Booker Atkins

Dear Community Fund for Mississippi, SSA, & Dennis Purduski Family,

I wanted to write a quick note to tell you I have used up all of my scholarship money. Thank you so much for supporting my passion of flight! I have enjoyed learning how to soar very much. I would not be where I am now without your support. Thank you very much again!

Sincerely,

Booker Atkins

Progress/Achievement: Solo SGS 2-33
Date: 8/5/2018
Caesar Creek Soaring Club

Rachel Rosenzweig

Dear Purduski family and the Community Fund for Mississippi,

Thank you. I really mean it. Thank you so much for your generosity, your recognition of my ability and your support on nurturing youth to become future pilots. This scholarship gives me the opportunity to follow my dreams of becoming a pilot one day! For me, the sky’s not the limit, it is just the beginning.

When I was 10 years old, I told my parents I wanted to learn how to fly. At the time, I just received my PADI scuba certification. I could travel by land, by water, but not by sky! My father looked at options and thought I was too young but he told me to wait until I turned 12 so I could join Civil Air Patrol (CAP). As soon as I was old enough I joined CAP and one month later went to “encampment” which kickstarted my CAP experience. I took every chance to have “orientation” rides with CAP and also with the “young eagles” program of EAA. Some pilots told me that if I wanted to do it right, to be a very skilled pilot, I should start with gliders. I watched the “Sully” Sullenberger movie because the pilot told me he believed Sully knew just what to do because of flying gliders.

By flying a glider I can get the basics correct. I can learn how to use the rudder. I can learn how to look at points in the horizon and understand how far I can go. Additionally, I just simply enjoy the quietness and surreal feeling when I fly in a glider. I feel so powerful when knowing how much mankind has accomplished but at the same time I must show my respect toward mother nature when knowing how much she has given us. I have not yet soared alongside a vulture or hawk but someday I will!

 

However, my parents are barely able to pay for me to fly twice a month. It would be awesome to fly every weekend but it is just not possible financially. With this scholarship, I can achieve my solo at a faster pace and take more advanced lessons. I have planned to use the scholarship for glider training at the end of summer with instructor Mr. Brian Collins at Eastern Soaring Center in West Virginia. I am very excited.

Learning how to solo will inspire my younger brother too. He’s 12 years old right now. Perhaps after I solo I can start to think about sport gliding longer distances. We also set up the “Condor” glider simulator at home to help with my training. I also take the class through Sporty’s online course and have finished the 1st three volumes on flight training.

I wouldn’t be able to reach my goals without this scholarship. I was so grateful when I saw my name under the recipient list. I knew that I was one step closer to my dream. Thank you so much to the Purduski family!!

Sincerely,

Rachel Rosenzweig

Progress/Achievement: Solo IS-28B2 Lark
Eastern Soaring Center

Cameron Kemppainen

Dear Purduski Family and the Community Fund for Mississippi,

I have just completed my first solo, on Sunday, July 27 and it is something that I will never forget. It started with getting the gliders out of the hanger and pre-flighting all of the gliders. After we completed those tasks my instructor, Matt Schultz, took my dad and I to sit down and go over our test answers. Then, we did a pattern tow to 2,300 feet above sea level and landed the glider to my instructor’s standards. After that, I soloed in a K-7 while my father, Nathan Kemppainen soloed in a K-13. We were in the air for 4 minutes at the same time. I was more nervous than I had ever been in my entire life, but also extremely excited.

I knew I could do it, since my instructor had prepared me so well. My first flight I stayed in the air for 22 minutes, and my second flight I was in the air for 52 minutes. I would like to thank you again for awarding me the scholarship that allowed me to accomplish my dream of finally soloing.

Sincerely,

Cameron Kemppainen

Progress/Achievement: Solo Schleicher K-7
Date: 7/17/2018
Adrian Soaring Club