Special Scholarship Fund Created to Honor Glenn A. Smith

January 17, 2013 - One thing is certain: People who are passionate about aviation are equally passionate about sharing their love for flight with young people.

Glenn A. Smith was a passionate aviator who, like most of us, enjoyed nothing more than empowering the dreams of others, dreams of flight that no doubt would change their lives. He was tragically killed last summer while performing at an air show in Iowa. The friends of Glenn A. Smith have come together to remember and celebrate his life by building a scholarship fund within the EAA Foundation.

Born in Georgia, Glenn's professional life took him to Dallas, where he launched and then sold a software company. Able to retire once his business sold, Glenn invested most of his time living his personal dream - flying! Glenn, a commercially rated pilot, flew with the L-39 demonstration team, the Hoppers, and enjoyed flying his MiG 17, T-37 air force trainer, Piper Cub, Stearman, and other aircraft. He took his King Air 90 around the world. Glenn just loved to fly!

Glenn's call sign was "Skids." And what most of us will remember are the lines of youths waiting to peer into his jet's cockpit. He did all he could to excite and share his passion for flight with young people. It is for that reason that the friends of Glenn A. Smith built the scholarship fund in his honor.

Each year, EAA awards about $300,000 in scholarship support to youth around the country. These grants range from $500 to more than $7,500 and help support EAA Air Academy attendance, tuition support for academic pursuits, internship stipends, flight training, stipends to cover the FAA written exams, and much more. Each award has been carefully designed to meet the vision of the donor and, in many cases, to carry on the memory and lifelong dreams of a friend or loved one - a legacy that is invested to empower the dreams of young aspiring achievers!

The friends and flight companions of Glenn Smith have determined that they wish to remember Glenn in a way that will forever inspire young people to achieve their dream of flight. The Glenn A. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund has been launched, and the first award will send a Dallas youth to EAA's Air Academy as early as this year.

A list of all such memorial gifts is currently being updated and will be available on EAA's website. All donations are fully tax deductible. EAA strives to provide donors with information each year on the impact of their scholarship award - how the funds impacted the lives of these youth. It is a very rewarding investment!

If you are interested in supporting the Glenn A. Smith fund, or designing a fund of your own, please contact Elissa Lines at 920-426-6101 or elines@eaa.org.