May 1, 2015 | Scholarship Recipient

2015 Scholarship Winner is Jacob Walczynski

After graduating high school in 2010, I attended Lake Superior College in Duluth Mn and Fon Du Lac Tribal and Community College out of Cloquet Mn. In the spring of 2013 I graduated FDLTCC with both an Associate of Science and Associate of Arts degree. I also finished their law enforcement program so I am currently POST certified in Minnesota. The following fall I enrolled at the University of Minnesota, Mankato to finish their Professional Flight program. I will be graduating the spring of 2015.

Aviation Training: Private Pilot, Instrument rating, Commercial Single Engine Land and Multi-Engine Land, Tail Wheel endorsement, High Performance Endorsement and complex endorsement.

I have been a member of the Civil Air Patrol since the spring of 2013. I partake in the weekly meetings as well as assist in delivering aircraft for maintenance and scheduled inspections. I also help with cleaning of the wings aircraft. In the beginning of November I began as a tutor for the MSU students that were working on their Private and Instrument licences. I give review lessons to students as they near check rides and I also assist in the simulator, setting up scenarios for the instrument students. Since enrolling at MSU, I have volunteered as a Lector for the on campus Catholic church. In the fall of 2012 I was part of the security crew for the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth MN and the Annual Lions Club breakfast at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

I plan to use my Law Enforcement Degree and Professional Pilot degree to work for the Department of Natural Resources as a Pilot and Conservation Officer. If I am able to combine these two as I plan, I will be able to do both of my dream jobs. Once the ice leaves this spring, I hope to start training for my float endorsement. Until than, I will continue to work on my instructor certificates.

Besides being a symbol of freedom and imagination, both things our country prides itself in, aviation is important to our economy as a product itself and in the fact it enables other businesses to grow. The sale of airplanes and airplane related product counts for a large portion of our countries total export. This promotes a large flow of capital back into our country. More important then the actual sales of aircraft is aviation’s ability to expedite business in our country. With the use of air travel, a small business owner can visit and inspect all of his businesses that may cover several states in a single day. This would not be possible if he was stuck to roads. Aviation also promotes tourism spending. Air travel gives a family the ability to take a trip during a shorter period of time then would be needed if the family was limited to travel in a car. This results in more people traveling and thus more spending. This spending inside of a country is what leads to a healthy economy. Much of this spending would not be possible without aviation.

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