Scholarships
OBAP is dedicated to supporting minority interests and placement in aerospace careers. To date, OBAP has awarded $5.8 million in scholarships to more than 470 diverse recipients nationwide. The scholarships, made available through strengthened partnerships with key carriers and aviation-related businesses, allow award recipients to advance or pursue diverse aviation-related careers.
An active OBAP membership is required to apply.
Already an applicant? View your applicant profile to review the status of your application.
Applicants will be notified by July 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
All OBAP scholarships require an active OBAP membership prior to applying. Please refer to the individual scholarship descriptions for all eligibility requirements. Applicants must meet all minimum scholarship requirements to apply.
All OBAP scholarships are open to all active members regardless of ethnicity and/or demographic. We pride ourselves on the diversity and inclusivity of all scholarship applicants.
Most full-time flight training programs range from $80,000 - $100,000 depending on Part 61 and/or Part 141 requirements. Check with your applicable program for specific costs. Applicants can apply for as many scholarships they are eligible for.
- The OBAP Tech. Ops Scholarship:
Maximum award - $25,000
Minimum number of awards - 1
- The Dr. Aprille Joy Ericsson Scholarship For Academic Excellence:
Minimum award - $5,000
Number of awards - 2
- The OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot training:
Minimum award - $10,000
Number of awards - 6 awards
- The OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Commercial Pilot training:
Minimum award - $7,500
Number of awards - 2
- The OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Advanced Flight training:
Minimum award - $5,000
Number of awards - 5 - The American Airlines Lt. Luke Weathers Flight Academy Impact Scholarship for Pilot Training:
Minimum award - maximum of 50% of cost of remaining ratings (excluding PPL)
Number of awards - 10 - United Aviate Academy Scholarships (open to qualified applicants only on an invite-only basis)
OBAP provides several scholarship opportunities throughout the aerospace career pipeline: If you aren’t eligible yet for a particular scholarship, you can sign up on the interest form listed on the scholarship’s webpage.
Yes! As long as you meet the eligibility requirements for the programs you are interested in, you can apply for as many scholarships as you would like.
Yes! We encourage past recipients to apply for other scholarship opportunities.
Currently we do not offer scholarships to international students. While OBAP scholarships require applicants to be actively enrolled in a flight training institution within the United States, permanent residency is not required.
Our scholarship programs vary each year, and depending on partnerships, we may have future opportunities. You can find more information on our fee waiver requirements on the ACE Academy page FAQs.
Letters of recommendation should be submitted by professional acquaintances who are aware of your background. Aspects such as education, leadership roles, relevant work experience, and flight training knowledge are taken into consideration when reviewing a letter of recommendation. Any OBAP-required recommendations must be submitted by an active OBAP member.
Your scholarship application is like your resume. Reviewers use a variety of factors in determining viable scholarship recipients. You can increase your chances by including any of the following, but, not limited to: a complete application profile, reputable recommendations, leadership roles, professional and volunteer experience.
The OBAP Scholarship Committee conducts a thorough review process for our awards that lasts 3-4 months ending July 7, 2023. All applicants will receive notice whether they have received a scholarship award or not. Scholarship recipients receive a phone call, and all other applicants receive an email notification. If the review process takes longer than usual, all applicants will be notified. Please ensure to check your spam inbox in addition to your regular email inbox for correspondence.
In order to ensure scholarship funds are used for their intended purpose to support a student’s studies and/or training and to maintain the integrity of our relationship with academic institutions, it is the policy of OBAP to work with the institutional financial aid offices to distribute awards. We do not remit scholarship funds to individuals.
We encourage all members to apply for OBAP scholarships and any supplemental organization scholarships as well. Some flight training programs may have a cap on the amount of funding you can apply to certificates and/or ratings. Review your prospective training organization’s tuition/financial requirements.
Each scholarship has different requirements which are detailed in the specific application. Most scholarships awards must be utilized during your active training cycle and/or flight ratings.
We are always looking for additional partnerships to provide our members more financing opportunities. Please contact our Director of Development, Haifa Baptiste hbaptiste@obap.org.
Have more questions? We’re happy to help you get the information you need. Contact us anytime at scholarships@obap.org.
Celebrating our Sponsors





