The Marion Cole Scholarship is being created to continue the positive impact on aviation that Marion Cole provided throughout his life. Even after Marion retired and was inducted into the Air Show Hall of Fame, he continued to be an inspiration and mentor to many aviators, including a significant number of air show pilots who are well known in the industry today.

Many of Marion’s students have become teachers, and this scholarship is intended to help create new and more skilled aviators, and encourage them to become the teachers and mentors of the future.

Marion Cole loved the world of aviation, and the world of aviation loved Marion Cole. Sadly, Marion Cole passed away in 2011.  This scholarship honors and continues the legacy of the man known as “The Master.”

The Marion Cole Scholarship provides money for any aspiring aviator who is interested in primary flight training or in aerobatic training, but the emphasis of the award will be in encouraging young people who are interested in the aviation or air show business. The world of aviation will be enhanced by helping to create passionate leaders and mentors for the future.

This scholarship was proposed by Marion Cole, the Coleman family, and the Cole family to encourage aviators to gain skills and mentoring (and thus give back to the aviation community) based on the fact that Marion Cole inspired so many aviators and aviation mentors. It is designed to have an indefinite lifespan, limited only by the ability of these families, in addition to any public donations, to continue to fully fund the Marion Cole Scholarship.