The Taking Flight Fund
Donation protected
My name is Evan, and I will be a pilot. I have dreamed about being a pilot ever since I was lucky enough to take a flight in a Piper Cub when I was 6 years old. I have been fascinated with flight ever since. It has been a long road to get where I am, but I have reached what seems to be an impassable obstacle in my journey.
Eight years ago, I joined the US Navy. I will admit that while my love and dedication to our country is very real, many of my motives to join were financial. I come from a single parent family that always struggled to make ends meet. Financially, college was entirely out of the question. We didn’t have the money, and I wasn’t willing to burden myself with high interest student loans. Higher education was just not in my cards.
In November 2007, I made a choice that forever changed my life for the better. I joined the United States Navy. In the Navy I gained the experience of many lifetimes, and it was a choice that I will forever be grateful for. In the Navy, I was Corpsman (medic), and spent much of my time directly caring for patients. It was the most rewarding time of my military career. The last four years of my military career were spent in Spain, where I began working on my Bachelors degree in Professional Aeronautics. Spain is also where I met my amazing wife, Jacqueline. Her love and support over the last several years, is why I am where I am today.
In 2014 I separated from the Navy and moved back to the states to pursue my dreams. I’m currently on my third year of studies at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, making the dean’s list regularly. The VA, through use of the GI bill, is currently covering my tuition. Mostly. Unfortunately, however the GI bill does not support flight school. The elephant in the room is my training as a pilot. The only thing stopping me from reaching my goals is the sheer financial cost of earning an FAA certification. $70,000 dollars sheer.
I have exhausted all avenues. I have applied for every grant and scholarship I can find. Unfortunately, most scholarships won’t help pay for flight school. I’ve applied for multiple student loans, but even with a co-signer, I cannot get a $70,000 school loan. I’m currently working for a cabinetry installation company around my full time student schedule, and my wife is working full time, in sales. We are making ends meet and paying off our car, as quickly as we can. At this point, every penny gained is one step closer to my goals.
The flight school I will attend is ATP. ATP is a nationwide school, that offers a 6-month, zero time to flight instructor course, and guarantees a job flying as a flight instructor right out of school. The flight instructor position will help tremendously in building my flight hours, while I complete my Bachelors degree, and begin working on my Master’s.
This is a shot in the dark, but it is a shot worth taking. I have dreamed of being a pilot ever since I can remember. I will be a pilot if it takes the rest of my life. I will follow my dreams wherever they lead me, and I hope that one day they lead me to a place where I can help others reach theirs. If you have made it this far, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this. Thank you for the consideration, and any amount of donation aside, know that the knowledge that you care enough to consider it means worlds to me. Please feel free to share this with your family and friends.
Eight years ago, I joined the US Navy. I will admit that while my love and dedication to our country is very real, many of my motives to join were financial. I come from a single parent family that always struggled to make ends meet. Financially, college was entirely out of the question. We didn’t have the money, and I wasn’t willing to burden myself with high interest student loans. Higher education was just not in my cards.
In November 2007, I made a choice that forever changed my life for the better. I joined the United States Navy. In the Navy I gained the experience of many lifetimes, and it was a choice that I will forever be grateful for. In the Navy, I was Corpsman (medic), and spent much of my time directly caring for patients. It was the most rewarding time of my military career. The last four years of my military career were spent in Spain, where I began working on my Bachelors degree in Professional Aeronautics. Spain is also where I met my amazing wife, Jacqueline. Her love and support over the last several years, is why I am where I am today.
In 2014 I separated from the Navy and moved back to the states to pursue my dreams. I’m currently on my third year of studies at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, making the dean’s list regularly. The VA, through use of the GI bill, is currently covering my tuition. Mostly. Unfortunately, however the GI bill does not support flight school. The elephant in the room is my training as a pilot. The only thing stopping me from reaching my goals is the sheer financial cost of earning an FAA certification. $70,000 dollars sheer.
I have exhausted all avenues. I have applied for every grant and scholarship I can find. Unfortunately, most scholarships won’t help pay for flight school. I’ve applied for multiple student loans, but even with a co-signer, I cannot get a $70,000 school loan. I’m currently working for a cabinetry installation company around my full time student schedule, and my wife is working full time, in sales. We are making ends meet and paying off our car, as quickly as we can. At this point, every penny gained is one step closer to my goals.
The flight school I will attend is ATP. ATP is a nationwide school, that offers a 6-month, zero time to flight instructor course, and guarantees a job flying as a flight instructor right out of school. The flight instructor position will help tremendously in building my flight hours, while I complete my Bachelors degree, and begin working on my Master’s.
This is a shot in the dark, but it is a shot worth taking. I have dreamed of being a pilot ever since I can remember. I will be a pilot if it takes the rest of my life. I will follow my dreams wherever they lead me, and I hope that one day they lead me to a place where I can help others reach theirs. If you have made it this far, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this. Thank you for the consideration, and any amount of donation aside, know that the knowledge that you care enough to consider it means worlds to me. Please feel free to share this with your family and friends.
Organizer
Evan Williams
Organizer
Dallas, TX
