As part of the Top Gun Citation of Merit, winner Sean Stolz had his name added to the F-14 Tomcat outside the Florida Air Museum, where it will remain for a year. Courtesy Aerospace Center for Excellence
At its graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 held on June 11, the Aerospace Center for Excellence at the Central Florida Aerospace Academy in Lakeland, Florida, announced the winners of a roster of scholarships intended to support the students’ continuing study in aviation and STEM fields. The eight scholarships granted totaled $110,000.
The leading award, the Top Gun Citation of Merit, went to Sean Stolz, as the graduating senior who “consistently demonstrated outstanding scholastic accomplishment, exemplary character and motivating leadership during their tenure at CFAA,” according to the ACE press release. “The Top Gun honoree is one who has been an example to others in service to their community and work ethic defining them as an influential moving force in the future of the aerospace industry by supporting the Aerospace Center for Excellence’s mission of ‘Engage, Educate and Accelerate the next generation of aerospace professionals.’”
Congratulations also go out to the following CFAA Class of 2020 students upon receiving one of several James C. Ray Continuing Education Scholarships:
- Noel Bell - $5,000 - will be attending Southeastern University majoring in Aviation Management with aspirations of joining NASA as an astronaut.
- Isaac Castellanos - $5,000 - will be attending Polk State College majoring in Aerospace Science.
- Christopher Lopez - $2,500 - will be attending University of FL to major in Aerospace Engineering. Christopher is the first CFAA student to have earn a Certified SolidWorks Professional Certification for Mechanical Design.
- Sean Stoltz - $2,500 - will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aviation Meteorology and pursuing an Airframe and Powerplant Certification.
- Jonathan Fortin - $2,500 - will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University to major in Aerospace Science.
- Colin Jimenez $2,500 - currently completing his private pilot certificate.
- Autumn Richarz $2,500 - will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aeronautical Science with aspirations of becoming a commercial pilot.
- Tyler Wood $2,500 - will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University majoring in Aeronautical Science with aspirations of becoming a military pilot.
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