2026 Aviation Scholarships for U.S. High School Students:

The deadline to apply is October 1, 2026.

PILOTS:

• 1 – $20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot Scholarship for Flight Training (To be awarded and used at any of our campuses)
• 10 – $5,000 Pilot Scholarships for Flight Training (to be awarded at each of our flight training campuses)
• 1 – $5,000 King Air Nation Pilot Scholarship for Flight Training (can be used at any campus)

MECHANICS:

• 2 – $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarships for Aircraft Mechanics (One each at CVG Airport and New Smyrna Beach)
• 2 – $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarships for Aircraft Mechanics (One each at CVG Airport and New Smyrna Beach)

Epic’s aviation scholarship program continues to grow each year to support young people interested in aviation. These scholarships are open to U.S. high school students only.

Epic has awarded more than $590,000 to 52 high school students in the last 10 years of making these awards.

Epic Provides Additional Aviation Scholarships

We also support numerous organizations by providing them with Epic scholarships to award to a recipient of their choosing. The following organizations give Epic-sponsored awards each year:

• 332 Heritage Foundation, Inc. ($20,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Astronauts Memorial Foundation ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Black Pilots of America – Robert B. Griffin Chapter ($20,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Burns Sci-Tech Charter School (TBA)
• Latino Pilots Association ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• National Gay Pilots Association ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Professional Asian Pilots Association ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Seminole High School ($10,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)
• Volusia County High Schools ($10,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship each to: Atlantic High School, DeLand High School, New Smyrna Beach High School, Pine Ridge High School)
• Women in Aviation International ($35,000 Aircraft Mechanic Scholarship)

Please note that Epic does not select the winners for these applications, nor do we accept applications for them. Please apply directly to the named organization. We have also presented numerous scholarships to different high schools where each school selects recipients.

Captain Judy Rice Scholarship

Epic’s top pilot scholarship of $20,000 is named in memory of Captain Judy Rice. Captain Judy’s vast aviation legacy included teaching Private Pilot Ground School at Epic for six years and serving on our scholarship committee every year. The student who wins this award must show exemplary dedication in the spirit of Captain Judy! This scholarship can be used at any of our campuses.

Epic Provides Additional Aviation Scholarships are described above.

High School Scholarship Requirements

• First, the applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Furthermore, the applicant must currently be a junior or senior attending high school in the U.S. for the flight training scholarships.
• For the aircraft mechanic scholarship, applicants must currently be a senior attending high school in the U.S.
• Applicants must be turning 16 years of age or older on or before December 31, 2026 (flight training); or, you must be 18 years old by time of completing program (aircraft mechanic)
• All applicants must be able to start training within 12 months of receiving the scholarship.
• Also, you must be able to use the scholarship within 24 months.
• Additionally, you must have parent or guardian’s approval if under 18 years of age.
• Most importantly, applicants must have consistent, reliable transportation to attend Epic Flight Academy or be willing to relocate to your respective campus during training.
• Finally, you must be able to present a Third Class Medical for the flight training scholarship.

High School Scholarship Application Details

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION IS OCTOBER 1, 2026

Our goal is to give applicants the opportunity to provide quality submissions and showcase their attitudes. We are interested in learning your views on aviation, your achievements, and other qualities.

Applicants should first review the requirements of the Scholarship Application below. Then, applicants should complete all steps, such as securing letters of recommendation. Lastly, they should upload all required documents.

What is included in your application?

• Upload PDF document containing Community Service Involvement & Extracurricular Activities, including Organization/Affiliation, Date and Duration, and Location (for pilots only)
• Upload PDF document containing responses to both of the following Short Essay prompts:
  • Short Essay 1: What personal attributes would you look for in a scholarship applicant? (for pilots only)
  • Short Essay 2: What is your motivation for your aviation training? (Include your goals.)
• Upload 2 Letters of Recommendation: At least one must be from a high school teacher, counselor, coach, or other school official. Both Letters of Recommendation may be from teachers, counselors, coaches, or other school officials. Letters of Recommendation must not be from anyone related to you, including a guardian. Letters of Recommendation should be from adults who have served in a supervisory role to you. Please ensure that the Letters of Recommendation include the reference’s contact information.
• Create YouTube Video: In two minutes or less, explain why you feel that you are the strongest candidate to receive a scholarship. Upload the video to YouTube, and be prepared to provide the link in the application.
• Upload Aviation-Related Photo: Provide us with an aviation-related photo of yourself in either jpg, jpeg, or png file format. If you win, we will share your photo on our website and in other scholarship materials.

