Act Before Deadlines for NAAA Scholarships, Awards and Other Programs End

NAAA INSIGHTS

National Agricultural Aviation Association

Deadlines are nothing new to aerial applicators, especially during the busy flying season. It seems like there is always another customer waiting to get their field treated, pronto, so ag pilots are used to responding with speed and efficiency. With that same ethos in mind, NAAA encourages AgAir Update readers not to let the following opportunities pass them by. NAAA has several upcoming deadlines worth acting upon, including valuable scholarship and award recognition opportunities.

NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Applications Due Aug. 31: From seeking a mentor to finding the funds for training, the road to becoming an ag pilot is fraught with obstacles but having $5,000 in training money certainly helps. The 2020 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship Program will award four flight training scholarships worth a combined $20,000. The deadline to apply for the 2020 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship is Aug. 31.

Thanks to educational grants provided by BASF and Thrush Aircraft, four $5,000 scholarships have been established to support aspiring agricultural pilots in their training needs. Applicants must be sponsored by an NAAA Operator member. Scholarship recipients may use the proceeds for flight training or aviation or ag-related coursework at a university, college, community college or other institution of higher learning. A stipend for a trainee in an NAAA Operator-sponsored apprentice program is also permissible.

Along with completing the two-part application, every applicant must submit:

• A letter of recommendation from the NAAA Operator member sponsoring the applicant.

• An essay of 250 words or less explaining why the applicant wants to pursue a career in agricultural aviation and how they would use NAAA’s “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship to further their education and training.

• A one-page résumé or list of activities detailing all agricultural and aviation experiences, education and training.

To learn more about the 2020 NAAA “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarship, please review the application instructions at AgAviation.org/ scholarship. The application is available for download from the same scholarship webpage. NAAA will award the recipients of the 2020 “Ag Wings of Tomorrow” Scholarships in December at the Ag Aviation Expo in Savannah.

National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame 2021 Nominations Due Sept. 1: The National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame (NAAHOF) Nomination Board has changed its procedure for evaluating candidates for induction into the NAA Hall of Fame. Under the policy change, the Nominations Board will consider individuals one year before their induction to allow more time to deliberate on NAAHOF nominees’ credentials. NAAHOF has updated its nomination form accordingly and is accepting nominations for people who would be inducted in 2021. Nominations to be considered for induction into NAAHOF in 2021 are by due Sept. 1.

The National Agricultural Aviation Hall of Fame is located in the National Agricultural Aviation (NAA) Museum in Jackson, Mississippi. The NAA Hall of Fame is not affiliated with NAAA, but new members are inducted at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet at NAAA’s convention. The Hall of Fame honors agricultural aviation leaders, pilots, operators, scientists, engineers, inventors and other individuals who have helped promote the agricultural aviation industry with their outstanding contributions. Previous inductees include such industry-shaping individuals as Lt. John A. Macready, Dick Reade, Fred Ayres and Leland Snow. For more information, visit tiny.cc/naahof-nomination.

NAAA Award Nominations Due Sept. 10: One of the highlights of each NAAA convention is the chance to honor a distinct group of the committed individuals and companies for their service to the agricultural aviation industry. This industry is filled with exceptional people who go above and beyond the call of duty, often with little fanfare. NAAA needs your help to shine a light on some of the unsung heroes deserving of a 2020 NAAA Award. Nominations are due by Sept. 10.

There are nine NAAA Award categories and one NAAREF Award, including the Agrinaut Award, Allied Industry Individual Award, Delta Air Lines “Puffer” Award, EvansChristopher Operation S.A.F.E. Award, John Robert Horne Memorial Award, Larsen-Miller Community Service Award, Opal & Bill Binnion Memorial Award, Outstanding Service Award, Related Industry Award, and William O. Marsh Safety Award. Visit AgAviation.org/awards to learn more about the criteria for each award and review the past recipients in each award category.

There are three ways to nominate an NAAA member for a 2020 NAAA Award. NAAA’s new online submission form is the fastest and simplest way to nominate someone in just a few clicks, but the traditional PDF-based awards forms are also available options. All three submission methods are available at AgAviation.org/awards. The 2020 award recipients will be honored Dec. 10 at the Excellence in Ag Aviation Banquet, the closeout to the 2020 NAAA Ag Aviation Expo.

NAAA Support Scholarship Media Contest Entries Due Sept. 15: Attention, higher-education students: Don’t miss out on the opportunity to compete for a combined $3,000 in educational scholarships. The deadline for the 2020 Support Scholarship Media Contest is Sept. 15. The NAAA Support Committee will award a $2,000 scholarship as top prize and Covington Aircraft Engines has generously agreed to sponsor a $1,000 scholarship.

The theme for this year’s contest is “Why is Agricultural Aviation Important?” The scholarship is not restricted to pursuing a “flying career.” Any educational pursuit beyond high school (at any age) is eligible. The competition is open to anyone sponsored by an NAAA member.

Entrants must be a senior in high school or be registered in higher education by the fall semester of 2020. Previous winners are not eligible to compete. Submissions must be an essay of at least 1,500 words or a five-minute multimedia presentation. Submissions should be sent as an email attachment by Sept. 15 to information@agaviation. org. More information about eligibility requirements and contest guidelines are available at AgAviation.org/ supportscholarshipcontest. 2020 Ag Aviation Expo PreRegistration Deadline Nov. 7: Planning on attending the 2020 Ag Aviation Expo Dec. 7-10 in Savannah? While onsite registration will be available, in the interest of promoting a healthy and safe Ag Aviation Expo, NAAA asks that you register online or over the phone in advance this year. If for no other reason, do it for your finances. You will save $75 by pre-registering for the Ag Aviation Expo by Nov. 7. Register at AgAviation. org/conventionregistration.

Room Blocks Close at NAAA’s 2020 Expo Hotels Nov. 13: Stay in one of three great hotels in Savannah when you attend the 2020 Ag Aviation Expo: the Westin Savannah Harbor ($150/night), Hyatt Regency Savannah ($148/night) or Savannah Marriott Riverfront ($142/ night). Please do not call the hotels directly; all 2020 Ag Aviation Expo housing arrangements are being handled by Visit Savannah Housing office.

If you do not have a reservation already, don’t delay. While NAAA’s room blocks will remain open until Nov. 13, the Westin Savannah Harbor is expected to fill up quickly since it is located next door to the convention center.

Book your room online at AgAviation. org/hotel, call the housing bureau at (912) 644-6465 (reservations are taken 9 a.m.–5 p.m. ET) or email reservations@visitsavannah.com. If you have challenges reserving in the NAAA room block, please email reservations@ visitsavannah.com or NAAA’s Lindsay Barber with your arrival and departure dates at naaaexpo@agaviation.org.