopes to join a regional airline or charter department and build time toward becoming an airline captain.

“I sincerely appreciate the scholarship that the members of UAHF have funded. Your organization shares much of the credit for making aviation as great as it is today. With the UAHF scholarship, I am able to take the SIU charter course to help build those crucial multi-engine hours, and get more experience in the traffic control system. Not only have you helped me to continue my career path but you have inspired me to one day give back to young future pilots. Thank you again for helping me and others reach our dreams!”— Kevin to the Foundation

Geoffrey K. Wood

Sophomore majoring in commercial flight, completing his program in spring 2010, then planning to attend SIU’s extension program at Mt. SAC (Aviation Management) or Embry-Riddle in Prescott, Arizona. He holds his private pilot certificate, flies and trains out of Brackett Field in La Verne, California, and had logged 92.5 hours by fall 2009. He planned to use his grant toward his instrument rating.

“It is an honor to receive this award in tribute to United Airlines’ Captain William S. Arnott. I watched the video of Captain Arnott giving a brief tour of the United Airlines Historical Foundation’s Museum at United’s pilot training center in Denver. It was very interesting to learn more about the history of the early airmail pilots. If I’m ever in the Denver area, I would like to visit the UAHF museum.”— Geoffrey to the Foundation

Darren Louis Carr

Sophomore completing the two-year commercial flight program in 2009, then hoping to transfer to the Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management offered at Mt. SAC through Southern Illinois University. He was working on his private pilot certification at Brackett Field with 44.3 hours logged, and hopes to fly for a small regional carrier such as Ameriflight. He is pictured beside his dream airplane, the Beech 18.

Member of the 2007–2008 Mt. SAC Flying Team, which he found “thoroughly enjoyable as well as a wonderful and useful experience.” Outside aviation he enjoys geology, gemology, tennis and photography.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This award was really just what I needed at just the right time and I cannot express with words how much this means.”— Darren to the Foundation

Andrew A. Ross

Senior receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management in spring 2009. Private pilot license 2005, instrument rating 2006, commercial license and multi-engine rating 2007, and certified flight instructor in June 2008; a staff flight instructor with SIUC’s Aviation Flight Department.

A member of the Flying Salukis since 2005, he was voted “Most Valuable Team Member” in May 2008 and served as 2008–2009 co-captain. He was flying the school’s Cessna 421 and Cessna 340 on active air transportation trips and hopes to work in a corporate flight environment. Outside interests include scuba diving, drumming, skeet shooting, building design and video gaming.

Jared Alan Carey

Sophomore who first flew solo in June 2004 at age 16, earned his Private Pilot certificate at 17 (January 2006), his instrument rating in March 2007 and his Commercial Pilot certificate in October 2007. On the Mt. SAC flying team he placed 7th in simulator and 6th in power-off landings and navigation at the 2006–2007 Regionals, and he planned to compete again at Prescott, Arizona in February 2008.

He had multi-engine instrument and commercial check rides scheduled for November 26, 2007, at age 19, and was recently recognized in the Daily Bulletin, Chino Champion News and La Verne magazine. He planned to take his certified flight instructor check ride by May 2008, then pursue an Associate’s degree at Mt. SAC and a B.S. in Aviation Management at SIU, with regional airline and corporate aviation interviews less than two years out.

Heather Heidinger

Senior receiving a B.S. in Aviation Flight/Management in May 2008, on the Dean’s List 2005–2007 with a 3.71/4.0 GPA. Private Pilot Certificate (single engine land) in December 2006; a camp counselor for the SIU Summer Wings Camp and an assistant in the SIU Aviation Management and Flight Office.

She was Merchandise Coordinator of the Aviation Management Society, an Aviation Ambassador, Vice President of Women in Aviation, and a volunteer in “Let’s Wing It,” which encourages young girls to pursue math and science. She hopes to fly for an airline and eventually work in commercial space flight or missionary aviation.

John Tockston

Junior pursuing a career as an international airline pilot. In January 2005 he reported that he was transitioning into his multi-engine course in the Piper Seminole, and planned to stay the summer at UND for the Certified Flight Instructor course or find a flight-operations internship.

“I would like to extend my thanks to all of you for presenting me with the Captain William S. Arnott Scholarship. This scholarship will aid me in my pursuit of a career as an international airline pilot. It is wonderful that you are helping young people realize their dreams in the aviation industry.”— John to the Foundation

Charlotte Rose Bennett

Senior double-majoring in commercial aviation and flight education. Her interest came from her grandfather Robert G. Ratcliffe, a pilot for 34 years who flew 35 missions in B-17s in World War II, then Viscounts, B727s and DC-10s, and retired from United in 1979. “He was always ‘The Captain’.” She finished her instrument instructor course, was completing her multi-engine instructor rating, and planned to graduate on August 6, 2004, then instruct, possibly at UND. Her aspiration is to join a commercial airline and fly internationally.