AMC Recognizes Student Achievement

The Aerospace Maintenance Competition showcases the talent required of aviation maintenance technicians to maintain aircraft and spacecraft in safe, airworthy condition. To further support of our future mechanics, AMC is proud to provide a scholarship in recognition of Phoebe Jane Fairgrave Omlie, the first female to receive an FAA aircraft mechanic’s license in 1927. Phoebe helped show the world that women were just as capable as men in repairing and maintaining aircraft.

Awards in the amount of $1,000-$1,500 were presented at the AMC awards ceremony.

Award Recipients

Leoga Fofung is a student at Tulsa Tech - Riverside, she currently works full time a minimum of 6 days a week at American Airlines and goes to school full time, managing to maintain a GPA of 3.78. She has excellent recommendations including from a former supervisor at Delta and a current professor. She wrote a moving essay about wanting to be an A&P after working for the airlines as a maintenance supply clerk.

Rebecca Hines is a student at Rock Valley College in Illinois where she maintains a GPA of 3.89. She has excellent recommendations from her professors who describe her as the driving force behind establishing the school's Aviation Maintenance Club and pushing for the students to enter the AMC competition for the first time this year. She served in the US Navy as a nuclear mechanic and wrote an excellent essay of her ambitions to work for the FAA.

Brandi Williams is a student at West Los Angeles College where she maintains a GPA of 3.77, while working full time for Delta at LAX. Her professors describe her as a role model of aviation enthusiasm and dedication. Her essay speaks of turning anger at not being considered for a promotion at a former job into an opportunity to try a non-traditional job as an aviation mechanic and how happy she is that she did.

Garett Chapelle is a student at the Aviation Institute of Maintenance - Atlanta where he maintains a GPA of 4.0 while working full-time in the automotive industry. His professor describes him as a "star pupil" with a generous work ethic, helping other students. He wrote two essays relating his aviation dreams to Phoebe Omlie's life trajectory.

Two additional students received a $1,000 award. 

• Raj Gouden is a student at Aviation High School where he is taking a number of Advanced Placement classes. He is the vice president of Pegasus, Aviation High School's Technical Honor Society and maintains an A average. His teachers speak glowingly of his aptitude for math, science and technical work. They also speak of his leadership skills in organizing classes and mentoring other students.
• Laura Pantoja is a senior at Aviation High School where she maintains an A average. She is President of Pegasus, the school's Technical Honor Society. She wrote the best essay of all the applicants, interweaving Phoebe Omlie's legacy with her own aspirations. She has glowing and detailed recommendations from her teachers extolling her intellectual, technical and leadership skills. She is currently interning at JetBlue Airways Tech Ops. She aspires to working in aircraft maintenance, ultimately getting an engineering degree and working at the NTSB.

The scholarship is supported through the generous contributions of AMC participants and sponsors. For more information and to apply, visit www.aerospacecompetition.com/scholarship. Applications for next year's award are due March 15, 2020.