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2004
Scholarship Winners
The ICAS Foundation sponsors
several aviation-related scholarships each year, which are
awarded to recipients to either begin or further their aviation
or aerobatic training. Each scholarship commemorates a loved
and much-missed member of the close-knit air show community.
This year, the
Foundation is pleased to award scholarships to eight
deserving aviators.
Jan
Jones Memorial Scholarship.
Jan Jones died May 9, 1995 from injuries sustained in an
aircraft accident. She was not only a respected aerobatic
pilot; she was loved for her sparkling, energetic personality,
her passion for flying, and her willingness to share her
knowledge with others. The Jan Jones Memorial Scholarship has
been made possible through an endowment from Jan’s parents,
William and Mary Jones, and other generous donors. The
scholarship provides $1,000 to any female who already holds a
private pilot’s license, and must be applied toward aerobatic
training.
 This
year’s Jan Jones Scholarship recipient is Gail Schipper. Gail’s
interest in aviation started in the back seat of her uncle’s
Cessna—watching oil cans float during zero G maneuvers. Gail is
a software applications developer, has a BA in Chemistry, a BA
in Music and a passion for flying. She is currently Vice Chair
of the Colorado Chapter of the 99s and keeps quite busy
arranging flying activities and guest speakers for the group.
Her next challenge is to become a certificated flight instructor
who specializes in teaching women to fly tail wheel and
aerobatic aircraft, particularly vintage aircraft.
French Connection Scholarship.
Daniel Heligoin and Montaine Mallet together formed French
Connection Airshow for over 26 years. Following their deaths
during a practice session in May 2000, family members, friends
and fans worked together to create a memorial fund that could be
used to give, as Daniel would say, “the gift of wings.” The
French Connection Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a male and
a female flight instructor who need financial help acquiring
aerobatic training so he or she can do a better job teaching or
to seek a position giving aerobatic instruction. The
scholarship provides $1,000 to be applied toward aerobatic
training.
 Jason
John Dusel, this year’s male scholarship winner, plans to
graduate from the Aviation Maintenance program at Southern
Illinois University next year. Jason is pursuing a Bachelors of
Science in Aviation Technologies with specialization in
Avionics, (under study). Other activities that he is involved
in include Student Custodian at SIUC Student Recreational
Center, Certified Flight Instructor at Southern Air Service,
Project Coordinator - Rotor and Wing Association of America
(Student Group), EAA Chapter 277 member and a current SIU
Aerobatic Team member. When he was 11, a neighbor asked him if
he would like to help him unload his airplane. Not knowing what
to expect, he went and helped unload a bunch of boxes and parts
that did not look anything like an airplane. Over the next four
years he spent time working on his neighbor’s Lancair project
and every once in a while they would fly his neighbor’s Piper
Cub. These experiences hooked him on aviation. Over the next few
years, he earned his single engine pilot certificate with a CFI
rating and Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics Certificate, while
assisting in the complete restoration of a Piper Cub.
 Pamela
Stafford, the 2004 French Connection female scholarship winner,
shares her passion for flying with her pilot graduates, ranging
in age from 17 to 57. She is recognized for her achievement in
flight instructing by having earned the elite FAA Gold Seal
Instructor Certificate within her first 18 months as a CFI. A
member of the National Association of Flight Instructors, she
holds an advanced ground instructor certificate and has
accumulated over 2,187 hours. Pamela holds a BA in Sociology
and has a deep passion for flying, not for pushing buttons and
watching the plane fly itself. She is committed to sharing her
passion with newcomers through top quality flight instruction.
With this scholarship she will train in an aerobatic tailwheel
aircraft to refresh her spin recovery procedures, and receive
her tailwheel endorsement.
Charlie Hillard Scholarship.
Charlie R. Hillard was a fiercely determined man, and throughout
his life, built an amazing list of “firsts.” He bought his
first airplane at age 18, became the first skydiver in the U.S.
to pass a baton in a free-fall, won four National Aerobatic
Championships and was the first American to win the world
aerobatic title. He led the Eagles Aerobatic Flight Team for
more than 25 years and then began another amazing career as a
solo aerobatic pilot. Throughout his life Charlie was
recognized many times for his aerobatic excellence. While he
was truly key to the advancement of precision aerobatics,
Charlie was also an enthusiastic contributor and volunteer in
his community, particularly devoted to family and children’s
causes and organizations. The Charlie Hillard Memorial
Scholarship is awarded to a young man or woman age 18 to 30 who
has demonstrated community involvement, and provides $1,000 to
further their aviation training.
 This
year’s recipient is Carson Mashler, is a junior with a 3.6 grade
point average at Lincoln Park Academy in Florida. Flying is his
lifelong dedication and he plans to spend all of his efforts in
this endeavor as he knows it will be well worth it. Carson
passed the written exam for his Private Pilot's license last
year and plans to attend San Juan College's flying school. He
has worked for the past five years to save for flying lessons
and college. In addition to participating in his school's
engineering program, he is also a cross-country runner, enjoys
surfing, skim boarding, riding motorcycles and reading. Carson
volunteers at the local elementary school, helping the teachers
and assisting with after school activities. His dream is to
become a commercial pilot.
