‘The passion is the easy part’ (2024)

Skirvin is one of nearly 250 recipients who received a 2024 scholarship from the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization and the philanthropic arm of AOPA. Each year, the annual AOPA Foundation program distributes an increasing number of scholarships and this year’s awards were no different. Scholarships totaling nearly $1.6 million were distributed in 2024 to students, teachers, and those who aspire to careers in the aviation industry.

Five pilots in 2024 were the first to receive a Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training. Named after the former leader of the AOPA Air Safety Institute and former commander and flight leader of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, this scholarship will help recipients pursue advanced ratings.

Dozens of others received awards—ranging from $250 to $14,000, for commercial and instrument training, maintenance, primary training, and more—which aim to ease the financial burden of flight training, testing, obtaining materials, and furthering their education to reach their aviation goals.

“Aviation is for everyone, but too often we see the financial burden of flight training and education a barrier for entry into our industry,” said AOPA President Mark Baker. “We are proud to support this passionate group and look forward to cheering them on as they meet their aviation goals.”

Aviation is a second career for Skirvin, who calls her previous career in managing business offices for hospitals her “past life.” After taking a leap of faith and spending three years earning certificates and ratings while working at her local flight school, Skirvin was awarded the Ceci Stratford Flight Training Scholarship, Advanced, and used it to complete her certificated flight instructor training and certification.

Now she’s pursuing her flight instructor—instruments certificate and looking forward to continuing to pursue ratings, endorsem*nts, and career opportunities. “It’s a constant challenge and that’s what I need for my personal development and growth, and that’s what I found in aviation,” Skirvin said.

Her advice for others who may be interested in exploring aviation? “Make sure that you are fully prepared, it’s a lot of work, but everyone is so capable of doing this and it’s so much fun,” she said. “I think my only regret is that I didn’t start sooner.”

For more than 100 high school students and teachers, $10,000 scholarships from the AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School initiative will be put toward primary flight training.

Chase Crouch is a recipient of one of the high school scholarships. The 17-year-old from Oregon is the first person in his family to learn how to fly and said the aviation spark started when he took his first commercial flight in 2017. “I just loved the airport environment and all the things that were happening there,” Crouch said. “At some point it sparked that flying is something I could do myself.”

Crouch gets to the airport three to four times a week, taking advantage of being off school in the summer months, and the scholarship almost entirely funds his training, covering flight hours and instructor fees.

With each lesson he feels more confident, and he looks forward to sharing the general aviation experience with his family and friends when he gets his certificate. “Being able to look outside the windows and see the environment you know from the ground up in the air is a whole different experience and one that you can’t get with commercial flying,” he said.

The 2025 AOPA Foundation scholarship program will open for applications September 9.

The You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute are funded by charitable donations to the AOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To be a part of the solution, visit www.aopafoundation.org/donate

AOPA scholarship recipients

AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School Flight Training Scholarship

Aaron Van CampAddison FitzpatrickAden ScheftnerAlex Goetsch
Alexander Buchanan
Andrew Dawson
Andrew Nazeck
Ashwin Pariti
Avery Padgett
Benjamin Fetzer
Blake Robinson
Brennan Whaylen
Brianna White
Bryan WallCharles Walker
Chase Crouch
Clio Vazquez
Colton Bartow
Colton Spalding
Curran Jacobus
Darrell DeGraffenreidDavid ArmstrongDeanna MayDerin GarnerDevin Stevens
Duncan Halderman
Dylan Garagiola
Emersen Connelly
Emily McCracken
Emmet Johnson
Ethan BrobstEvie LechugaGarrett HicksGavin McLeroyGianna Nakhle
Gwenevere MarkeyHeather SmithHenry Harrigan
India Vincent-Philpot
Isaac Boos
Isaac GallegosIsaac GarciaIsaac NeriaJack Calderwood
Jackson Kemper
Jackson Meloy
Jackson Niva
Jacob Nicolato
Jacob Williams
James Begnoche
Jeremy Best
Jesus Pertierra
John Resetar
John Weddle
Jonathan Dupell
Jonathan Sill
Joselyn Bruce
Joshua Berry
Joshua Frazee
Joshua Mink
Julia DallmannKayli Bergman
Kira FiedlerLake Pringle
Levi Brown
Libby RussellLucas Huddle
Luke Eckman
Luke Heinze
Luke Larreategui
Luke Metoki
Madelyn Bushong
Margaret Hoskins
Mason Bingham
Mason Chidlow
Mason Enochs
Mason Owens
Matthew Cobb
Maxwell Watt
Michael Pavlik
Mya Wallace
Natalia Suzuki de Oliveira
Nathan Kleinman
Nathaniel Crowell
Noah Thompson
Parks ChennaultPeter GeierRobert ZuzulaRoger RodenRonit Patel
Ryan RautenbergSadie Fehringer
Samuel CrabbendamSekoy Rice
Tristan Weeks
Ty WatterudWilliam CovingtonWright KrossYaakov GruzaYusha Shahnowaz
Zachary Schwartz