2023 Scholarship Recipients
2022 Scholarship Recipients
Dr. Aprille Joy Ericsson Scholarship For Academic ExcellenceDaylen Gipson Brendon Jones Yesenia Martinez OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Advanced Flight TrainingGaaid Ahmed Victor Cole Kimberly Murray Zakiya Percy Gabriela Segovia OBAP Impact ScholarshipCarlin Bratcher Tee Frisby Ari-El Joshua The Brig. Gen. Charles McGee Legacy ScholarshipWilliam Moore Jr OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Private Pilot and Instrument Pilot TrainingKyla Kendrick Joanna Lee Laureana Muok Lawrence Waters III OBAP Dreams2Careers Scholarship for Commercial Pilot TrainingTracy Atobatele Ashley Hassan United Aviate ScholarshipAbiodun (Abby) Awosanya Sierra Christian Maceo Davis Stephanie Marr Emily Pagano Shane Polonyi Derail Texada Jenesis Tucker Megan Elizabeth Esqueda Venessa Lynn Purefoy TyJon Chapple Jonathan Wizard Ross Donelly Dinnelky Tavarez Khareif Williams
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2021 Scholarship Recipients
OBAP EXCELLENCE IN ACADEMICS SCHOLARSHIPOBAP Excellence in Academics Scholarship David Nyambura Benn Bostic Caily Stewart Zakiya Percy Grace Assan Lantz Jordon-Elijah Apienti-Gyapong Kourtney Gillespie - Pilot Kyla Kendrick Diedre Evans Cameron Ray Bereket Abera Lakeysha Bullock Kendyll Curry Kemar Flowers Brittiney Williams Walter Jimenez Dominique Gooden OBAP AVIATOR'S LEGACY SCHOLARSHIPMichael Harris Wayne Lomax Ecia Truesdale Christopher Watson, Jr. Nicholas Goodlett Vernecelyn Allen Chloe Murillo Marc-Anthony Colon Cian Greer Jaylen Palmer Stacy Uebelhor OBAP TECH OPS PATHWAY SCHOLARSHIPPrince Zarate-Mccoy |

2019 Scholarship Recipients
UNITED AIRLINES PILOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSSPRING 2019 ANDREA GARCIA, BUENA PARK, CA PATRICIA PRATT, HOUSTON, TX FALL 2018 NIA SPILLER, TERRE HAUTE, IN UNITED AIRLINES TECH OPS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSMADISON SAUNDERS, DACULA, GA SERGES KENFACK, HOUSTON, TX ONE UNITED FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSDELANTE SYKES, GRAND FORKS, ND KRISTENA COOK, LOUISVILLE, KY FEDEX EXPRESS 757/767 TYPE RATING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSALEXIS BROWN, OTISVILLE, MI DWIGHT McCALLA, W. MELBOURNE, FL UNITED PARCEL SERVICE MAINTENANCE & ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSSPRING 2019 ISAAC K. AGBETTOR, DAYTONA BEACH, FL FALL 2018 WOLE GOVAN BARNARDE, FLUSHING, NY UNITED PARCEL SERVICE AEROSPACE MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJULIAN PAYNE-DILLARD, HAMPTON, VA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE FLIGHT DISPATCHER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTPATRICIA PRATT, ENGLISHTOWN, NJ UNITED PARCEL SERVICE PILOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTRONALD McKENZIE, MURFREESBORO, TN AMERICAN AIRLINES BLACK AIRLINE PILOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTNIAH THOMAS, WEST PALM BEACH, FL AMERICAN AIRLINES & OBAP EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSSPRING 2019 ANDREW NICHOLSON, PLANTATION STATE, FL COREY STEPHENS, ELLENWOOD, GA GIDEON BOATENG, BRONX, NY JARED BEARD, DANVILLE, CA JONATHAN GRAY, NEW ORLEANS, LA FALL 2018 JESSICA VELASQUEZ, GRAND PRAIRIE, TX MIA HUTCHERSON, BENTON, KS ALASKA AIRLINES PILOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTAMBER RICHARDSON, ELLENSBURG, WA HORIZON AIR PILOT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSRAMONE GOLDING, BRONX, NY SHAMIR MICHEL, CORAL SPRING, FL WINGS FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTSERIC GENTRY, DALLAS, GA JEVON McQUILLER, POMONA, FL JEPPESEN SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTFARILYN HURT, MURFREESBORO, TN SISTERS OF THE SKIES FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTANGELA JULIEN, HOUSTON, TX HANDEL & CARMEN WELLINGTON EXCELLENCE ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJAMES GORDON, PROSPECT, KY ONE MORE STEP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJUAN HARVEY, FAYETTEVILLE, GA THE OBAP FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTCHLOE MURILLO, STATEN ISLAND, NY SEAN MCNEAL & BETH POWELL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTNEECIA WATTS, NORTH LAUDERDALE, FL DELTA DIFFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJORDAN LEWIS, OLIVE BRANCH, MS MRS. JIMMIE LENEAU OSBORNE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTJEVON McQUILLER, WALNUT, CA |

