SCHOLARSHIP OVERVIEW
Dennis Purduski, of Brandon, MS, was an SSA member and CFIG who trained numerous young pilots to fly. His passion for aviation was wide-reaching; in addition to being an active glider instructor he was also well known as an RC modeler and pilot; he was a past USA World Team Manager for RC helicopter competition. Dennis flew gliders with the Central Mississippi Soaring Society where he was an active instructor at the time of his death in 2016 from natural causes. Dennis was passionate about aviation of all types, but soaring in particular. Dennis particularly enjoyed instructing young students. He saw soaring as a low-cost way to introduce people to aviation. When Dennis passed away he left his entire estate to the Dennis Purduski Charitable Aviation Fund of the Community Foundation for Mississippi, naming two beneficiaries; an aviation scholarship at Kansas University and the SSA to fund training for persons 13 through 19 years of age to fly solo in gliders.
Pre-Solo SSA members 13 – 19 years old may apply. Applicants must express both desire and a plan for success and if under 18, must have parent/guardian involvement for participation. Applicants must make a good case through a personal statement, in the form of an essay, and letters of recommendation supporting their interest and desire in learning to fly gliders, their financial need, and their promise in other aspects of life.
AWARD DETAILS
Award (up to 5): Up to $2000 in SSA credit for direct flight training expenses. Detailed invoices of flight training expenses must be invoiced to the SSA at scholarships@ssa.org for payment to the servicing organization. No expenses will be paid two years after the date of the award announcement.
Promotion and fulfillment of the program are in cooperation between SSA, which administers and judges the scholarship, and local soaring chapters, clubs, and schools, who get reimbursement for their qualified charges; tows, glider rental, instructional costs, and costs of successful exams. Funds are not available for dues, joining fees, or other non-training costs. The flight training organization must be willing to cooperate on the reimbursement process.
FAQS
- Demonstrates commitment to soaring by contributing through both flying and non-flying activities and is known for being willing to help with anything.
- Demonstrates a strong interest in aviation and had specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused, and time-bound (S.M.A.R.T) goals related to soaring.
- Includes a personal statement that explains how they will use the scholarship. Ideally, this is a project or goal that relates to the item above.
- Has various skills and talents and uses them to promote their club, soaring in general, etc.
- Ideally, demonstrates a financial need for the award (this should NOT discourage anyone from applying)
- Read the award biographies in the section above for all of the awards that you are eligible for.
- Find a mentor (at your flying club/operation, school, family, etc.) who will read your application completely and help you revise it.
- Ask for reference letters several weeks before the application is due so that they are well written and not rushed.
- The scholarship selection committee is looking to invest the money in people who have earned these awards through their contributions to soaring. Give specific examples of things you did that benefit the soaring community. Some common examples:
- Instead of saying: “I help get gliders ready”, try: “Every weekend I help with/conduct pre-flight inspections, clean the canopies, wipe the wings, and walk the gliders to the flight line for others.”
- Instead of saying: “I talk about gliders at school”, try: “During my Science class, we had to give presentations on (insert topic here) and I shared the story and photos of my first glider ride and a summary of how gliders fly.”
- Convince the scholarship selection committee that you love glider flying and that you have a plan to use the scholarship money. If applying to use the money for flight training, don’t leave the scholarship committee wondering what club you will be flying at, how you will get there, etc. If applying for the Bultman, be creative with your application and intended use – some ideas to get started might be: going to fly cross country or wave camp or contest, going to fly at a new location (maybe not even in the US), taking friends for rides, getting a winch/aerotow/motorglider endorsement, etc.