High School Students Headed to Careers in Aviation Receive AACA Scholarships
Cory Wagner (Wasilla), Branden Forst (Sitka) and Hailey Summers (Juneau) exemplify the attitude and commitment which the Forrest Jones Memorial Scholarship seeks to perpetuate in Alaska aviation. Each were awarded a $1000 scholarships for 2008, and recipients may re-apply annually.
The AACA scholarship memorializes Forrest Jones, who made a significant contribution to aviation in the State of Alaska during his forty years supporting aircraft. He was a dedicated aviation maintenance professional and role model who combined innovative thinking and a common-sense approach to everyday problems. His maintenance philosophy of “fixing it right, by the book” was combined with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.
CORY WAGNER (Wasilla)
At five years old, Cory Wagner began to dream of flying. The dream began after he flew to visit his grandparents and extended family in Illinois. He shared that dream with the Alaska Air Carriers Association, which is honoring Cory Wagner with the 2008 Forrest Jones Memorial Scholarship.
“Flying has always been my dream in life. I have set my sights on it for twelve years, basing my entire high school career on subjects that would apply to aviation.”
“In eighth grade I joined the aviation club at Wasilla Middle School where we learned the basics of aerodynamics and the concept of flight. Flying several hours with a good friend of mine in his recreational light aircraft, I was able to better understand just what goes on behind the cockpit.”
Cory graduated in 2008 from Wasilla High School. The Alaska Air Carriers Association commends Cory for his demonstrated quest for knowledge, self-motivation and the good grades he worked to receive. Jason Marvel, Cory’s senior class English teacher wrote, “In becoming a model for the enthusiastic learner, Cory has continually proven that his quest is not only to understand the material provided within education, but also to understand the many different relationships the world has to offer.”
Cory is enrolled in Matanuska-Susitna College in preparation for the aviation technology program at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Cory plans to pursue a commission in the U.S. Coast Guard upon graduation, and apply to their flight school when he is eligible. Steve Durden, Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Coast Guard wrote, “Cory is an excellent example of a respectful community-minded youth who will become a strong and respected leader. He is dedicated to his dream of entering the field of aviation and I would be proud to serve with him in the U.S. Coast Guard.”
BRANDEN FORST (Sitka)
Ever since he was a little boy, Branden Forst of Sitka has looked up to watch planes flying overhead and thought, “I sure wish that I could fly one day and be looking down instead of up.” He shared that wish with the Alaska Air Carriers Association, which is honoring Brandon with the 2008 Forrest Jones Memorial Scholarship.
The Alaska Air Carriers Association scholarship committee commends Branden for his demonstrated character, self-motivation and the good grades he worked to receive. Dan Langbauer, Branden’s math teacher for four years at Sitka High School wrote, “First and foremost, he is a quality human being. Branden never has a bad thing to say about anyone, is very positive, and always has a smile for people. Though he is very soft spoken, people respect him as a leader. Branden has distinguished himself as one of the top trumpet players both locally and throughout the state. The thing that separates Branden from many of his peers is his work ethic. Branden knows what it means to work, and there are many times when he is in school before 6:30am to get extra help on math, physics, or practice a particularly difficult music piece.”
Branden’s father, Rich Forst, has his pilot’s license and flies the family Aviat Husky on floats throughout Southeast Alaska. Rich has taken the time to teach Branden “everything from how to tie a plane down to how the different instruments work.” Branden says, “When I was seven, I remember sitting in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines 737-400 in awe of all the switches and instruments around me.”
Branden was born in Sitka and celebrates all that living in Alaska offers, spending much of his time outdoors hiking, mountain biking, hunting, boating, fishing, scuba diving and kayaking. “When I was twelve, my brother and I would take our thirteen-foot whaler out to go fishing or camping.”
Branden obviously has a vision, works with purpose, and achieves his goals. This year through the U.S. Coast Guard Branden became a licensed U.S. Merchant Marine Officer and Master of steam or motor vessels of not more than 100 gross tons. In addition, he is a state-certified Emergency Trauma Technician and a certified PADI Rescue Diver.
Branden is enrolled in the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo CA studying Marine Transportation. Brandon is combining marine and aviation studies with flight lessons to build a firm foundation on his way to achieving his dream of becoming an Alaska State Trooper Fish and Wildlife pilot.
HAILEY
SUMMERS (Juneau)
The Alaska Air Carriers Association is honoring Hailey Summers with the 2008 Forrest Jones Memorial Scholarship. Taking a career match test at Juneau Douglas High School (JDHS) created a profile for Hailey Summers which included Aerospace Engineering. Hailey researched the profession and in one article read the line, “If you instinctively look up when you hear an airplane, you know you have the aerospace bug.” Says Hailey, who graduated from JDHS in 2008, “This line sparked my interest because it described me exactly.”
Dale Bontrager, one of Hailey’s teachers at JDHS wrote that Hailey is “an adept manager of her time. She maintained a 3.6 GPA (taking primarily advanced classes) while participating in various time-consuming extracurricular activities such as volleyball, nationally competitive jump rope, and music (she is an accomplished flautist).”
The Alaska Air Carriers Association scholarship committee commends Hailey for her demonstrated self-motivation, hard work, and willingness to tutor others. Mr. Bontrager stated that Hailey served as a Peer Tutor and “was able to use her very substantial knowledge of science to help struggling freshmen succeed in their physical science class. She assisted students in understanding what, for many freshmen, are difficult concepts.”
“Hailey Summers is in her 10th year of participation as a Juneau Jumper and is part of an elite team of five members who are on a quest for the world stage,” writes Kimberly Pierce, a career advisor at JDHS.
Last year, wrote Barbara Conant, a counselor at JDHS, “Hailey traveled with a group of her peer jumpers to Anchorage to teach, encourage, and coach more than 50 grade school kids in the skills of jump roping. With patience and a great deal of personal enjoyment, she was able to organize a weekend clinic to promote jump roping as a sport and lifelong skill.”
Ms. Conant works with many students and had this to share about Hailey. “Her intelligence, affinity and acuity for math and science, maturity and, most of all, willingness to face a challenge that might push her comfort zone, all make her a strong candidate for the field of aeronautical engineering.”