The BettyFlies Foundation
Aviation Scholarships
The BettyFlies Foundation actively funds for aviation scholarships geared towards students on a pro-pilot track. An individual scholarship is valued at $12,000.00. In 2019-2020, The BettyFlies Selection Committee awarded five (5) aviation scholarships from a field of twelve worthy applicants.
2019-2020 Recipients
Asher Fite
My father was a pilot when he was younger, so I was born into a love for aviation. Hearing of all his adventures in the sky, and close landings in bad conditions developed my knowledge and passion for flight. Naturally, as a family that loves flight, I spent a lot of time on our flight simulator as a child and all the way through my youth. To this day, I often get some simulator time in after my studies- tearing around Aspen in a jet never gets old!
My original aspirations with aviation were for the military. I wanted to fly, work on, and design aircraft. It was the only way I could see myself going. It was, in many ways, my dream. Sadly, my ability to join the military was abruptly taken away after an accident where I injured my spinal cord. This was a crushing blow because the goals that I had pursued since childhood were suddenly out of reach. Post-surgery, I was left not being able to play sports or pursue a career in the military. That left me with a lot of free time to come to terms with my situation.
It was in this metaphorical purgatory in my career path that Kate Short, Aspen High School’s ground school-teacher and the Aspen Flight Academy’s aviation director, found me and told me about The BettyFlies Foundation Scholarship opportunity. This was a vital turning point for me and my aviation career because it would allow me to start flying without the military.
After being awarded the scholarship I had a new direction. I finally could see a way to pursue aviation again and I was excited to start. As one can imagine, my life and career in aviation were both affected by this scholarship. I will be forever grateful to The BettyFlies Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee and to The BettyFlies Foundation for this opportunity that has, and will change my life going forward.
Thanks from asher
Jack Fox
When I was eleven years old, I participated in the Round The World Flight Challenge, which was put on by the Aspen Aeronautics Program. There are few moments that pale in comparison to waking up at two in the morning for your flight around the world, even if only on a simulator! I consider that challenge to be the birth of my love for flying.
From there, I was able to further my love of aviation through building remote control planes and flying on the AERO Simulators throughout most of middle school. When I was fourteen I started working towards obtaining my private pilot’s license, I immediately came across a problem. There is an immense cost to earning your private pilot's license, and it was a price I wasn’t in a position to afford. At that point, I realized that I would have to give up my dreams of achieving my private pilot's license to focus my attention on other areas. It wasn’t until last year when I applied for and was awarded the Betty Haas Pfister Flight School Scholarship that those dreams were reinvigorated.
Since being awarded the Betty Haas Pfister Flight School Scholarship, I’ve been preparing for my FAA Private Pilot Written Exam so that I can hopefully pass the test and begin flying as soon as possible. My plan is to try and solo during this summer and do my check ride early in the next school year.
I aspire to be an engineer and entrepreneur in the future, so the acquisition of knowledge surrounding both aircraft functionality and aircraft operation will be a huge help in both endeavors, especially given that ample amounts of innovation must occur in the aviation industry over the next few decades. In terms of engineering, I’d like to pursue aeronautical engineering projects similar to the work being done at SpaceX. I find becoming a multi-planet species the most significant step in human history. To successfully make that transition, we need to create better technology surrounding the deployment of spacecraft and re-entry of spacecraft onto new planets.
Jack being awarded his BettyFlies Foundation Aviation Scholarship
Thanks from Jack
Porter and his plane
Porter Holmbeck
I am very appreciative to The BettyFlies Foundation for awarding me this scholarship. It means so much to me. I have always had an interest in aviation but was not able to pursue it until I was in high school and took my first class. Right away I l discovered how much I loved it and decided I would like to pursue it as a career.
The first time with my teacher Kate Short and another student to Rifle. I was very excited beforehand, but it was a whole different experience from the cockpit! It was amazing! I loved it!
