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2006
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.
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 Kimberly Blair of South Colby,
Washington, who holds a Private Pilot Certificate with
Single-Engine Land and Instrument ratings. Kim recently received
her tailwheel endorsement in a Cessna 140 and began aerobatic
training in an American Champion Decathlon. She is a member of
the Boeing Employees Flying Association where she is working
towards a Commercial Pilot Certificate. Her educational
background includes a Bachelor of Science from Western
Washington University and continual education in management and
leadership. She received her private single engine land and
instrument ratings at Crest Airpark, Washington. Kim is a
member of Women in Aviation, The 99s, Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association, the Washington Pilots Association, Experimental
Aircraft Association and the International Aerobatics Club. Kim
was fortunate to be the recipient of
the Greater Seattle Chapter of the 99s internal scholarship in
2005. Kim says, "It was very exciting to be honored in this way
alongside other successful female aviators and this
assistance helped take me further along my journey." Outside of
work and flying Kim enjoys running, racing sailboats, riding her
bike and scrap booking.
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.
 The
first 2006 French Connection scholarship recipient is Jackie
Tatelbaum of Tempe, Arizona, who is a Certified Flight
Instructor with a passion to impart to her students more than
just the satisfaction of a PTS requirement. Ever since she was
eight years old, Jackie wanted to jump out of an airplane (with
a parachute, of course) and be a pilot who teaches people to
fly. It wasn’t until 2002 that she began to fulfill her dream.
In January of 2002 she went to Eloy, Az and participated in a
tandem jump out of a Twin Otter. Twenty days later she began to
work on her Private Pilot license. Jackie currently holds the
following licenses, rating and certificates: Private Pilot
Single Engine Land, Instrument, Commercial, Certified Flight
Instructor, Advanced Ground Instructor, Commercial and
Instrument Multi-Engine Land.
 The
second recipient is Patrick Carter of Redding,
California, who was born and raised in North Central Arkansas.
Patrick obtained his Private Pilot’s License on his 17th
birthday, and his instrument rating shortly thereafter. Since
flying was his ultimate goal he continued into a career as a
civilian aviator. He enrolled in the Aeronautical Science
Program at Henderson State University where he received a
Bachelor’s Degree in December of 2004. He obtained his
Commercial Pilot’s License and CFI upon turning 18. This
allowed Patrick to support himself and build flight hours by
working as a flight instructor throughout college. After
graduation he was offered a job as a Corporate Pilot flying a
Cessna Citation II in Redding, California.
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 recipient is Rachel Thomas of Orlando, Florida,
who dreams of becoming a professional pilot. Currently she is a
flight attendant with Southwest Airlines. She holds the
following ratings: instrument rating, commercial certificate,
and multi-engine land ratings. She attends FAA safety meetings
and conventions when she is able. Rachel is a member of AOPA,
Women in Aviation, International and Ninety-Nines. Rachel finds
the field of aviation very rewarding and challenging. She hopes
to one day pilot for Southwest Airlines.
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.
 The
2006 Leo Loudenslager Scholarship recipient is Sergeant
Christian Scala of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
Christian was born in Boeblingen, Germany and currently resides
in Pensacola Florida. He is now serving in the United States
Marine Corps with a rank of Sergeant (E-5) Avionics Technician.
He is studying at Embry Riddle for a Bachelor’s degree in
Professional Aeronautics with a minor in Management. Christian
has participated in many training exercises around the world,
and plans to use his scholarship to begin flight training. One
of his goals for life is to become a Naval Aviator and
eventually fly what he has been maintaining for the past 7 years
- the F/A-18 Hornet. His second goal is to attend Sean D.
Tucker’s flight school and become as inspirational aerobatic
pilot as Sean has done.
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.
 The
first 2006 recipient is Brandi Lueken of Saint Charles,
Missouri. Brandi is a Private Pilot. By the age of 18, she had
experienced both the exhilaration of learning to fly and the
extreme disappointment of having it taken from her life. By the
age of 24, she had open heart surgery, her first pacemaker and
every glimpse of becoming a pilot wiped away. Medically,
Brandi thought she would never realize her dream. Flying has
become an opportunity in various formats. In 2001, she founded
the American Pediatric Heart Fund which provides life
saving cardiac treatment and services to uninsured children.
She also founded the American Foundation for Healthcare
Reform whose mission is to achieve high-quality,
comprehensive healthcare for all Americans through innovative
public policy and reform. Brandi has competed in endurance
cycling, completing a 1,400 mile bike ride from Saint Louis,
Missouri to Orlando, Florida to raise money for research. She
plans to use her talent and passion as well as her scholarship
opportunity to ensure that her aerobatic ability and aerobatic
competitions are used to continue to promote the ‘special
issuance’ medical and to voice its importance to aviation in
hopes of inspiring those who never thought that becoming a pilot
was within their reach.
 The
second Red Barons recipient is Chelsea Engberg of Loomis,
California. Since she started flying in 2002,
Chelsea has become deeply involved with the local aviation
community at Auburn Municipal Airport, not only working with
their aviation association as a board member and the newsletter
editor, but also founding their youth auxiliary for 13-18 year
olds who are interested in aviation. She became a dispatcher
for a general aviation aircraft sales and management company,
where she had the opportunity to fly King Airs. Since her
passion is aerobatics and flight instruction, she decided to
move onto work at a flight school. Here she is working within
the community doing what she truly loves. Through this
scholarship, Chelsea hopes to give back to the aviation
community and help introduce future generations to the amazing
world of aviation and aerobatics.
Sean DeRosier Memorial
Scholarship. Sean Paul DeRosier was a born
aviator. He soloed a glider when he was 14, a power plane
at 16, and began flying self-taught aerobatics at 18. He
followed soon after with A&P and IA certifications. Sean
lost his life in October 2004,
doing what he knew and loved best - flying. The Sean
DeRosier Memorial Scholarship honors Sean's spirit by assisting
other young men and women in their aviation goals.
The recipient must be male or female with a private pilot's
license, between the ages of 18 and 31 and residing in the
western United States, defined as the states of California,
Oregon, Washington, Nevada or Idaho. The scholarship provides
$1,000 for aerobatic flight training or schooling towards
obtaining an A&P license.
 The
2006 Sean DeRosier Scholarship recipient is Brittany
Loeschnig of Murrieta, California. Brittany is a full time
student studying autism therapy and wishes to become a mission
pilot. She is an accomplished private pilot working on
completing her instrument and commercial ratings. She is also
working on completing her studies as an A&P. These
qualifications will be necessary for Brittany to fly anywhere in
the world without worrying about simple mechanical errors. She
wishes to reach the people and spread the purpose of living life
and living it by igniting a passion within themselves.
Brittany also enjoys being with her wonderful family.
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