Flying Scholarship Highlights

Above: Claire Goldberg (Samohi Senior), Helen Lu (Samohi Junior), Karynn Adams (Venice Sophomore) on visit to LAX as invited guests.(Photo credit: Brendan Craig)

Above: Ms. Gina Marie Lindsey, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, meets with the Scholarship Girls. (Photo credit: Brendan Craig)

2015 Winner Announced!

2015 Award Day

Helen Lu (11th grade) of Santa Monica High School wins the Scholarship

First Alternate is Karynn Adams (10th grade) of Venice High School

"Samirah Zaina" Award

Awarded on Saturday April 25th, 2015

25 April 2015 - "Samirah Zaina" Award

Finalist, Winner: Helen Lu, 11th Grade - Santa Monica High School

Finalist, First Alternate - Karynn Adams, 10th grade - Venice High School

Finalist - Analisa Burns, 10th grade - Santa Monica High School

Finalist - Chloe Hallinan, 12th grade Archer School for Girls

Finalist - Jennifer Solares, 11th grade, Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet High School

Above: Helen Lu (Samohi Junior) receives her Award certificate from Samiah Zaina the Award's main donor / volunteer instructor

Above: Helen Lu (right), this year's winner, receives her training material from Claire Goldberg (left), last year's winner.

Above: Finalists and their teachers, from left: Analisa Burns (Samohi sophomore), Karynn Adams (1st alternate. Venice High School sophomore), Haygo Salibian (Venice H.S. teacher), Chloe Hallinan (Archer School senior), Shane Berning (Archer School teacher), Samirah Zaina (principal donor and instructor), Kelly Okla (Samohi teacher), Helen Lu (2015 winner, Samohi junior), Claire Goldberg (last year's winner). Missing are Finalist Jennifer Solares (junior at Westchester Magnet), Ed Lord, and Rick Nelsen (teachers at Westchester Enriched Sciences Magnet high school).

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Flying Scholarship for Girls winner announced

2014 Award Day

Claire Goldberg wins the inaugural Flying Scholarship's

"Joe Justice" Award

Claire Goldberg accepts her scholarship certificate, log book and FAR/AIM from Joe Justice at Santa Monica Airport

Santa Monica, CA, March 22, 2014: Claire Goldberg, a Santa Monica High School (Samohi) 11th grade student, was announced the winner of the Flying Scholarship for Girls Joe Justice award. Claire received her award at a ceremony at Santa Monica Airport on Saturday March 22, 2014. Clara Glassman (12th grade) was the first alternate and Kiana Saberi (12th grade) was the second alternate.

The event was attended by the Samohi finalist students, their parents, Samohi advisor Al Trundle, the judges, the donors, and the Scholarship’s volunteer staff. Flying Scholarship for Girls is a Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM)-related effort designed to encourage high school girls to explore opportunities in aviation and aerospace, by helping them realize their dream of learning to fly.

Samohi Finalists and their high school advisor - From left to right: Gabriella Dyrek (junior), Claire Goldberg (junior, and scholarship winner), Kiana Saberi (senior), Clara Glassman (senior), Al Trundle (Samohi Advisor) Absent from the photo is Shelby Wolf (sophomore).

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A small group of volunteers got together to create this scholarship for public high school students interested in learning to fly. Funds are solicited through fund-raisers and online at www.flysmo.com. Each award is named after the main contributor. For example the Joe Justice Award was made possible through flight instruction time donated by Joe Justice, owner of Santa Monica-based flight school Justice Aviation. The airplane time–to be flown in a green Pipistrel Alpha Trainer–was a donation from Kelar Aviation.

The winner of the scholarship receives 30 hours of airplane and instruction time during a 30-month period. Although a Light Sport Pilot’s license is the stated objective of the scholarship, the students learn about aerodynamics, theory of flight, meteorology, geography, navigation, propulsion systems, mechanical systems, electronics, electricity, communications, mathematics, flight planning, safety, regulations, and piloting techniques.

The scholarship was announced last November, and Samohi candidates in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades submitted their applications online last December. After review by a panel of judges and reviewers, five finalists were selected. The finalists underwent personal interviews at the Museum of Flying by a panel of judges, which included a girl from another high school who has been learning how to fly.

“The Samohi girls submitted some incredible essays,” said Kambiz Taleghani, one of the organizers of the Scholarship. “They had to state why they wanted to be pilots, provide insights about themselves, and express their aspirations. An applicant from an East African country wants to be a role model for other females in her country. Another applicant has already visited NASA’s Johnson Space center in Houston as an intern and wants to be an astronaut. One finalist is already on her path to becoming an industrial designer for automobiles and aircraft. The winner’s aspirations include journalism and serving the country as a congresswoman…and remember these are all high school girls.”

About this Scholarship

The principal driving force behind this scholarship effort is the belief that providing unique educational opportunities to our next generation will lead to a better future for society. By providing a formative opportunity at a young age, we hope to help our future generation realize their dreams and aspirations. Hopefully one or more of our young scholarship recipients will be able to contribute to the society when it is their turn and the future is in their hands! This scholarship is one such small and humble effort towards that goal.

This is a Scholarship for a "Sport Pilot" license. Flight training and ground instruction is for a maximum of 30 flight hours and remains valid for 30 months after the award date. This program is subject to availability of aircraft, flight instructors, and the Santa Monica Airport. Your parent or guardian's permission is required.

Application Information, and Submittal Process