Chapter 677 Awards EAA Air Academy Scholarship
-
Kennedy Davenport receives Chapter 677's EAA Air Academy scholarship from Ernie Kelly, chapter president.
March 13, 2014 - EAA Chapter 677 in Chattahoochee Valley, Georgia, awarded a full scholarship to the EAA Air Academy to 17-year-old Kennedy Davenport of Columbus, Georgia. Chapter 677 is based at Columbus Airport (CSG).
Kennedy was selected to receive the scholarship - worth more than $1,000 plus airfare - from among more than 400 young people between ages 8 and 17 who participated in the chapter's Young Eagles events in 2013. She will attend the EAA Advanced Air Academy in Oshkosh, Wisconsin July 22-30.
"Kennedy is a rare combination of youthful enthusiasm and focused achievement," said Ernie Kelly, chapter president. "She is the first of our students to complete Sporty's online Learn to Fly course offered to Young Eagles at no charge by Sporty's. By doing that, she not only earned a free flying lesson, she earned our respect."
In addition to being a Young Eagle, Kennedy is a junior at Kendrick High School in Columbus where she is a Cadet Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander in the Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AJROTC).
"This EAA 677 scholarship to attend Air Academy gives me an opportunity I wouldn't have been able afford without it," Kennedy said. "I believe that this is the beginning of a major step toward obtaining my pilot's license and moving closer to my dream of being an aviator in the United States Armed Forces."
15-year-old Frank Lumpkin, IV, will return to Air Academy this summer for a second time, representing EAA 677 at his own expense. Frank is a freshman at Columbus High School who has volunteered with EAA 677 at Thunder in the Valley Air Show the past several years.
"Our scholarship will cover Kennedy's tuition at Air Academy, but her transportation is being funded through the generous support of Thunder in the Valley Air Show and the Ft. Benning Chapter of the Association of the United States Army," Kelly said. "These fine organizations have demonstrated their commitment to Chattahoochee Valley youth organizations time and time again in ways that go far beyond monetary donations. We are indebted to both groups."