Leo
Loudenslager Scholarship.
Leo Loudenslager was a seven-time winner of the United States
Aerobatic Championship, and in 1980, he became the World
Aerobatic Champion. His career ended on July 28, 1997 when Leo
died as a result of injuries sustained in a motorcycle
accident. But it all began in 1964 when Leo took leave from his
job as airman at Travis AFB to attend the Reno Air Races, and
was inspired to become a pilot. He was entirely self-taught.
Except for ground school training, he learned everything else
aviation on his own, including his commercial, flight
instruction and instrument licenses. The Leo Loudenslager
scholarship honors Leo’s background as a military enlisted man
who taught himself to fly and went on to aerobatics history. It
is given in rotation to an enlisted member of the U.S. Navy Blue
Angels, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and the Canadian Forces
Snowbirds, and provides a $2,000 stipend towards flight
training.
 Petty
Officer Second Class Donald G. Snock II attended Hunterdon
County Vocational Technical School for lithography, where he
finished first in his class. Upon graduation, he reported to
Navy Recruit Training Command in Illinois and then to NAS
Pensacola, where he learned his current job as an aviation
electrician. His first command was Strike Fighter Squadron 86
(VFA-86) Sidewinders. Donald completed two Persian Gulf
deployments, one in support of Operation Southern Watch and the
other in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition to
being selected to join the U.S. Navy Blue Angels in December
2002, his awards include the Navy Achievement Medal and various
campaign and service awards. He is currently pursuing a
Bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics and an Aviation
Safety Certificate at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.
 Cpl
Nick Katuski was born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan in 1979. He
enrolled in the Canadian Forces July 1999. In August 2001, after
2 years of training, he was posted to his first operational
squadron, the 435 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron located in
Winnipeg, Manitoba. There he worked on the CC130 Hercules
aircraft. In March 2003 he was posted to the 431 Air
Demonstration Squadron in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Since his
arrival at the squadron he has worked on the Snowbirds aircraft,
the CT114 Canadair Tutor. Nick has traveled with the Snowbirds
team while they tour North America performing at numerous air
shows. His experiences flying with the team firmly enamoured his
love of flying and instilled in him a great desire to learn to
fly.
His outstanding performance as an
Avionics Technician combined with his new found desires made him
the perfect choice for this award.
Red
Barons Scholarships.
The Red Barons Memorial
Scholarships honor two pilots who flew the #2 and #4 positions
in the squadron, Sonny Lovelace and Randy Drake who lost their
lives in 1998 while performing in a charity air show to benefit
the ICAS Foundation. The Red Baron Pizza Squadron promotes the
thrill and excitement of flight through the use of these unique
vintage aircraft by flying in aerobatic formation, bringing
excitement and entertainment to thousands of spectators. The two
$1,000 dollar scholarships are designed to encourage and
financially assist young adults inspired by the aviation
industry, who are U.S. citizens, age 16 or older, and must be
used towards instruction in tail wheel aircraft operations or
aerobatic flight. The recipients of the Red Barons Memorial
Scholarships will be selected by a committee chaired by Kathleen
(Kay) Drake, widow of Randy Drake. Kay is joined by Pat
Lovelace, widow of Sonny Lovelace, and Red Baron pilots John
Bowman and Bryan Regan.
 Growing
up in a small town, Steven Michael Boyd, a 2004 Red Baron
Scholarship winner, spent hours imagining that he was a B-17
pilot. He received several scholarships out of high school and
decided to go to a community college in Mattoon, Illinois, where
he majored in optometry. After a year, he decided to pursue his
dream to fly, instead. He is currently a double degree student
seeking a BS in aviation Human Factors and a BS in Industrial
Engineering at the University of Illinois. While attending
school full-time, he participates in various aviation
organizations and is a flight instructor. He currently has a
commercial license, CFI, CFII, MEI, Advanced Ground Instructor
and Instrument Ground Instructor. Steven hopes to eventually
become proficient enough to teach aerobatics and help aspiring
aviators to reach their goals as well.
 Daniel
Davenport is also a 2004 Red Barons Scholarship winner. After
graduation from Rock Valley Community College with an AAS in
police science, Daniel Davenport enlisted in the United States
Air Force, where he served as a military policeman for four
years. Upon receiving an Honorable Discharge, including two
Achievement Medals and one Commendation Medal for superior
service; he moved back home to Illinois, with his wife Rebecca,
and began taking flight training. Daniel enlisted in the USAF
Reserve and was recalled to active duty as a Staff Sergeant for
18 months shortly after the September 11 attacks. He was again
honorably discharged, and resumed his duties as a police officer
until he was hired as a full-time CFI at Lumanair Aviation
Services. Daniel hopes to graduate in 2006 with a B.S. degree
in Professional Aeronautics. He is a commercial pilot ASEL,
Flight Instructor, and an advanced Ground Instructor.
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