Inspiring Students to Take Flight

During his distinguished 20-year aviation career, Matt trained to fly seven different fighter aircrafts, completed several specialty trainings and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as well as a land mission to Japan. He logged more than 3,200 hours in a fighter aircraft, including 124 hours of combat time and was lauded for his remarkable performance under strenuous combat conditions.

In 2013, Matt moved to Oklahoma with his family to join the 5th Training Squadron as an instructor pilot at Vance Air Force Base in Enid. Despite leaving enemy fire behind, after six short years as a flight instructor, the prairie did not seem so safe when Matt was killed in a training accident in 2019.

To keep his memory alive, Matt’s wife, Gina, established the Cravin’ Flight Scholarship at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. Over the past two years, she has worked hard to raise money for the scholarship, bringing people together through silent auctions and golf tournaments and raising enough to benefit two student scholarships.

In 2021, Garrett Martin became the first student to receive the Cravin’ Flight Scholarship. “Since receiving this scholarship, I have been able to receive my private pilot’s certificate,” Garrett said. “This scholarship enabled me to achieve this when I never would have financially been able to before.”

By partnering with the Community Foundation, Gina has not only ensured this scholarship will be available to students in perpetuity, but she has also developed an environment where it can continue to grow and benefit even more students in the future.

“I always felt Matt’s life ended far too soon,” Gina said. “Matt loved aviation and loved teaching kids how to fly, and he took a lot of pride in his students. I could not imagine a better way to keep his legacy alive than to support students who love aviation as Matt did.”

Garrett Martin, Cravin' Flight Scholarship Recipient