KOLSTAD
AWARDCollege Scholarship
KOLSTAD
AWARDup to $1500 for soaring pilots.
Annual. Deadline
September 30.
Picture:
Kolstad volunteers at the 2006 SSA Convention “Youth in
Soaring” booth.
(L-R: Ryan Vihlen (2003),
Mike Westbrook (2000), Ed Pickens (2005), with SSA Youth Chair John
Campbell)
The grant is intended to help finance college-level study and is to be paid directly to an academic institution of the applicant's choice. The amount is presently $1,500, with winners chosen each year on a competitive basis. Applicant age must be between 14 and 20 (inclusive). If a winner is not yet of age to enroll in college, the grant money will be held until such time.
Winners of this one-time scholarship are selected from young soaring-pilot, SSA member, and USA Citizen applicants who are of great service at a USA gliderport. They need to make a good case via an applicant's statement and letters of recommendation for their achievements, service, and desire for academic and career progress.
The fund sponsors, from throughout the USA soaring community, hope the scholarship inspires young pilots to progress from basic glider flying to advanced sport soaring, and to attend college.
APPLICATION FORM
(PDF Format)
Suggested Schedule for Preparation of Application:
JUNE
Collect REFERENCES, names and address of THREE who have known the applicant for a reasonably long time.
Gather LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION from soaring acquaintances (THREE is good).
JULY/AUGUST
STATEMENT by applicant to include:
INVOLVEMENT in SOARING CLUB, SCHOOL, COMMUNITY
Present PLANS for further EDUCATION and eventual VOCATION
SOARING ACHIEVEMENTS
SAILPLANES FLOWN, AWARDS WON, SSA BADGES, FAI, FAA LICENSES
SEPTEMBER
REVIEW and SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION
Since 1968, 55 winners have been granted a College Scholarship in recognition of outstanding achievements in soaring, community and school. Plaques with this record hang in the Black Forest Soaring Society clubhouse and the National Soaring Museum.
2010 No Award Things are about to get interesting 2009 No Award............... Fly a Century I X/C! Get App. in on time! 2008 Trace Lewis............ IL, Windy City Soaring Association 2008 Brad Towne............. OH, Caesar Creek Soaring Club 2007 Devin Bargainnier...... OH, Central Ohio Soaring Association 2007 Mitchell Wagner........ TX, SouthWest Soaring 2006 Corey Sullivan......... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 2006 Steve Coggins.......... TX, Greater Houston Soaring Association 2005 Edward Pickens......... PA, Philadelphia Glider Council 2004 Kevin Christner........ PA, Brokenstraw Soaring Club 2004 Sylvia Szarfarczyk..... TX, Soaring Club of Houston 2003 Ryan Vihlen............ TN, Memphis Soaring Society 2003 Walter Brink II........ VT, Sugarbush Soaring Association 2002 Josh Burczynski........ NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 2002 Chris Saunders......... PA, Beltzville Soaring Club 2002 Kathy Fosha............ CO, Colorado Soaring Association 2001 Daniel Koneck.......... CA, Great Western Soaring School 2001 David Shelton.......... IL, Hinckley Soaring Club 2000 Michael Riley ......... MD, Mid-Atlantic Soaring Association 2000 Michael Westbrook ..... TX, Texas Soaring Association 1999 Steven Garin .......... SC, Bermuda High Soaring 1999 Michael Robison ....... PA, Keystone Gliderport 1998 Jason Howard .......... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 1998 Justin Poet ........... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 1997 Ira Phillips III....... AL, Gadsden 1997 Daniel Sorenson........ TX, Soaring Club of Houston 1996 Steven Lewis........... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 1996 Garret Willat.......... CA, Sky Sailing 1995 Mark Dunning........... TX, Soaring Club of Houston 1995 Elizabeth Schwenkler... