Twelve San Diego County Students Receive $41,700 in Scholarships from the San Diego Air & Space Museum
The San Diego Air & Space Museum awards a total of $41,700 in scholarships to 12 graduating seniors from San Diego County high schools. With the scholarships, the museum aims to inspire young people to tackle the challenges of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics academic disciplines, as well as to make a difference in tomorrow’s world through an innovative, adventurous spirit.
“These scholarship programs exemplify our intent to aid deserving students wanting to advance their education. Our entire mission is all about inspiring our next greatest generations to excel in their lives,” says Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
The scholarships are awarded annually on behalf of three museum-administered scholarship endowment funds. In addition, the museum offers an award to the top applicant going into the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field.
The Bill Gibbs Endowment — The late Bill Gibbs, a San Diego businessman and founder of Montgomery Field, established the Bill Gibbs Scholarship Fund with a $10,000 gift to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1988. Students are selected for the Bill Gibbs Scholarship who are graduating from a San Diego County high school and who express and demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in aviation or in an aerospace-related field. Since 1989, $310,000 has been awarded to 127 Bill Gibbs scholars.
Convair Alumni Association Endowment — In 1997, the Convair Alumni Association provided Convair Recreation Association funds, as well as funds from the General Dynamics Corporation, to support scholarships for San Diego County high school graduating seniors who worked in the San Diego area and are direct descendants of former employees of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation, or the Convair, Astronautics or Space Systems Divisions of General Dynamics Corporation. The Fleet Foundation also provides annual funding in support of these scholarships. Since that time, 159 scholarships have been awarded, totaling $555,600.
R.A. Rearwin Endowment — In 2000, the late Kenneth Rearwin and his family established a scholarship in honor of his late father, R.A. Rearwin, a noted aircraft and engine manufacturer. Scholarships are awarded to San Diego County high school graduating seniors who demonstrate a strong career interest in the aerospace industry and who love to “tinker” with electronics and engines. There have been 45 R.A. Rearwin scholars to date who have received a total of $122,500.
San Diego Air & Space Museum Scholarship — Students are selected for this award who are graduating from a San Diego County high school, who have expressed a desire to pursue a degree in the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics, and who have demonstrated an interest in exploring the outer bounds of what we can be. Initiated in 2014, seven scholarships have been awarded, totaling $29,000.
The recipients of this year's scholarships include:
Bill Gibbs Endowment Scholars
Emma Jeffress, Mount Everett Academy
Riley Jensen, Ramona High School
Kyler Klein, San Dieguito Academy
Ricardo Ortega, Santana High School
R.A. Rearwin Endowment Scholars
Micah Duke, Poway High School
Haley Kay, Helix Charter High School
Quinn Patterson, Pacific Ridge School
Convair Alumni Association Endowment Scholars
Zachery Andrew, Mt. Carmel High School
Tara Hild, Mt. Carmel High School
Jacob Sloan, Mission Bay High School
Cole Thomson, Cathedral Catholic High School
San Diego Air & Space Museum STEM Award
Nicole Pi, Del Norte High School
Each of the scholars submitted an extensive application that included academic achievements, involvement in extracurricular activities and community service, several teacher recommendations, and an essay. The students were then interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the final winners.
To date, 343 talented San Diego County high school seniors have been awarded a total of $1,038,600 through these scholarships.