CJP Scholarship Recipients Expect 2021 to Bring New Opportunities

The current roster of CJP scholars are well-poised to continue their educations and flight experiences in 2021, as we all look to the year ahead as a bit happier, healthier and hopefully more “normal” than the last. That includes the recipient of the inaugural Tracy S. Forrest Memorial Flight Training Scholarship, awarded in honor of the co-founder and past president of the Bob Hoover Legacy Foundation and founding member of CJP, who passed away in October.

Shaddi Abdala: 2021 Bob Hoover Presidential Scholarship – ERAU Daytona

First and foremost I want to thank the Citation Jet Pilots Association for the opportunity that they have granted me as a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship.

I feel so grateful for the ability to progress through my journey to become a professional pilot at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University without the financial hardship of flight training and tuition. Since being awarded this scholarship I have been continuing my training towards my Commercial Multi-Engine Add-On in the DA42-VI.

It has been a spectacular experience thus far and I have truly enjoyed learning the new systems and performance abilities of a multi-engine aircraft. I have particularly enjoyed the simulated engine failure maneuvers and training as it has allowed me to recognize my own ability to safely recover the aircraft and has strengthened my confidence as a professional pilot. The 2021 Spring semester has begun, and I am excited to dive into my courses and learn from my professors and my peers.

This semester I continue to work as a ground instructor in the university’s Aviation Learning Center and am able to share my knowledge and passion for aviation with students who seek assistance in a variety of topics including principles of aviation, instrument procedures, commercial maneuvers.

Looking to the future I am focused on my academics, completing my rating, and searching for a CFI position. I aspire to always learn something new and share it with students and peers.

Shane Drury: 2021 Bob Hoover Presidential Scholarship – ERAU Daytona

It’s finally a new year! 2020 has departed and 2021 is now here bringing with it some much needed hope. First, I would just like to express just how honored and humbled I am to be chosen again to be a recipient of the CJP Bob Hoover Scholarship. It means more to me than words can possibly express, and I cannot thank all of you enough for your contributions to this amazing scholarship program! I am looking forward to this new year and all the new opportunities it holds. I am almost to the finish line as I am expected to graduate this December. Let’s hope this final year brings with it new beginnings not just for myself, but for everyone.

As far as academics go, I am very excited about the classes that I am enrolled in this semester. This semester I am taking Jet Transport Systems, Electronic Flight Management Systems, Aviation Legislation, Pilot Career Planning and Interviewing, and Corporate Finance II which is the last class I need to finish my finance minor. Even though every class I take has important applications to everything we do, I am especially ecstatic about these classes as they have a more direct application of what I will be doing in the future.

For example, in Jet Transport Systems we get to learn the 737-800 as if it were being taught at an airline with real manuals and visual aids used by the airlines. Another class I am eager for is Pilot Career Planning and Interviewing as this class will heavily prepare me to take that next big step in in my aviation career. Therefore, I am hoping that we are able to remain in-person for this semester, so I am able to take full advantage of everything these classes have to offer.

As far as my flight progress is concerned, I am currently at the End-of-Course stage for my Commercial and am expecting to be finished here very soon. It is no doubt that I have run into delays caused by COVID and weather problems last semester, but no matter what I am not letting that stop me. As I like to say it’s a marathon not a sprint, and no matter how long it takes and no matter how many hurdles I have to jump through I will cross that finish line. After I am finished with the Commercial course, I will proceed immediately with the Commercial-Multi course then the CFI course following that. I am planning to have all of my flight training complete sometime this summer!

Outside of academics and my flying, I still currently hold my part-time position working at Target which has really helped to cover my outside expenses. I plan to keep my job there most likely until I am able to become a CFI and start teaching. All we can do is hope that COVID is brought under more control to allow the aviation industry to climb back to the top where it once was. I also like to maximize the free time I have to keep myself healthy and active, and to participate in as many activities as I can to keep myself in a positive state and further better myself.

Once again, I cannot thank you all enough for allowing me to become a Bob Hoover Scholar once again. Thanks to this organization I am able to focus on what matters most and spend less time worrying about the heavy financial obligations, and for that I am eternally grateful. I hope I am able to thank some of you in person at the CJP events this year if COVID allows!

Caitlin Fuelling: 2020 Bob Hoover Presidential Scholar – ERAU Prescott

Hello and Happy New Year to all. I am so excited to start 2021 with the help of everyone at the Citation Jet Pilot Association. This is the second year I have had the privilege and honor of being involved with this organization, and I am so excited to give everyone an update on my progress.

For those of you who do not know me, I attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. It is hard to believe that I am entering my final semester of my senior year, as it has been an incredible journey. While I am sad to see it come to an end, I am excited for the next chapter of my life.

This May, I will graduate and receive my degree for studies in Aeronautical Science with a minor in air traffic control, and aviation safety. In my four years at Embry Riddle, I have completed several flight courses including my private pilot’s license, an instrument rating, and my commercial single license. My most recent accomplishment was on November 12, 2020 when I passed my commercial multi engine check ride. This was the final flight course required for my degree to graduate and it was a very big accomplishment for me.

As graduation nears, I have been searching for job opportunities while working on my CFI and finishing classes. My goal after graduation is to get accepted into Officer Training School and then go to Undergraduate Pilot Training to become a pilot in the United States Air Force. I am excited to follow in my dad’s footsteps and pursue a career in the Air Force to serve my country.

Finally, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has contributed to my education and my goals for the future. To receive not one, but two scholarships from this incredible association is more than I could ever ask for and I don’t think I will ever be able to put into words how much of an impact it has made on my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to further my education with the help of everyone at the Citation Jet Pilot Association.

Susan Schmidt: 2021 Tracy S. Forrest Memorial Flight Training Scholarship – ERAU Daytona

I am very grateful to be named the Tracy Forrest Scholar this year. I came to Riddle in Fall 2019 and plan to graduate in the Spring of next year.

I am originally from the Chicagoland area, which is where I got my private at Chicago Executive airport before coming here to Daytona. I just got my CFI license last month and have my CFII check ride this week. I am excited to hopefully start flight instructing soon.

Both certificates would not have been possible without the help from this scholarship. I am very appreciative for this opportunity to help me continue to advance my flying career.

Currently, I am focused on getting a job flight instructing, hopefully at Riddle. I am not set on one career path yet, I hope in the next year and with connections from this scholarship, that I can learn more about the possible pilot jobs out there.

I am interested in learning more about corporate flying. Outside of flying, I love to golf and sail with the club here at Riddle.