2018 Scholarship Recipients
RECIPIENT | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARD |
Jessica Velasquez | American Airlines & OBAP Educational Fund Scholarship | $5,000 |
Mia Hutcherson | American Airlines & OBAP Educational Fund Scholarship | $5,000 |
Jordan Lewis | Delta Difference Scholarship | $2,000 |
Jevon McQuiller | Mrs. Jimmie Leneau Osborne Scholarship | $2,500 |
Nia Spiller | United Airlines Pilot Scholarship | $5,000 |
Julian Payne Dillard | United Parcel Service Aerospace Management Scholarship | $2,000 |
Ronald McKenzie | United Parcel Service Pilot Scholarship | $2,000 |
Patricia Pratt | United Parcel Service Pilot Scholarship | $2,000 |
2018 Spring Scholarship Recipients
RECIPIENT | SCHOLARSHIP | AWARD |
Juanita Attaway | Alaska Airlines Pilot Scholarship | $2,500 |
Elizabeth Robertson | American Airlines & OBAP Educational Fund Scholarship | $5,000 |
Andrew Nicholson | American Airlines Black Airline Pilot Scholarship | $5,000 |
Gregory Greer | Brandon C. Francisco Achievement Scholarship | $2,500 |
Julian Payne-Dillard | Brandon C. Francisco Achievement Scholarship | $2,500 |
William Browne | FedEx Express 757/767 Type Rating | $25,000 |
Yunier Yanes | FedEx Express 757/767 Type Rating | $25,000 |
Terrance Bowen | Handel & Carmen Wellington Excellence Achievement Scholarship | $2,500 |
Mbikayi Agostinho | Horizon Air Pilot Scholarship | $2,500 |
Aja Mulligan | Horizon Air Pilot Scholarship | $2,500 |
Delante Sykes | Jeppesen Scholarship | $2,000 |
Vernecelyn Allen | OBAP Duane Moorer Scholarship | $2,500 |
K. Ray Cooper | OBAP Edward Horne Scholarship | $2,000 |
Alex Gutierrez | One More Step Scholarship | $5,000 |
Patricia Pratt | One United Family Scholarship | $10,000 |
Romullo Silva | One United Family Scholarship | $10,000 |
Shona Williams | One United Family Scholarship | $10,000 |
Justin Thompson | Robert McCommon Flight Scholarship | $1,250 |
Juan Harvey | Robert McCommon Flight Scholarship | $1,250 |
Alexandra Philip | Sean McNeal & Beth Powell Scholarship | $3,000 |
Amina Jackson | Sisters of the Skies Flight Training Scholarship | $2,500 |
David Thompson | United Airlines Pilot Scholarship | $5,000 |
Ronald McKenzie Jr. | United Airlines Pilot Scholarship | $5,000 |
Wole Govan Barnarde | United Airlines Tech Op's | $1,500 |
Peter Sheppard | United Airlines Tech Op's | $1,500 |
Grayson Locke | United Parcel Service Aerospace Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship | $1,000 |
Othneil Drew | United Parcel Service Aerospace Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship | $1,000 |
Wole Govan Barnarde | United Parcel Service Maintenance & Engineering Scholarship | $2,000 |
Jacobi Wright | Wings Financial Scholarship | $1,000 |
Travis Wilkinson | Wings Financial Scholarship | $1,000 |

Contact the Scholarship Team


Organization of
Black Aerospace Professionals
is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization
19 Mantua Rd.
Mt. Royal NJ 08061