My hope is to use this amazing scholarship to jump start my path to one day being a pilot for one of the major airlines. I also would like to use my license to work, in some way, in the field of aerial photography or video. I hope to combine my two passions. Aviation has opened a whole new world for me. BettyFlies is making my dream possible!
thanks from porter and his family
Hannah Popish
Hannah Popish
When I was ten years old, I was given the opportunity to take my first flight. My instructor was an ex-colonel from Paonia Colorado. I was very excited to fly an aircraft for the first time. As soon as I was in the air my instructor let me take control and fly the aircraft myself. I held the stick very tightly and managed to keep the aircraft in the air. It was one of the best days of my life! I was finally able to fulfill my dream of flying. After my first flight, which only lasted about an hour or two, I knew I wanted to continue to fly for the rest of my life. Now that I attend the Aspen High School, I was able to enroll in the Aviation class that is currently being offered at the school.
The Aviation class has two aircrafts and provided me with great instructors. I was able to fly every week and trained to my heart's content. I studied hard in ground school class my freshman year. At the end of the year, my teacher signed off on me being able to take my FAA exam in Grand Junction, CO. I passed my test and soloed in May of 2020! My flight was even featured in our local newspaper!
I want to acquire my pilot license and take my aviation career to the next level. I aspire to fly for Women in Aviation but am still not completely sure which direction I will take. My interest is also in being a pilot for an air ambulance company that helps bring medical care to Third World countries. I am not excluding Aerospace engineering and/or an Aeronautical Drafting career, as I am interested in the creative side of aviation as well. The main reason I want to continue to fly is to be able to travel the world, meet new people, and experience new cultures.
Hannah completing her solo!
thanks from hannah
Anders Weiss
Anders and fellow scholarship recipients
I first got into aviation in fourth grade with the Aviation Program through the Aspen School District. At the fourth-grade level, we built model airplanes; each student got to choose his or her model. I built a P38 Lightening. The next year, when I was in 5th grade, I got into the remote-control plane club and participated in it for all of middle school. All of these activities were offered through the Aspen School District’s aviation program.
I participated in all three of the Around the World Flight Challenge events, and my team won every time. I gained confidence and skills from these events, which required a lot of advance planning as a team. During the challenge events, we camped in the school and did alternating two-hour shifts for 24 hours. The challenge was to see which of two teams could fly around the world on simulators using their planned routes the fastest in 24 hours. We had to calculate fuel needs, study the airports that we would use, and figure out a strategic route within the guidelines. Teams of two were captain and first officer, and each of us got to be in both roles. These events were really fun. One year we were featured by Red Bird on their TV show!
In 6th grade, each student participates in a mentorship program that lasts all year. My mentor was Ian Huss, a telescope engineer and pilot. Ian has a hangar in Longmont and has a home-built plane. During my time with him, he taught me about weight and balance and how it works with his telescopes as well as with airplanes. We did the annual inspection for his Long EZ plane, and I also got to do some flying with him. We did math, welded parts, measured a lot of things, changed out his nose wheel, weighed the plane, and used many neat tools. This mentorship experience added a lot to my knowledge and skills. It is also what made me want to become a pilot. I still fly with Ian once in a while, and sometimes I get to work with him at his hanger.
I took the Junior Ground School course in eighth grade. The next year, in 9th grade, I took the official Ground School course. I started to fly and log hours later that year. One of my most favorite flights was flying over Independence Pass and landing in Leadville at the nation’s highest airport. I got a special certificate for landing there. I did most of my flying with CFI Luke Murphy, who I really enjoy learning and flying with. During that flight I was able to see all of the avalanches from that historic avalanche season.
In 2019-2020 I took the Mountain Flying course with Kate Short. I also applied for the BettyFlies Flight School Scholarship and was thrilled when I was chosen as one of the recipients! I am all set to resume flying with an instructor as soon as the flight school is running again. When courses and testing are available, I plan to take the FAA exam. I feel incredibly lucky to have this amazing opportunity which I would never otherwise have. I see flying as a really exciting and important part of my future. I will feel really proud when I get my private pilot’s license.
