Two West Aurora High School students have won Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps Flight Academy Scholarships worth approximately $20,000 each.
Scholarship winners are WAHS juniors and AFJROTC cadets Ryan Harvey of North Aurora and Matt Leslie of Aurora. Leslie was originally named as an alternate for the scholarship. Lt. Col. (retired) Erik Pettyjohn, West senior aerospace science instructor, said he was notified later that Leslie will receive the scholarship.
Both Blackhawks will attend a university’s Summer flight school to earn private pilots’ licenses. The scholarships cover airline tickets, room and board, ground-school tuition and fees associated with completing flight hours. There is no military obligation.
Pettyjohn attributes Ryan and Matt’s successes to their hard work and discipline, and “it is also a testament to the teachers, staff, and the overall culture at West that has enabled these two young men to really thrive.”
Pettyjohn said, “Ryan’s goal is to become an astronaut one day and this is an exciting step for him on the way to that goal. Congratulations and best wishes to both of these young men as they pursue their passion!”
Harvey and Leslie were among six West Aurora AFJROTC cadets who competed for the scholarship. The selection process included completing an online aviation test, physical fitness test, and other evaluations.