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 1994 James Brown.. ......... AZ, Turf Soaring School 1994 Paul Sabino............ NV, Soar Minden 1993 Joe Walter............. IL, Hinckley Soaring 1992 David Graham........... NY, Harris Hill Soaring Corp. Juniors 1991 Tim Hanke.............. NY, Saratoga Soaring Association 1990 Neal Nelson............ FL, Flying Seminole Ranch 1990 Erik Nelson............ SC, Chester 1989 Michael Ondeck......... CA, So. California Soaring 1988 Sean Franke............ MI, Adrian Soaring Club 1987 Patrick McAtee......... CA, So. California Society 1986 Jan Huelsbeck.......... TX, Texas Soaring Association 1985 Gordon Boettger........ CA, Long Beach Soaring Club 1984 Mark Culpepper......... GA, Mid-Georgia Soaring Association 1983 Steve Leonard.......... KS, Wichita Soaring Association 1983 Brad Weals............. CA, Sierra Soaring 1981 Dave Mockler........... TX, Texas Soaring Association 1980 Alice Goodlette........ CO, Colorado Soaring Association 1980 John Mills............. KS, Kansas Soaring Association 1978 Jeffrey Ohmart......... CO, Denver Soaring Council 1978 Todd Tracy............. CT, Nutmeg Soaring Association 1977 Kim McEligot........... AZ, Tucson Soaring Club 1976 Fred Voltz............. WI, Thermal Sniffers Soaring 1975 Steve Foreman.......... TX, High Plains Soaring Club 1974 Betsy Shannon.......... AZ, Tucson Soaring Club 1973 John Carver............ WI, Thermal Sniffers Soaring 1971 Bill Fenton............ MO, St. Louis Soaring Association 1968 Michael Opitz.......... CT, Nutmeg Soaring Association
| Prior winners of the Kolstad Youth Scholarship | ||||
 Mike Opitz, 1968 |
 Bill Fenton, 1971 |
 Steve Foreman, 1975 |
 Jeffrey Ohmart, 1978 |
 Todd Tracy, 1978 |
 Alice Goodlette, 1980 |
 Steve Leonard, 1983 |
 Jan Huelsbeck, 1986 |
 Sean Franke, 1988 |
 Mike Ondeck, 1989 |
 Erik Nelson, 1990 |
 Neal Nelson, 1990 |
 Tim Hanke, 1991 |
 Joe Walter, 1993 |
 Paul Sabino, 1994 |
 Mark Dunning, 1995 |
 Liz Schwenkler, 1995 |
 Garret Willat, 1996 |
 Dan Sorenson, 1997 |
 Michael Riley, 2000 |
Bill
Fenton (1971)
"I
was proud to be the recipient of the 1971 Kolstad Scholarship. I can
still remember where I was and who told me I had won. To me this
scholarship was the end result of being involved in the sport of
soaring and the camaraderie with other soaring pilots of all ages.
When I won the grant, my family was not only proud of me, the whole
club was proud. One of their own had been recognized for his efforts
in soaring and they too had helped contribute to this pilot's
success."
Steve
Foreman (1975)
"The
Kolstad Scholarship is a great program that promotes the sport of
soaring. It encourages youth and changes lives in many ways never
imagined when it was created. While I have given back to the
scholarship in financial ways I shall never be able to calculate or
repay the many benefits I have received."
Jan
Huelsbsck Moye (1986)
"It
is truly an honor to have received the Kolstad Awards. This program
is very important to the soaring community. The tuition money was a
huge benefit to me back when I was younger and on my own."
Gordon
Boettger (1986)
"The
Kolstad Scholarship is a scholarship program that first of all gave
me the drive to complete my diamond badge so as to be a competitive
candidate for the scholarship. It simply was a personal goal of mine
in order to be a strong candidate. After winning, the scholarship was
used towards my college education. Most importantly, however, I was
able to put on my application package for the Navy pilot program that
I was a winner of the Kolstad Scholarship, a prestigious award for
junior soaring pilots. As a former Navy pilot, I am now a pilot for a
major airline. For any young glider pilots, I strongly urge you to
compete for this scholarship. It cannot only help you financially,
but down the road with an application package or resume that can make
a life changing experience. Thank you to the Kolstads for their
continued support with the program.”
