Friends of Fernandina Aviation
Media Release
April 11, 2016 3:00 p.m.
Amelie Nichol and Jonah Braeger, 8th graders at Fernandina Beach Middle School, have been awarded the inaugural Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance-Friends of Fernandina Aviation scholarships. The scholarships fund a week-long deployment for two students at the National Flight Academy in Pensacola, Florida. The funding for these scholarships is a collaboration between the Friends of Fernandina Aviation and Bill Warner, founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
Amelie and Jonah were chosen from candidates at Fernandina Beach Middle School after submitting an essay on how they envision advancements in communications technology by the year 2035. They also received recommendations from science teachers and school guidance staff, and were interviewed by a selection panel consisting of members of the Friends of Fernandina Aviation, the school guidance counselor, and current Fernandina Beach Vice-Mayor, Robin Lentz.
Their weeklong deployment begins June 26th and is designed to challenge students from 7th through 12th grades in problem solving for simulated real world situations, with a concentration on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills and emphasizing team work.
Amelie and Jonah will live and work for 6 days in a multi-story, 102,000 square foot simulated aircraft carrier (CVT-11, Ambition), surrounded by advanced technology, flight simulators, and virtual reality games that ignite imagination and encourage learning.
This scholarship program was conceived by members of the Friends of Fernandina Aviation as part of their charter to introduce local students to aviation and its associated career fields.
The Friends of Fernandina Aviation (FOFA) is a 501c(3) non-profit, aviation oriented organization. The goal of FOFA is to promote the understanding of and appreciation for the importance of aviation in the local community through volunteer-staffed programs such as aviation education, orientation and training, youth scholarships, community outreach, and cooperative efforts with other local area, civic-minded non-profits. Membership includes both aviators and non-aviators who want to be actively involved in giving back to the community. Further information is available at: www.fofaviation.com
More information on the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance can be found at: www.ameliaconcours.org
Information about the National Flight Academy is at: www.nationalflightacademy.com
Congratulations to Amalie and Jonah and thanks to the FOFA and the Concours for their support of this effort.