Danner Rowlett has achieved his goal of becoming a Private Pilot!
Danner is one of our 2023 RARA Flight Training Scholarship awardees, and he is a testament to the results you can get when you stay focused and never give up! Congratulations, Danner!
Good Morning Air Racing Fans! We are excited to share that another one of our fantastic scholarship recipients SOLOED yesterday! Congratulations to Maks Barger on this amazing accomplishment!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation has to say about Maks below!
“Get your hot dog and grab your popcorn because Maks Barger just hit a home run and soloed this morning in N495SP at KSPZ on runway 24! This baseball hotshot has been stepping up to the plate in his flight training and knocking it out of the park with every flight. And if his solo achievement wasn’t already impressive enough, Maks is also a proud recipient of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship! Maks has been rounding the bases, showing dedication and hard work with every pitch thrown his way. Today, he proved that he’s not just a heavy hitter on the baseball diamond but also a master of the pattern. Maks, keep your eye on the ball and swing for the fences, that checkride will be just around the corner. Huge congratulations to Maks on this incredible accomplishment. And we can’t forget to congratulate Maks’s coach and CFI, Ryan Mill, who has skillfully guided Maks from the dugout to reach this incredible milestone! Keep your eye on this rookie; he’s sure to be a major league pilot in no time!”
We are excited to report that on Friday, we learned another 2024 Scholarship Squadron recipient became a private pilot! Congratulations to Kiera Grange on this amazing accomplishment!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Kiera.
“She’s beauty, she’s grace, but more importantly, she’s aced her private pilot checkride today! That’s right everyone, the scholarship queen, blondie supreme, and fabulous Kiera Grange is a certified private pilot (oh god help us)! While Kiera Grange seems gentle on the exterior, this woman is secretly a beast (but like in the good way).
From being a recipient of many scholarships including the highly esteemed Reno Air Race Association scholarship, working… I don’t know how many jobs anymore, keeping active by casually racing triathlons…, and flying to her hearts content, Kiera Grange is one miracle of a human. You may be thinking to yourself, ‘Hey, I’ve seen that other fella in the picture before.’ Kiera, being the busy body she is, had to run swiftly off to work this morning and opted for a picture with local DPE extraordinaire, Dave Tranquilla. Look at those smiles! Turns out examiners don’t have fangs like we thought (Just kidding).
Let’s give the illustrious Kiera Grange a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment! And we can’t forget Kiera’s lifeline and flight instructor, Nathan Morin, for guiding her along the way towards success! Great work you two! Keep up the amazing work!”
Did you hear the news??
Another one of our fantastic scholarship winners soloed yesterday! Congratulations to Avery Redmon!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Avery below!
“If there’s a student who faces challenges head on, perseveres regardless of the stakes, and has a knack for turning obstacles into opportunities, it’s none other than the wonderful, Avery Redmon. From being an honored recipient of the Reno Air Race Association scholarship, proudly serving in the Army National Guard, working diligently at school, and juggling the commitments of flight training, Avery has been working hard, and today that grit and determination has finally paid off. That’s right everyone, Avery Redmon took to the skies early this morning and soloed N670CS at KSPZ on runway 24! As if Avery wasn’t cool enough, she’s officially added another impressive accomplishment to her already astounding list of achievements. When Avery isn’t impressing us left and right, you can find her exploring the outdoors, spending time with her lovely friends and family, and showing off her skills as a competitive shooter. Let’s give Avery a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment. We’re so proud to see how far she’s come in her training, but in all honesty, it’s hardly surprising… she’s pretty awesome. Also, huge congratulations to Avery’s flight instructor, Alex Spencer, who has guided Avery every step of the way to this incredible goal. Awesome job you two! No time to relax just yet, that checkride is on the horizon!”
We have an update about 2024 scholarship winner Tristan Bautista! Yesterday, he officially earned his private pilot license!
Check out what Great Basin Aviation had to say about Tristan below.
“Despite the smoky skies attempting to cloud his success, Tristan Bautista’s determination shone through like a beacon today as he successfully earned his private pilot license! This incredible aviator is quite the go-getter. From studying hard at UNR and working towards a degree in engineering, serving his country proudly in the Nevada Air National Guard, and being an esteemed recipient of the incredible Reno Air Race Association scholarship, Tristan is hardly a stranger to setting a goal and getting the job done! And what better skill to add onto this already remarkable list than private pilot! As you may remember, Tristan is striving to be a *highwayyy to the danger zone*… military pilot, and from what we’ve seen today, it’ll be no surprise when he eventually gets that coveted pilot slot. Tristan, you’ve endured the winter months, juggled check ride dates, and beat the smoke. We’re so incredibly proud of you and we can’t wait to see you take the aviation world by storm. Let’s give Tristan, and his Top Gun (he wishes) flight instructor, Alex Spencer, a huge round of applause on this incredible accomplishment. Here’s to clear skies and smooth flights ahead for both of you!”
Congrats Tristan! We can’t wait to see you continue to soar!
Reno, Nev. – The Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) is thrilled to announce the 2024 recipient class for its Flight Training Scholarship (FTS) program. The 13 recipients are from Reno and the surrounding area and will be awarded up to $10,000 towards earning flight training certificates. Now in its 3rd year, the program is flourishing and has emerged as a key element in supporting RARA’s vision to “Establish the Reno Air Racing Association as the pinnacle of inspiration, education and exhilaration for people of all ages”. RARA’s commitment to support local youth and ignite a passion for aviation has grown substantially since 2015 when it introduced its STEM Discovery Zone at the National Championship Air Races, and now with the expanding FTS program. To learn more about the Flight Training Scholarship program, events and more, visit www.airrace.org.
“Our organization’s mission has always been to deliver amazing, entertaining events that honor our military and support STEM and aviation education in our community,” said Fred Telling, RARA CEO. “These scholarships make good on the promise to foster the love of aviation and build its workforce through the outstanding talented recipients we have selected. We’re thankful for the generous contributions of the Ray Foundation, the Si Robin Foundation, the Ellsworth Hovey Getchel Foundation and many other donors that are helping turn dreams of flight into reality.”
To be considered for a scholarship, recipients had to be between the ages of 16 and 20, maintain a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher, have successfully completed the FAA Private Pilot written exam, and be a resident of Reno or its surrounding areas. Each recipient will be awarded up to $10,000 to help them complete their training. This year’s winners include:
“We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received that has allowed us to award and now even expand our offering of these scholarships,” said Greg Gibson, Reno Air Racing Association scholarship coordinator. “It’s especially meaningful that the Si Robin Foundation would name one of their scholarships in honor of our dear friend and NCAR champion, Chris Rushing. All our recipients have a bright future ahead of them and we are honored to be a part of supporting their journey in aviation.”
Gibson noted that scholarships named in honor are new this year and are welcome additions that further the depth and meaning of the program.
Since the initial launch of the scholarship program in 2022, the program has continued to grow. Over $300,000 in funding has been awarded to help students complete the necessary training to obtain their private pilot’s license. While the air races prepare for a move to New Mexico in 2025, RARA plans to continue the scholarship program, uninterrupted, and is actively procuring funding for its next round of recipients in 2025. For those interested in donating, naming a scholarship, or learning more about RARA’s education efforts, visit the Flight Training Scholarship page here, or contact Greg Gibson at [email protected].