NBAA has announced a slate of scholarships as it seeks to promote the next generation of business aviation professionals and foster development in the industry.
Awardees include Morgan Cooper, a customer success manager and FBO consultant in Mesa, Arizona, the recipient of the 2026 Jake Cartwright Leadership Scholarship. Underwritten by Solairus Aviation and named in honor of the charter and management company’s vice chairman, this scholarship supports candidates in the association’s Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) program, funding all certification costs, including application fees, study guides, and the exam registration fee.
Josh Gayoso, an international captain and safety manager with Kenneth Copeland Ministries with more than 10 years of experience, was named as the recipient of the C&W Family Scholarship. This award is given annually to promote advanced professional development in business aviation. NBAA Charities and the C&W Family annually award up to $2,500.
In recognition of their commitment to exceptional customer service, NBAA named Stephanie Orbach and Ella Waits as the 2026 Cheri Rudd Memorial Scholarship recipients.
They are receiving up to $2,500 each to attend accredited professional training courses focused on advanced customer service. The annual scholarship was created in memory of a longtime manager who died in 2018. Rudd joined NBAA as a receptionist in 1990, and became known as a trusted resource.
NBAA is further awarding scholarships to 19 students during NBAA-BACE:
The Al Conklin and Bill de Decker Business Aviation Management Scholarship will be presented to Cody Skartveit, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona.
Students receiving the Corporate Aircraft Association Scholarship for Future Leaders are Noah Altman, who studies aviation maintenance management at Kansas State University, Salina; Ellie Cheek, an aviation technology student at Utah State University; Lucas Jolicoeur, an aviation management student at Lynn University; and Aubrey Nolan, a student at Florida Institute of Technology studying aviation management with flight.
Hunter Swindall, a student at Stephen F. Austin State University studying aviation science; and Chris Webb, a student at Tuskegee University studying aviation science will receive the James Sullivan Aviation Scholarship.
The John F. Rahilly Memorial Scholarship for Future A&P Technicians will be presented to Robert DeLany, an incoming student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studying aviation maintenance science, and Thomas Kerr, a student at Universal Technical Institute studying aviation maintenance.
Five students will be honored with the Lawrence Ginocchio Aviation Scholarship: Nicolas Betancourt, a student at Flight Institute of Technology majoring in aeronautical science with flight; Eliseo Cobas, a student at Purdue University studying professional flight; Alex Goetsch, a student at the University of North Dakota studying commercial aviation; Ashley Penner, a student at the University of Oklahoma studying aviation; and Cassidy Reale, a student at Florida Institute of Technology studying aviation management with flight and air traffic control.
Daniel Ruiz Jimenez, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, studying aviation maintenance science, will receive the Steve Brown Leadership Scholarship.
The UAA Janice K. Barden Aviation Scholarship will be awarded to Vanessa Hernandez, a student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University studying aviation business administration; and Mia Peacock, a student at Delaware State University studying airway science.
Two students will be presented the William M. Fanning Maintenance Scholarship: Justin Hanks, who studies aviation maintenance technology at Cincinnati State University; and Mary Sonnen, who studies aviation maintenance science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
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