Aviation association gives $15,000 in college scholarships

SKY'S THE LIMIT- Scholarship winners of the Camarillo chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association are (from left) Kevin Condron of Ventura, Stephanie Raymond of Camarillo, Richard Gomez of Ventura, Catherine Ricafort of Thousand Oaks, Andrew Huard of Simi Valley and Brian Morey of Ventura. The chapter gave $15,000 to the six county residents on June 14 to encourage their interest in aviation. All of the recipients are attending or plan to attend a university to study aeronautical, sytems or electrical engineering. Steve Kivo has seen his dream come true.

For some time, the Camarillo resident, scholarship chair for the 260-member Camarillo chapter of the Experimental Aviation Association (EAA), has wanted to financially encourage young people to take to the sky and learn to fly. On June 14, Kivo got his wish when the association awarded its first academic scholarships.

The group gave away $15,000 in college scholarships to six Ventura County youths who are studying or planning to study aeronautical, systems or electrical engineering, which could qualify them to work as members of an airplane design team. More than 30 people applied.

Steve Kivo "I wish I had five times the amount I had to support this effort, because they are all kids doing something with their lives," Kivo said.

Camarillo Chapter 723 is one of more than1,000 EAAs worldwide dedicated to preserving the spirit of aviation. Members build and fly their own planes, although membership is open to anyone enthusiastic about flying whether they have a pilot's license or not.

Kivo said he teared up as he presented the scholarships, thanking the parents in the audience for doing such a good job.

"No matter what economic background, no matter what ethnic background, when there's a drive and the spark is lit, you've got to nurture it," Kivo said.

All the winners are wellrounded young people who are active members of their community, he said; two of them are the first in their family to go to college.

That's the case for Andrew Huard of Simi Valley, who transferred from Moorpark College last year to study electrical engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He won a $1,000 scholarship from the aviation group.

"I feel wonderful," Huard said about winning. "They had a lot of applicants apply, so I feel quite special to be one of those who won."

Huard expects to graduate in 2010 and work in the defense or consumer electronics industry. He said his younger sister is following his example; she just graduated from Simi Valley High and plans to attend Moorpark College this fall.

Thousand Oaks resident Catherine Ricafort is studying industrial and systems engineering at the University of Southern California. The $750 scholarship from the EAA won't cover tuition, but it will help with other expenses.

"Every bit of money helps, especially when you're going to a private school," Ricafort said. "I feel really honored, especially after having met members of the EAA."

Ricafort said the scholarship committee didn't "grill" her with questions but took the time to get to know her and her goals. They gave her a tour of their hangar at the Camarillo Airport and the planes that members are building or have completed.

"It's really inspiring to have these guys so passionate about flying," she said. "I really appreciate all their help. . . . It makes me want to continue my research."

Ricafort is heading a research team at USC during the summer to investigate aviation safety at LAX. She expects to graduate in 2010 with a master's degree.

Corporate donations and proceeds from the chapter's annual Camarillo Air Expo, formerly known as the Camarillo Air Show, are the main source of scholarship funds.

Kivo, who's also the chapter's chair of the Air Expo sponsorship committee, said he'd like to see the chapter give away more scholarship money.

"This is why I work so hard on the sponsorship side . . . to spend it on the youth of Ventura County," he said.

The 2008 Camarillo Air Expo, with the theme Wings Over Camarillo, is scheduled for Sat. and Sun., Aug. 16 and 17 at the Camarillo Airport.

The Camarillo aviation group also sponsors the Young Eagles program, providing children with a half-hour flight free of charge, and supports the Aviation Platoon of the Ventura Military Explorers.

For more information about the EAA, visit www.eaa723.org/ or call (805) 383-0686.