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| Our scholarships celebrate pioneer aviators! |
Scholarships >
| TeenPilot.org |
Aviation Scholarship Foundation
Harold Hurd, 1936, taken at Chicago's Harlem Airport
in the south suburbs.
in the south suburbs.
| We no longer offer either scholarship. This program ended in 2007. |
Harold Hurd Airplane
Scholarship
The era of the 1920's was an
exciting time for aviators.
Lindbergh flew the Atlantic in
1927 and suddenly everybody
wanted to learn how to fly. But
these times were also highly
segregated. African Americans
found it difficult connecting with
flight instructors who would
teach them and often line crew
would not fuel the planes of
black student pilots.
Harold Hurd was one teenage
student inspired by Lindbergh's
flight. Hurd would visit the airport
at dawn to avoid the
harassment. With training, he
became one of the earliest
African American aviators in the
Midwest.
Mr. Hurd attended Wendell
Phillips High School on
Chicago's south side and
formed the school's first aviation
club in 1930. Later, he was
involved in establishing
Robbins Airport, the first airport
in the country founded by African
Americans. He was an original
member of Chicago's first black
flying club. Mr. Hurd passed
away in 2002.
Each Hurd Scholarship is
valued between $5,000 and
$6,000. The scholarship funds
flight training in single-engine
airplanes. The student pilot
must pass the FAA written exam
in order to continue with the
flying portion of the scholarship.
ELIGIBILITY: Students ages 14 -
16 from Chicago's Southland,
NW Indiana, or the Kankakee
area. Students must reside in a
low-income community. First or
second year high school
students are favored. "B"
average grades or better, and a
proven record of aviation
experiences. Reliable weekly
transportation to the airport
required. Applications are
received all year long. Students
must apply and be interviewed.
Roughly, one or two
scholarships are offered every
other year. Applicants will be
screened by telephone before
an application is sent out.
Scholarship
The era of the 1920's was an
exciting time for aviators.
Lindbergh flew the Atlantic in
1927 and suddenly everybody
wanted to learn how to fly. But
these times were also highly
segregated. African Americans
found it difficult connecting with
flight instructors who would
teach them and often line crew
would not fuel the planes of
black student pilots.
Harold Hurd was one teenage
student inspired by Lindbergh's
flight. Hurd would visit the airport
at dawn to avoid the
harassment. With training, he
became one of the earliest
African American aviators in the
Midwest.
Mr. Hurd attended Wendell
Phillips High School on
Chicago's south side and
formed the school's first aviation
club in 1930. Later, he was
involved in establishing
Robbins Airport, the first airport
in the country founded by African
Americans. He was an original
member of Chicago's first black
flying club. Mr. Hurd passed
away in 2002.
Each Hurd Scholarship is
valued between $5,000 and
$6,000. The scholarship funds
flight training in single-engine
airplanes. The student pilot
must pass the FAA written exam
in order to continue with the
flying portion of the scholarship.
ELIGIBILITY: Students ages 14 -
16 from Chicago's Southland,
NW Indiana, or the Kankakee
area. Students must reside in a
low-income community. First or
second year high school
students are favored. "B"
average grades or better, and a
proven record of aviation
experiences. Reliable weekly
transportation to the airport
required. Applications are
received all year long. Students
must apply and be interviewed.
Roughly, one or two
scholarships are offered every
other year. Applicants will be
screened by telephone before
an application is sent out.
Robbins Airport flying club, at Robbins hangar, 1931
Robbins Airport Glider Scholarship
The Robbins Airport Glider Scholarship is
named after the historic airport that once existed
in Robbins, Illinois in the 1930's. This
scholarship honors the dozen pioneer pilots who
formed Chicago's first African American flying
club and built their own airstrip for the purpose of
training black men and women to fly. The airport
was only in existence for a few years until a wind
storm blew down the hangar and destroyed the
club's two airplanes.
Each scholarship is valued at $1,500. The
scholarship funds GLIDER flight training. Gliders
are unpowered aircraft which are towed into the
sky by a powered aircraft. Scholarship recipients
fly every weekend from May through November.
ELIGIBILITY: By invitation only. For our eligible
graduates of the Summer Aviation Academy.
The Robbins Airport Glider Scholarship is
named after the historic airport that once existed
in Robbins, Illinois in the 1930's. This
scholarship honors the dozen pioneer pilots who
formed Chicago's first African American flying
club and built their own airstrip for the purpose of
training black men and women to fly. The airport
was only in existence for a few years until a wind
storm blew down the hangar and destroyed the
club's two airplanes.
Each scholarship is valued at $1,500. The
scholarship funds GLIDER flight training. Gliders
are unpowered aircraft which are towed into the
sky by a powered aircraft. Scholarship recipients
fly every weekend from May through November.
ELIGIBILITY: By invitation only. For our eligible
graduates of the Summer Aviation Academy.
Robbins Airport was destroyed in a wind storm in 1933.
The club then set up operations at Harlem Airport.
The club then set up operations at Harlem Airport.
Dan Williamson, age 94, flew at Robbins
Airport. Photo taken February, 2006 at the
75th Anniversary celebration.
Airport. Photo taken February, 2006 at the
75th Anniversary celebration.
Mark Hardy and Harold Hurd in the mid
1990's at Harold's home in Chicago.
1990's at Harold's home in Chicago.
| To find other scholarships, visit www.avscholars.com |