Sean
Franke (1988)
"Since
being awarded the Kolstad Scholarship I look forward each year to see
who the next winner is."
Michael
Ondeck (1989)
"In
the summer of 1991 I had the experience of a lifetime working on the
Island of Kauai giving `rides-for-two'. The owner of the business was
very impressed that I had won the Kolstad Award. I'm sure that this
honor helped me get the job."
Eric
Nelson (1990)
"Many
thanks to those responsible for making the Kolstad Junior Awards
available to interested kids like me - it was no small help in
nurturing the cherished combination of learning and flying that
thrills me still. It remains an honor to be included in the company
of other past recipients."
Paul
Sabino (1994)
"I
thank the Kolstad family very much for their concern for youth and
their love of flying."
Michael Westbrook (2000)
"To me the Kolstad Scholarship has been a stepping stone throughout my
career in soaring. I grew up around the Texas Soaring Association
with Kolstad winners such as Dave Mockler and Fred Voltz. As I got
older and started crewing at national contests I met other winners
such as Danny Sorenson, Liz Schwenkler and Garret Willat. My goal was
to be among this elite group of young pilots one day.”
Ryan
Vihlen (2003)
"The
Kolstad award motivated me at a young age to push myself in soaring.
I soloed on my fourteenth birthday and that summer while my friends
were playing in pools or with games, I spent most of it becoming
comfortable flying and going through the Texas Soaring Association’s
stringent seminar for cross-country flying. By the end of the summer
I had flown our 1-26 close to 60 hours and achieved my Silver Badge.
This qualified me for the Kolstad scholarship which I was awarded the
following year. I started flying cross-country on a regular basis and
looking forward to flying contests. When I was 16, I flew in the 1-26
Championships and have since flown in 10 contests... Soaring has been an
experience I love and try to share with anyone I can. Three years ago I started
going to college and the Kolstad award has helped defray the cost of
ever-growing tuition. To some it may help buy books, tuition or even
study abroad. For others it can make the difference of starting
college at all. The Kolstad Scholarship continues to be the elite
award sought after by junior pilots in the United States.
To join the ranks of past winners was something I had dreamt about
ever since I started my glider training at the Memphis Soaring
Society in 2000. The pilots who had come before me with names like
Boettger, Schwenkler, Willat, Robison and Westbrook had all dreamed
too. On a cool autumn night, they were still in the cockpit imagining
that perfect summer day with unending cloudstreets and distant
turnpoints... The thing to value is that you are part of a small group of people that once
dedicated so much to a sport that is at the least....simply,
indescribably beautiful. This sport of ours is something that you
can’t totally put your fingers around. What draws us to it? Few
people know for sure. Whatever it is, the past winners of the Kolstad
were seduced by it... I was too. I continue to be.”
Kevin Christner, in 2004, held the Silver Badge, FAA CFI Glider Certificate. He won the Bultman award for line crews service to the Brokenstraw Soaring Club. In 2005, with Mike Westbrook, Slyvia Szafarczyk, and Mike Riley, Kevin founded the non-profit “US Junior Soaring Assoc., Inc.” to try to network young pilots better and acquire sailplanes for them. He also attended the first US Team Junior Camp held in Sugarbush, VT.
Sylvia Szafarczyk, in 2004, held the Silver Badge, FAA Private Glider Rating. She won the Bultman award for line crews service to the Soaring Club of Houston. In 2005, Sylvia flew the Region 9 Contest in Hobbs, in Sports Class in a Twin Astir with Mike Westbrook, leading the first few days. She also attended the US Junior Team camp in Moriarty, NM, and has earned the FAI Diamond distance, Century III, and NM feminine records.
