Ag Wings of Tomorrow

How does $5,000 sound to help someone pursue their dream of becoming a professional ag pilot? Thanks to the generous support of BASF and Thrush Aircraft, $20,000 in aid is available under the 2023 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship program to support aspiring agricultural pilots in their training needs. The scholarship program will award up to four $5,000 scholarships to deserving, qualified students for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2023 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship program.

Key Scholarship Information and Application Instructions

Purpose

To bring new pilots into Agricultural Aviation and help fund their training. Scholarship is to be used for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning.

Amount

The 2023 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship program will award up to four (4) one-year scholarships to deserving, qualified students participating in one or more of the following programs:

1. A flight training program
2. An NAAA Operator-sponsored flight-training apprentice program
3. An aviation or aviation vocational program for a second-year or later students enrolled at a U.S. 2-year or 4-year program of study at an accredited junior college, college or university.
4. An agriculture, agribusiness or ag vocation program for a second-year or later student(s) enrolled at a U.S. 2-year or 4-year program of study at an accredited junior college, college or university.

Four $5,000 scholarship awards have been established to support aspiring agricultural pilots in their training needs. Scholarships are awarded based on the merits of the application. NAAA reserves the right not to award all four scholarships if it is not merited based on the pool of applicants. One award per applicant. All funds are in U.S. dollars. 

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

For Applicants:

• Applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator Member in the Operator dues category.
• Applicants may only apply for one NAAA pilot-training scholarship a year—either the NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship or the Charles Stokes Memorial Turbine Training Scholarship, but not both in the same year.
• Prior “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” or NAAA/BASF Agricultural Aviation Scholarship winners are not eligible.
• Paid employees of NAAA, BASF and Thrush Aircraft and immediate members of their families are not eligible.

For Sponsors:

• Each applicant must be sponsored by an NAAA Member Operator in the Operator dues category.
• An NAAA Operator Member may sponsor only one ”NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow Scholarship applicant per year.

Application Process

Applicants must apply using NAAA’s online application. A link to the online application is available  below. The applicant will fill out ALL applicant and sponsor information. The NAAA Operator Sponsor must write a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. Upload all required material noted in the Application Checklist and any additional supporting documentation using the NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship’s online application portal.