The Minden Soaring Club (MSC) has announced the award of eight scholarships to local youth to help finance flight and ground instruction in preparation for obtaining a private glider rating.

Eight scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each were awarded to youths who demonstrated they are interested in learning to fly gliders or who have already begun their training and need additional monetary assistance.  The scholarships were awarded by the MSC Board of Trustees at the club’s annual general meeting on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Scholarship winners are: Donovan Harrison, Max Richman, Steven Earle, Tyler Black, Grant Swift, Vincent Wang, Spencer DeBerry, John Legaspina, and last year’s recipient, Zach Fisher. Scholarship recipients will be eligible to apply for an additional $500 in addition to the initial award of $1,000 to assist with paying for costs associated with taking their written and flight tests to obtain their private license.

Soaring is the art and science of using the natural movement of the atmosphere to stay aloft, climb and travel long distances in a motor-less aircraft. Minden, Nevada is known as one of the finest soaring sites in the world, offering clear dry air, mountains and valleys which generate lift and relatively clear airspace. Gliders can stay aloft for hours and cover hundreds of miles using nothing but the pilot’s skill and rising air. Glider pilots must go through the same certification procedures as powered airplane pilots, and with proper training, a pilot can solo a glider by age 14 and obtain their private pilot glider rating by age 16.

The MSC is a non-profit 5-1(c)(3) corporation which was organized to promote soaring in the region by encouraging education to improve pilot safety and proficiency through training and education. Donations for the scholarship fund are gratefully accepted.

For more information and a copy of the application, please go to the MSC website  or SoaringNV .