How to Apply

Simply choose which scholarship you want to apply for, collect the required information, and upload it:

• Apply for a 2026 PILOT Scholarship
• Apply for a 2026 AIRCRAFT MECHANIC Scholarship

Scholarship FAQs

• How many scholarships will be awarded in 2026? We will award $5,000 flight training scholarships to U.S. high school students for each of our flight schools, and mechanic scholarships to 4 U.S. high school seniors (2 at each campus). So, we will award scholarships to a total of 15 high school students.
• What is included in the high school scholarship application? The application consists of:
  • two short essay questions (pilot app only)
  • your current high school information (both pilot and mechanic apps)
  • community service (pilot only)
  • letters of recommendation (both pilot and mechanic)
  • one video uploaded to YouTube (both pilot and mechanic)
  • one photo (both pilot and mechanic)
• Do I get additional points for submitting my application earlier that other applicants? The date an application is received carries no weight in the scoring process. However, the application must be submitted by the October 1st deadline.
• When will I know if I’ve been selected for the final round? We will notify finalists by October 28th.
• What is the next step if I’m chosen for the final round? Final round applicants participate in a phone interview with a panel of judges who will determine the scholarship recipients.
• Must I attend the award ceremony? If you win, you are not required to attend, although we do hope you will. Our aviation scholarship awards event is a lot of fun, and you’ll get to meet a lot of Epic staff and students.

Visiting Epic

• Do I need to visit Epic Flight Academy in order to be eligible? It is important that applicants explore all that Epic Flight Academy has to offer and ensure our flight school is a good fit. We’d love to have applicants visit our campus. However, we understand that scheduling a visit can be a challenge. If you are unable to visit our campuses, don’t worry! Contact us if you have questions. Also, you can take a virtual tour and learn a lot here on our website. (NOTE TO TEACHERS: Epic offers field trips if you would like to bring your students to campus.)
• Will I get additional points for visiting Epic Flight Academy? Applicants that visit Epic Flight Academy do not receive any additional points or consideration in the scoring process.

Aviation Scholarship Awards Announcement

We no longer hold an in-person event since we have so many campuses, and it’s a challenge for winners to attend. Therefore, we post a press release announcement each year of the winners.

Epic Aviation Scholarship Recipients

2025

2025 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners:

• Aleksandr Safray – $5,000 Pilot – Englewood, CO; Centennial, CO
• Anayah Masunda – $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic – New Smyrna Beach, FL; Charlotte, NC
• Andrew Youngblood – $5,000 Pilot – Jacksonville, FL; Bryan, TX
• Brynn Witke – $20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot – Tucson, AZ; Stoughton, WI
• Cameron Hartley – $20,000 Aircraft Mechanic – Erlanger, KY; Cincinnati, OH
• Cenzi Johnson – $5,000 Pilot – Tallahassee, FL; Siloam Springs, AR
• Coleton Moore – $5,000 Pilot – Provo, UT; West Jordan, UT
• Emily DuCheney – $5,000 Pilot – Tucson; Tucson, AZ
• Lucas Heilman – $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic – New Smyrna Beach, FL; Holstein, IA
• Maria Garcia – $5,000 Pilot – Addison, TX; Cleveland, TX
• Marvel White Jr. – $5,000 Pilot – Ocala, FL; Winter Garden, FL
• Raymond Frick – $10,000 Aircraft Mechanic – Erlanger, KY; Louisville, KY
• Samantha Salzman – $5,000 Pilot – St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT
• Sawyer Hill – $5,000 King Air Nation Foundation Pilot – New Smyrna Beach, FL; Wilmington, IL
• Solomon Pangallo – $5,000 Pilot – Tuscaloosa, AL; Morning View, KY
• Weston Pollard – $5,000 Pilot – New Smyrna Beach, FL; Port Orange, FL
• Zachary Fannin – $10,000 King Air Nation Foundation Aircraft Mechanic – Erlanger, KY; Louisa, KY

2024

2024 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners:

Qayla Bailey, Jack Carda, Casson Dennison, Wes Glaser, Anvita Kulkarni, Joseph Lavdas, Russell Shipley, Brayden Tucker

2023

2023 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Robert Brown, Juliana Gonzalez, Melissa Hernandez, Orion Maka, Shemuel Ortiz, Roger Roden, Cody Stebbins

2022

2022 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Austin White, Landon Bosco, Roland Ireland, Aaron Perez, Ethan Harpending

2021

2021 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Abdul Maflahi, Luke Hamilton, Tyler Vischer, Julia Juedes

2020

2020 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Michael Leonardi, Sadie Gerstle, Edson Delgado

2019

2019 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Trace Martinson, Bronwyn Rees

2018

2018 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Nicholas Antedomenico, Julio Cejas

2017

2017 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winners: Ryan Groel, Mitchell Nathan, Skye Sobzack

2016

2016 Epic Aviation Scholarship Winner: Victoria Taranowski

Lastly, we wish everyone the best as you apply for an aviation scholarship. Also, you may visit our scholarship resource list to see if there are additional scholarships for which you can apply. Certainly, aviation training can be costly. However, scholarships can help minimize the cost.