AOPA Foundation You Can Fly Teacher Flight Training Scholarship

Brian StaffordChris GroenhoutChristian GibsonJason StacyJessica Sigle
Jonathan SchmadekeJonathan ThurstonSarah Montanari

The Bill Stroecker Commercial/Instrument Flight Training Scholarship

Jennifer ShryockTianna Pelton

The Bruce W. Alatary Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

Jennifer (Ginger) Ropka

CAA Corporate Aircraft Association Scholarships

Alexandar Vulic
Alexia Gould
Allie Kirsteatter
Alonzo Hunt Jr.
Antonio Herrmann
Bergen Ellis
Braden Mattson
Cameron Hepler
Carson Coleman
Charles Sabel
Christopher Alcantara
Christopher Miller
Clayton Whitefield
Clinton May
Colby Flake
Cole Parker
Conni Wade
Daniel Forehand
Daniel Garcia-Beltran
Diego Orozco
Dominick Cataloni
Dylan Searcy
Erick Silva
Esteban Pellot
Evan Price
Evan Searsy
Fisher Lott
Garrett Dies
Geny Haase
German Cervantes
Gretchen Bloom
Harley Glover
Heidi Neumann
Helen Peugh
Holden McCord
Jackson Reed
Jackson Woodward
Jacob Tupper
Jakob Robertson
Jamie Bilkey
Jenicca Spencer
Jevan Chavez
Joe Santiago
John Harpole
John Jackson
Jonathan Rosas
Jordan Courtney
Jose Luis Torres
Joseph Canfield
Joshua Martin
Joshua Proctor
Karson Dillard
Kate Burke-Rosales
Kevin Smith
Kristen Smith
Kyle Giono
Kyle Scott
Lacey Ewers
Landon Sytsema
Lauren Adams
Lauryn Montgomery
Leah Kirsteatter
Leo Sun
Logan Kennedy
Logan Odom
Loren Davis
Lucas Oliveira
Luis Rodriguez
Madelyn Knowles
Marcus Van Driel
Mason Bittner
Matthew Bruce
Michael Mickey
Michael Sandy II
Michael Taylor
Michelle Le Floch Fernandez
Morgan Grooms
Nelson Rodriguez
Nikolajus Shukaitis
Paris Sulzer
Parker Loughney
Peter Mackiewicz
Priscilla Conde
Raul Adalberto Olvera Perez
Ricardo Toledo
Richard Green
Russell Holmes
Ryan Harmon
Ryan Harrington
Ryan Kear
Saxon Bola
Seth Nichols
Seth Ramos
Tanner Bowen
Trenton O'Connor
Tristan Macalolooy
Tyler Briggs
Tyler Hettich
Tyler Kastens
Tyler Traxler
Victoria Arseneault
William Small
Zachary Corzo


The Carlsbad Jet Center and Sonoma Jet Center Future of General Aviation Professional Scholarships

Gabriel FallasSean Scannell

The Ceci Stratford Flight Training Scholarship

Rachel SkirvinYulia Aksenova

The Dudley D. and Dolores R. Malone Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

Dan Ndombe
Doreen Joseph
Jose Ramirez
Melissa St Preux

The Edward B. Shafer Future Of Flight Scholarship

Cheyenne Coleman

Erral Lea and Glenn Plymate Memorial Flight Training Scholarships

Ammaar Anjum
Daisy Li
David Waddell
Vishal Yalla
Yaima Montes de Oca

The Fred and Diane Fitts Memorial Flight Training Scholarship, sponsored by Corporate Aircraft Association

Duncan SagrilloKyra BankoMason Brinley

The Lev Prichard Scholarship

Felicity Eady

Lt. Commander Michael D. McGibney Top Gun Naval Aviator Scholarship

Ivo Saric

Perot - The AllianceTexas AOPA Scholarships

Brian OrthIsabella LopezTyson Sysavath

Richard McSpadden Scholarship for Advanced Pilot Training

Dennis CoyneEric DyeLuke TemplinNehemiah ONealNguyen Do

The Richard R. Harper Scholarship in memory of Richard R. Harper

Brandon Valdez

Richard Santori Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

Stormy Howard

The Scott Stuart Flight Training Scholarship

Ecia Truesdale

Senator James M. Inhofe FAA Knowledge Test Scholarship

Emy Tucker

‘The passion is the easy part’ (2024)

FAQs

How do you answer what is passion? ›

Name an interest or hobby that you are passionate about

Consider all the activities you enjoy or special interests you may have, and choose one that you feel you can explain well. To answer the question, it's important that you can explain what you enjoy about this topic and how often you take part in your passion.

