How Scholarships Can Pave the Path to Becoming a Pilot
Federal Aviation Administration
October 16, 2024
Can you recall the exact moment you fell in love with your passion? That powerful ‘aha!’ moment when everything just clicked, and you knew you had to marry your passion with your purpose? For most people, that happens later in life. But for this episode's guest, it happened before she had even reached adulthood.
Meet Kamora Freeland, an FAA-certificated private pilot who, at the age of 17, became one of the youngest African American female pilots in the United States. Hear how Kamora—who had never even seen a pilot who looked like her—achieved such a milestone and at no cost to her family. Kamora’s advice? “Look into scholarships, because there are a lot of them out there that people do not know about,” she says. To get started, check out our list of organizations across the country that offer aviation-related scholarships.
In this episode, you'll gain insight into the pivotal role parents play in helping children discover and nurture their purpose, the hard work and dedication required to become a safety-conscious pilot, and the resources available for those on a similar path—like the Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club.
Listen on FAA.gov, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube and share this incredible story of determination and overcoming challenges with your friends, family, and colleagues.
In the next episode, we’ll be talking with an all-women team building an airplane in Vermont for a non-profit called Habitat for Aviation.
Is there someone in aerospace you would like to hear from or a topic that you would like more information on? Let us know! Send an email to podcast@faa.gov. We would love to hear from you!
| 