Ryan Vihlen, in 2003, held the Silver Badge #6307, FAA Private Glider Rating. Ryan published, in SOARING Magazine, February 2003,a persoanl narrative entitled "Ryan's Journey". He started soaring training at age 14. He attended a youth soaring camp at Sugarbush Soaring Association and a week at Soar Minden. Ryan has won all three Kolstad Century Awards. He has earned the legs toward Gold and Diamond badges: Gold Distance and Diamond Goal. Ryan crewed for Mike Westbrook at the 2005 World Juniors in UK, and is a contender for the 2007 team.
Walter Brink II, in 2003, held the Silver Badge # 6051 and the FAA Private Glider Rating. Walter was a sailplane passenger at age 9 at Sugarbush Soaring, then a few days after his 14th birthday he soloed. His article about flying at Soar Minden was published in SOARING Magazine. He holds the Kolstad Century I Awards, a single Lennie, altitude legs for the Gold and Diamond badges. Walter did National Guard service and used his grant for A&P studies.
Josh Burczynski, in 2002, held the Silver Badge # 6170, FAA Private Glider and Commercial Glider Ratings, and FAA Private Power Rating. He has flown many different types of sailplanes, as a member and, in the summer, a flight instructor of the Harris Hill Soaring Club. He attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL. As a CFI, Josh was a major force in revitalizing the ERAU Sport Aviation collegiate cub.
Chris Saunders, in 2002, held the Silver Badge # 6146, FAA Private Glider and FAA Private Power Ratings. He holds three State soaring records and has participated in Regional Soaring Contests. He has chosen Penn State University, studying aerospace engineering. Chris has been National Junior Champion three times and was the overall winner at the 2006 18m Nationals.
Kathy Fosha, in 2002, held the Century Award. She received the Gogos Youth Soaring Scholarship in 2000 and flew at Owl Canyon Gliderport, Fort Collins, CO. She graduated Colorado State University as a mechanical engineer. Kathy was selected by the Youth Committee to take a “Plain Soaring” Course in Australia with 3-time World Soaring Champion George Lee. She flew the 2004 and 2006 Standard Class Nationals and Region 9 Sports Class, and was selected for the 2007 Junior Team. In 2009, Kathy claimed six national feminine soaring records.
Michael Riley, from 2000, of Glen Burnie, MD, had his first glider ride at the Mid-Atlantic soaring Association (M-ASA) in Frederick, MD. He has been an active member since. He participated in encampments of the International Aviation Cadet and the Civil Air Patrol in '99. For the past two years, he traveled to Minden, NV, to soar on the GOGOS Scholarship. He holds the Gold Badge #2292 with two Diamonds, Silver Badge #6075, the Single Lenni Pin #21603 and a private pilot certificate, with glider rating. Mike was selected by the Youth Committee to take a “Plain Soaring” Course in Australia with 3-time World Soaring Champion George Lee.
Michael Westbrook, from 2000, of Midlothian, TX, had his first sailplane ride when he was five. He is an active Junior member of the Texas Soaring Association, and soloed on his fourteenth birthday. He holds the Silver Badge #6107. Mike was selected by the US Team for the 2005 World Juniors contest, where he team flew with Garret Willat (Kolstad 1996). Both won one contest day at the UK event. Mike was on the team again in 2007. Michael is working for Sikorsky Helicopters.
Garret Willat, currently a full-time glider flight instructor at Sky Sailing in Warner Springs, graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, accumulating over 5000 hours in gliders. As a Junior pilot he won a regional contest. Garret has flown in two Junior World Gliding Championships, one World Gliding Championships, 12 Nationals and the 2009 Pribina Cup in Slovakia. Garret claimed the 2005 Rudolf Mozer Trophy for the highest Junior pilot in any US Nationals, the 2005 and 2006 Larissa Stroukoff Memorial trophy for the fastest speed during the US Open Class Nationals. The 2009 Richard C. duPont Award for winning the US Open Class Nationals. He has served one term on the US Rules Committee. Garret is on the US team for the World Gliding Championships in 2010.
Since the SSA Youth Committee and then US Team Committee started fielding teams for the World Junior Gliding Championships, numerous Kolstad winners have been team and crew members at this prestigious International FAI event that usually draws 60 pilots aged 25 and under, in 2 classes (Standard and Club).