Can a relationship last without passion? ›

Can A Relationship Last Without Passion? If both partners agree that passion is important, then a relationship can survive without passion, but the key word is “both”. If one partner wants passion and is concerned that the passion is fleeting, then the couple needs to discuss how to address this issue.

Why passion is the key to success? ›

Being passionate is all about a feeling that is so important it leads you in the right direction and gives you hope and happiness for a living. It provides you excitement and anticipation; passion is a force to accomplish things set in your mind.

Is passion enough to succeed? ›

Passion is key to staying inspired and pushing ourselves to do our best work. Without passion, hard work can often feel tedious and uninspiring. Finding what you're passionate about is essential to achieving success. We must be able to identify the things that we are truly passionate about to make our dreams a reality.

What is passion in simple words? ›

a : a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something. [count] Everyone could see the passion in his approach to the work.

How do I define my passion? ›

6 Steps That'll Help You Find Your Passion
  1. Start with the right perspective. ...
  2. Think about what you've already enjoyed doing. ...
  3. Explore ways to tie the things you like together. ...
  4. Discern between a hobby and a profitable passion. ...
  5. Break down your fears—so you can overcome them. ...
  6. Find your right next step.
Jun 22, 2022

Can too much passion ruin a relationship? ›

According to recent work by social psychologist Robert J. Vallerand, “obsessive passion” i.e. the kind that makes you feel an out of control “desperate longing” for your partner, can be as damaging for sexual satisfaction as having no passion at all[1].

Does passionate love fade? ›

It is commonly accepted that romantic connection gradually fades over time. Evidently, passionate love, characterized by excitement, intrigue, and sexual attraction, morphs into companionate love, characterized by warmth, friendship, and mutual trust (Acevedo & Aron., 2009). For many people this an acceptable shift.

Why do couples lose passion? ›

According to experts, the most common reason couples lose their passion for each other and stop being sexually intimate is a pursuer-distancer pattern that develops over time. Dr. Sue Johnson identifies the pattern of demand-withdraw as the “Protest Polka” and says it is one of three “Demon Dialogues.”

What is the core value of passion? ›

Passion is a powerful and often underestimated core value that can have a profound impact on personal and professional success. It is the fuel that drives us to pursue our dreams, overcome challenges, and achieve greatness.

What drives passion? ›

Fundamental to passion is the strong and intense emotional drive that fuels its pursuit. It's the deep, fervent interest and enjoyment you derive from a particular activity, cause, or field.

Is passion the purpose of life? ›

Passion is about emotions, the motivation and what makes us feel good, i.e. “do what you love”. Purpose is the reason, or the why behind what we do, primarily for others, i.e, “do what contributes." Where passion can be all over the place, wild and exciting, purpose is much more focused.

What is more important than passion? ›

Passion is great, but it comes and goes, so it doesn't need to be the driving force behind your business. Consistency is what's going to make you successful, get you through those tough times, and will be the reason why people believe in you and your business.

Should you follow passion or money? ›

Why Passion Is So Important. If enthusiasm and passion are present, people tend to be more resilient when encountering obstacles. People who are passionate about what they do, rather than just working for the money alone tend to have more positive outlooks that can help them overcome difficulty through problem-solving.

Why is passion better than purpose? ›

Personal Fulfillment vs Benefiting Others

Passion is about pursuing the things that make YOU happy, while purpose is using your unique talents and passions to make OTHER people happy. Your purpose is what allows you to transform your passions into work that helps to make the world a better place for everyone.

How do you respond to passion? ›

How to answer the question “What are you passionate about?”
  1. Select an idea, activity, hobby or skill you're genuinely passionate about. ...
  2. Explain why you're passionate about it. ...
  3. Give examples of how you've pursued this passion. ...
  4. Relate it back to the job.
Jul 31, 2023

What is a passion example? ›

According to Merriam Webster, “passion” refers to a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement either for something or about doing something. Passions are often something you would love to do constantly. Traveling is a good example of a passion. Sometimes our passion is something we would love to do for work.

How would I describe a passion? ›

Passion is an emotion specifically intended to make you go crazy and work your ass off at something because your brain believes it could rock your world. That, like love, is a feeling worth fighting for.

What really is my passion? ›

Finding your passion or dream involves a mix of self-reflection, exploration, and an open mindset. Start by reflecting on what excites you and what topics or activities spark a genuine interest. Engage in different experiences, meet new people, and step outside your comfort zone to explore the unknown.

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