(Back L-R) Trevor Sipe, Mike, Scott Marquardt, Mark Freeze
(Front L-R) Trenton Kessler, Jon Joseph, Paul Kolk, Joe Samudovsky, Christine Zoerline, Katie Lake, Wesley DeHoyos

(Email from Paul):
Dear Mike,
I want to start out by saying how thankful I am that you have awarded me this scholarship. I can not thank you enough for your contribution you have made to my flight training and the contributions you have made in the past. I also want to thank you for selecting me out of many qualified candidates. This scholarship will allow me to advance my flight training in the charter course and help pay for previous training as well. The charter course might not have been possible with out your help. Thank you again and for everyone that contributed time, effort, and donations to the scholarship. I hope that my flight training now will allow me to give something back to others in the future as you are and have done.

Thank you again.
Paul Kolk

(Email from Jon):
Mike and Family,
I'm speechless yet again. I would not be in the position I'd be in today if it wasn't for your graciousness. Thank you so much for your years of support in my education. This scholarship will help build my resume more than I ever could have imagined. You have touched many lives over the years and I can only hope that these people realize the impact that you make. I know I do. As graduation nears I'm not certain what the future brings. What I do know is that I will be "paying it forward" over and over again for many years to come, thanks to your inspiration.

Thank You!
Jon Joseph

(Email from Mark):
Mike and Family,
I just wanted to say thank you for the tremendous amount of financial assistance that you have provided me this year, as well as the two years in the past. Your generous support has made my training substantially easier, as I don't know if I would be where I am at today without it. Many students start off in the flight program with a doubt whether or not they will be able to afford it financially. With your scholarships you have granted many students to achieve their goals and dreams. One thing you learn in your flight training is to pay it forward, you have been an inspiration for me to do so in the future. Thanks again for all of your help!

Sincerely,
Mark Freeze

(Email from Scott):
Mike,
You should know how much the aviation program here at SIU appreciates you and your family. Your concept of 'paying it forward' is unparalleled, and the world could greatly benefit from more selfless individuals such as yourself. You've taken the personal success of your website and turned it into a helping hand for so many others. Not only do you provide a forum for professional aviators to share their experiences, but your scholarships and contributions to the SIU aviation program are paving the path for the less experienced to become professional. It's hard to put my appreciation into words, but rest assured that my scholarship award will go to it's best possible use. I intend to apply it toward my training next semester that will yield my CFI rating. With that, I hope to excite the passion for aviation in my students that you and I already posses, and in turn, allow your gift to keep giving. Thank you so much for the award, Mike. I will stay in touch with you and keep you updated on my progress.

Sincerely,
Scott Marquardt

(Email from Joe):
Dear Mike,
I would like to take the opportunity to thank you and your family again for choosing me as one of this year's scholarship recipients! The scholarship will enable me to move even closer to achieving my life-long goal. The generosity and fortitude that you possess makes each of you great role models for anyone and everyone. You have touched many lives within the aviation community (especially at SIU!) and cannot thank you enough for what you have done. I hope to one day also be able to give back to others in aviation just as you have been able to do.

Sincerely,
Joe Samudovsky

(Email from Katie):
Hi Mike,
I wanted to thank you and your family for choosing me for one of your $1000 scholarships this year. Your generosity gives me such motivation as I enter my last semester at SIUC while your website aides in my goal to become an esteemed colleague. I only hope I will be able to give back as much as you have.

Thank you!
Katie Lake

(Email from Christine):
Hi Mike~
I wanted to thank you once again for awarding me as one of this year's scholarship winners. I can't tell you how thankful I am and how this will help to allieviate some of my flight fees. Your speech at the banquet this year had a good theme- "Pay it forward," my mom tells me that, and I think it is a good message to live by. I know the whole aviation department is glad you have had that mindset as you have helped so many people in the last few years win scholarships from your website. I hope I can become succesful and help young pilots reach their dreams just as you have!

Thanks again for everything!
~Christine Zoerlein

(Email from Trenton):
Mike and Family,
Thank you once again for your generous scholarship. I hope you realize how much you have helped the students at SIU, not to mention the thousands of members of your website! You have been a great help in advancing my education and I can't thank you enough. I liked your speach too, I'll do my best to pay it forward!

Thank you again,
Trenton Kessler

(Email from Wesley):
Dear Mike and Family,
It was an honor to receive the scholarship. I am deeply grateful for the contribution. The money will be very helpful in allowing me to finish my flight training and bring me one step closer to beginning my career in the aviation industry. We all appreciate what you have done for the aviation community here at SIU. Because of your assistance, many young pilots, myself included, will be able reach their goals and dreams sooner than they had ever planned.

Sincerely,
Wes DeHoyos

(Email from Trevor):
Dear Mike,
I would like to say thanks again for awarding me with a $1,000 scholarship this year. Following my dream to become an airline pilot is expensive recieving this scholarship will help out a lot. It is great how much you are giving back to SIU and future airline pilots. Like many, I too hope to be able to give back to the aviation community in the future. Take care and safe flying.

Thanks Again!
Trevor Sipe