2009: Corey Sullivan, Devin Bargainnier
2007: Mike Westbrook, Kathy Fosha
2005: Garret Willat, Mike
Westbrook, Ryan Vihlen (crew)
2003: Garret Willat
2001: Dan
Sorenson, Jason Howard, Mike Robison, Garret Willat (crew)
1999:
Joe Walter, Liz Schwenkler, Tim Hanke, Dan Sorenson
1997: Joe
Walter, Tim Hanke, Liz Schwenkler
1995: Sean Franke, Joe
Walter
1993: Sean Franke, Erik Nelson
1991: Sean Franke, Erik
Nelson
1989: Erik Nelson
In 2001, the SSA Youth Committee started naming a Junior National Champion based on Nationals results, and these winners have been recognized since 2003 with the Rudy Mozer Junior Champion trophy. As of 2006, there is also a Rudy Mozer Junior Champion Trust to help finance their possible attendance at the WJGC.
2009: Boyd Willat. 2008: Corey Sullivan. 2007: Corey Sullivan. 2006: Chris Saunders. 2005: Garret Willat. 2004: Chris Saunders. 2003: Liz Schwenkler. 2002: Chris Saunders. 2001: Dan Sorenson.
The
fund was established in 1968 by the members of the Colorado Soaring
Association (CSA) and the Black Forest Soaring Society (BFSS),
principally Mid and Ken Kolstad, soaring pilots since 1941. Their
sons Ralph and Paul, as well as daughter Marg, soloed young in
gliders (later, even sons Dave and Andy became pilots), making for a
remarkable soaring family.
The grant serves to honor the memory of Paul Kenneth Kolstad (1951-1966), holder of Gold Badge #288 with two Diamonds. Paul still holds the Colorado State Record for Junior Goal with his flight of 208 miles from Black Forest to the Scottsbluff, NB, airport on 11 July 1966. He earned the Goal Diamond with this flight. He earned the Altitude Diamond at Westcliffe, CO.
In 1989, the Kolstad trust was transferred to SSA, along with management of the annual scholarship grant and the Century Awards badge program. Members of the SSA Committee overseeing the program included the Chair of the SSA Youth Committee, the Chair of the Awards Committee, and members of the Kolstad family. Arleen Coleson ably administered most aspects of the grant and badge programs for many years on the SSA staff. In 2005, the Kolstad Committee was relocated within the Youth Committee and it is presently brilliantly chaired by Ralph Kolstad, Paul's older brother who went on to be a naval aviator and airline pilot -- and Hilton Cup asset!
Initial income for the endowment was generated in large part by sales of a large wall poster of USA soaring sites and significant soaring flights. For many years, the Colorado Soaring Association held a Labor Day chicken barbecue fund-raiser, featuring Ken's favorite “Cornell chicken” recipe. Most often, this was in conjunction with the Black Forest Soaring Contest, and ticket sales and gifts at this event went a long way to keeping the fund healthy. More recently, Texas Soaring Association has been a similar benefactor, and Chris Woods is presently donating income from the sales of his several documentary DVDs.
Funding this top achievement award should be an undertaking of the whole soaring community, much as the flying of any glider is a cooperation between pilot, launch crew, and whole clubs or staffs of people. Accordingly, all soaring pilots should consider themselves invited to contribute to the endowment fund.
Tax-deductible donations to "SSA" for
the "Kolstad Youth College Scholarship"
may be sent at
any time to the Soaring Society of America, Inc.
PO Box 2100,
Hobbs NM 88241-2100. development@ssa.org.
(575)392-1177,-8154(FAX)
Credit Cards are welcome.
2006 saw the 40th year since Paul's passing, and the 50th grant since inception.
2007 saw the passing of both founders and parents, with Ken, 96, departing us June 18, and Mid,
93, following on October 30. They joined the sport in its infancy and left it a legacy of three generations of inspiring pilots and contributors.
Latest update: 10/22/2010