Great News!  
The Ray Aviation Scholarship has been raised from up to $11,000 to $12,000.  
For more information, go to www.EAA.org/RayScholars.

Chapter 485 has a total of 17 Scholarships to date!

2025 Ray Aviation Scholarship Information

Each year Chapter 485 is an active participant in the administration of a Ray Aviation Scholarship Fund which is awarded to a local youth 16-19 years old to assist financially with obtaining their private pilot license. This scholarship is for up to $12,000 toward private pilot flight training. 

The local Chapter 485 application for 2025 has closed. Check back in January 2026 for information on the next scholarship opportunity. For more general information about the Ray Aviation Scholarship go to  www.EAA.org/RayScholars. 

We are very fortunate that Dr. Christopher Keel, an AME in Fairhope, Alabama is a long-time EAA fan/member and former Young Eagle. He has offered to provide 3 ^rd class medical exams FREE to all our applicants.

See information about all 17 EAA 485 Ray Aviation Scholarship Winners presentations and their progress below.

Ray Aviation Scholarship Winners    At our April 12th, 2025 chapter meeting, two Ray Aviation Scholarships were awarded. Lillian Bannon and Webber Cantin are the TENTH and ELEVENTH Ray Scholars from our chapter. Each scholarship is for $12,000 towards their private pilot certificates. Scott Swanson, Mark Rogers and Craig Spoke were on hand to present the big checks to Lily and Webber.  To see more photos of the event and to follow Webber’s progress through his flight training. Click the photo on the right. Webber Cantin    At our April 12th, 2025 chapter meeting, two Ray Aviation Scholarships were awarded. Lillian Bannon and Webber Cantin are the TENTH and ELEVENTH Ray Scholars from our chapter. Each scholarship is for $12,000 towards their private pilot certificates. Scott Swanson, Mark Rogers and Craig Spoke were on hand to present the big checks to Lily and Webber.  To see more photos of the event and to follow Lillian’s progress through her flight training. Click the photo on the right. Lillian Bannon    During our August 10th, 2024 chapter meeting, our second of two for 2024 and NINTH Ray Scholarship was awarded to Sophia Almond. Sophia is just starting her aviation career and was awarded the full $11,000 to help with the expenses toward her private pilot certificate. Craig Spoke and Bill Diaz presented the “Big Check” to Sophia. To see more photos of the event and to follow Sophia’s progress through her flight training. Click the photo on the right. Sophia Almond

At our February 10th, 2024 chapter meeting, our first of two for 2024 and EIGHTH Ray Scholarship was awarded to Kaydee Macdonald. Because Kaydee had soloed prior to the award, this scholarship is for up to $6,600 toward her private pilot certificate. The award ceremony was held at the Navy Aviation Museum. It was also Kaydee’s birthday. What a great way to celebrate. To see more photos of the event and follow Kaydee’s progress through her flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Kaydee Macdonald
At our June 10th, 2023 chapter meeting, our Ray 2023 and SEVENTH Ray Scholarship was awarded to Samantha Watkins. This scholarship is for up to $11,000 toward her private pilot license. Ralph Moser subbed for Craig Spoke to do the honors. To see more photos/video of the event, and monitor Samantha’s progress through her flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Samantha Watkins
At our June 11th 2022 chapter meeting, our Ray 2022 and SIXTH Ray Scholarship was awarded to Gabriel Davenport!  Craig Spoke did the honors. To see more photos and Gabriel's progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Gabriel Davenport
At our Oct. 30th chapter meeting, our second Ray 2021 and FIFTH Ray Scholarship overall was awarded to William Curd! Craig Spoke did the honors. Ralph Moser and Bill Diaz are shown presenting the “Big Check” to William. To see more photos and a video of the presentation, as well as William’s progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right. William successfully completed his private pilot check ride on January 26, 2023.	William Curd
At our June 12, 2021 chapter meeting, our Ray 2021 and FOURTH Ray Scholarship was awarded to Elisabeth Maas! Bill Diaz and Ralph Moser are shown presenting the “Big Check” to Elisabeth.  To see more photos and a video of the presentation, as well as Elisabeth’s progress through her flight training. Click the photo on the right.  Elisabeth successfully completed her private pilot check ride on Sept. 11, 2021.	Elisabeth Maas
At our March 14, 2020 chapter meeting, our THIRD Ray scholarship was awarded to Mariah Stebbins! Ray Committee members Craig Spoke and Bill Diaz are shown presenting the “Big Check” to Mariah. For more photos and video of the presentation, as well as Mariah’s progress through her flight training. Click the photo on the right.  Mariah successfully completed her private pilot check ride on Nov 27, 2020.	Mariah Stebbins
In October 2019 Chapter 485 was one of only nine chapters in the US to be awarded a SECOND Ray scholarship for 2019! At the October 12th meeting, this award was presented to Brian Harris. Click on the photo on the right to see Brian’s presentation, his first solo, and his successful private pilot check ride on March 30, 2020.	Brian Harris
On May 11, 2019, The FIRST Ray scholarship of $10,000 was awarded to Nicholas Hanssen of Pace by EAA Chapter 485 and the Ray Scholarship Program, to be used for flight training. Click on the photo on the right to see the presentation, his first solo, and his successful completion of his private pilot check ride on October 2, 2019.	Nicholas Hanssen

Anonymous Chapter 485 Donor Scholarship Winners

After our May 2022 meeting, an individual chapter member, who wishes to remain anonymous, presented President Ralph Moser with an offer to fund 3, up to $10,000 each, private pilot training scholarships to our remaining interviewees for the 2022 Ray scholarship. The chapter officers considered the offer, and we accepted! $30,000 has been deposited into the chapter account. Mentors have been assigned to each scholar. Mark Rogers will mentor Cody Rhoades. Wes Jordan will mentor Jacob Abston. Donna Barker will mentor Emily Bond. We had all parties agree to a “contract” describing expectations and goals. Needless to say, we are SO PROUD AND THANKFUL that someone from within the chapter would be this generous, and would entrust us to mentor these new students. They are training at various flight schools in the area. Since then, the anonymous donor expanded the offer and FULLY FUNDED all three scholarships, not limited to $10,000 each!

See the photos/captions below to celebrate these winners, and monitor their progress through training.

Jacob and Cody receive their monogrammed chapter hats.	Jacob and Cody receive their “big checks”.
President Ralph Moser reviews the “contract” terms.	Emily receives monogrammed chapter hat.
Emily receives her “big check”.	Three happy scholarship recipients.

 

To see more photos and Cody Rhoades' progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Cody Rhoades
To see more photos and Jacob Abston's progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Jacob Abston
To see more photos and Emily Bond's progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Emily Bond

Anonymous Chapter 485 Donor Scholarship Winners” for the 2024 winners. 

After the June 2024 meeting, the same generous chapter donor from 2022 offered to fund 3 more private pilot training scholarships for our remaining spring applicants. Needless to say, we once again accepted! Mentors have been assigned to each scholar. Ralph Moser will mentor Sean Londrigan, Mark Rogers will mentor Ethan Smith, and Ralph Moser will mentor Cody Stebbins. Once again, all parties agreed to and signed a “contract” delegating responsibilities. See the award video, and photos/captions below to celebrate these winners, and monitor their progress through training.

 

To see more photos and Sean Londrigan’s progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Sean Londrigan
To see more photos and Ethan Smith’s progress through his flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Ethan Smith
To see more photos and Cody Stebbins’ progress through is flight training, Click the photo on the right.	Cody Stebbins