Mariah Stebbins receives the third $10,000.00 Ray Aviation Scholarship award.

 SlideShow with 22 photos taken by Angela Stebbins of our 14 March event.

Mariah’s First Solo!
  
On a nice warm summer morning June 10th, 2020, Mariah flew her first solo takeoffs and landings. Her instructor Scott Swanson did the honors, and cut off her shirttail afterward. She did a fine job! Due to coronavirus concerns, we kept it low-key, with Ralph Moser and Craig Spoke witnessing the event on behalf of the Ray Scholarship Committee and Chapter 485.
 

Scott giving Mariah the immediate post-parking debrief.	“Oh, looks like they want to take pictures”  “All right, debriefing is over”
“Get used to these hero poses, Mariah, if your going to be a career pilot…”	Craig Spoke offering the coronavirus-friendly handshake.
I’ll never look down on the earth the same again.	Filling out the traditional shirttail.
More filling out the shirttail.	Way to go Mariah!
Another trophy for the Ferguson flight school wall.	Ralph Moser offering the coronavirus-friendly handshake.

Maria excels on her Private Pilot Check Ride

The day after Thanksgiving, Nov 27, 2020, on a day when the check ride was delayed four hours due to low cloud ceilings, Mariah stuck with it and finished her training!  Craig Spoke, Mark Rogers and Ralph Moser witnessed the event on behalf of the Ray Scholarship Committee and Chapter 485.  Scott Swanson of Chapter 485 provided most of her training, but due to Hurricane Sally shutting down the Ferguson flight school, she finished at Foley airport. Thanks are due to Roger Watkins (manager), Corey Kirkwood (chief CFI), Hunter Dempster (signoff CFI) and Ali Coeur (final ground and flight prep CFI) of Foley for finishing Mariah’s preparation. Ken Spivey from Birmingham was the DPE. See the next chapter newsletter for more details.

Foley FBO manager Roger Watkins holding the door for Mariah.	Mariah deplaning after successful check ride.
Ralph presenting the EAA Ray Scholar graduate pin.	CFI Ali Coeur presents the EAA Ray Scholar shirt.
Mariah and CFI Ali Coeur. Ali did the final two practice flights and ground eval workup.	Mariah congratulated by her family.
Putting her signature to her new private license.	Private Pilot Certificate presentation from DPE Ken Spivey. Ken called it an outstanding check ride, noting that she flew about half of the maneuvers to Commercial pilot standards.
Proud new graduate with Chapter 485 Ray Scholarship Coordinators Ralph Moser and Craig  Spoke.	Mariah Check Ride on FlightAware.
Some of Mariah's supporting cast. Her $5000 chapter anonymous donor was present in spirit and on the phone.