Scholarships Offered by EAA Chapter 179

EAA Chapter 179 is dedicated to introducing youth to aviation and supporting advancement of their aviation education through scholarships. Click on the following links for information and application instructions for the three programs we administer:

  • Chapter 179 Aviation Scholarships:  For 2023 we awarded a total of nine scholarships totaling over $24,000! These cover expenses related to flight training, A&P certification, or other educational programs for New Mexico applicants up to 25 years of age, pursuing a future in aviation.
  • EAA Advanced Air Academy:  EAA 179 covers full tuition for a New Mexico youth ages 16 – 18 to this week long program in Oshkosh, Wisconsin which overlaps with EAA’s AirVenture, the world’s biggest aviation celebration. Applications are accepted via our Aviation Scholarship program, Jan 1  Feb 15 each year.  More details.
  • EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship:  In 2019, 2020, 2021 2022, 2023, and expected for 2024, EAA selected our chapter to award this prestigious scholarship of up to $11,000 to help student pilots age 15 – 19 achieve their Private Pilot certificate. We hope to continue to qualify for these annual grants.

Chapter 179 has awarded over $110.000 in scholarships to forty six recipients from 2017 through 2023, including Chapter 179 Scholarships, Air Academy Tuition, and EAA’s Ray Scholarships.  Since 2017 we qualified for participation in the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program SEVEN times with grants up to $11,000 supporting our scholars to complete their Private Pilot certificate.

Scholarship Recipient History

For grant history and inspiring stories of past 179 scholarship recipients, click here.

Funding Relies on Generous Donors

Chapter scholarships are funded by a combination of donations and from funds from activities throughout the year.  We’re proud to say that most recipients have proceeded towards their goals.

Donate Button with Credit CardsLike what you see? Want to Contribute?  We appreciate donations of any amount to our main scholarship fund, the Bob Hartman Memorial Scholarship, Jay Schmitt Memorial Scholarship, “Doc” Weaver Memorial Scholarship, or Reimer Memorial Scholarship funds. Chapter 179 is a 501c(3) tax exempt charitable organization. Donate online or send a check to “EAA 179 Scholarship; Double Eagle II Airport, 7401 Atrisco Vista Blvd NW #179, Albuquerque, NM 87120-6601”.