The 2026 Black Tie & Boots Commemorative Belt Buckle
In Memory of SPC Ashton Johnson • $150
This year, for the first time, the Black Tie & Boots Gala has its own commemorative belt buckle — and there will only ever be fifty of them. Crafted for the 5th Annual Gala, each buckle carries the words “In Memory of SPC Ashton Johnson” alongside the CloudDancer emblem: a permanent tribute to the soldier whose story started this mission, made to be worn with your boots on gala night and long after.
Every buckle is $150, and every dollar goes where the rest of the gala’s proceeds go: funding flight training and aviation maintenance scholarships for U.S. military veterans. This year’s class is our largest commitment yet — 10 scholarships totaling $112,500.
How It Works
Reserve yours online. Buckles are $150 each, purchased securely through Square using the button below. With only 50 in existence, once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Pick it up at the gala. Your buckle will be waiting for you at the registration desk on October 16 at River Ranch Stockyards. Want to wear it to the event — or can’t make it that night? Reach out two to three weeks before the gala at admin@clouddancerscholarship.org or 817-729-7587 and we’ll arrange early pickup.
Tickets are officially on sale for the 5th Annual Black Tie & Boots Gala. Join us October 16 at 6 PM at River Ranch Stockyards for an unforgettable evening of remembrance, scholarship, and impact benefiting the CloudDancer Scholarship Foundation.
Whether you’re attending the gala or donating to support our mission, every contribution helps us continue changing lives through aviation scholarships and opportunities. Secure your tickets now, or donate to support the cause.
Together, we honor Ashton’s legacy while helping future aviators pursue their dreams.
What to Expect
The Black Tie & Boots Gala is the CloudDancer Scholarship’s flagship fundraising event and the single biggest night of the year for our mission. What started in 2022 as a gathering of 150 supporters at the CR Smith Museum has grown into one of the premier veteran-focused aviation charity events in the Southwest, raising over $660,000 across four galas to date.
This year’s event returns to River Ranch Stockyards in the heart of the Fort Worth Stockyards, the same venue that hosted last year’s record-setting $234,000 evening. Expect a seated dinner, open bar, live and silent auctions featuring one-of-a-kind experiences, keynote speakers from the military aviation community, and live entertainment throughout the night.
The highlight of every gala is the scholarship recipient announcement and the CloudDancer challenge coin ceremony — a deeply meaningful tradition where new recipients receive their coin alongside previous scholars, connecting generations of military aviators who have earned their wings through this program.
2026 Scholarship Commitment
Funds raised at this year’s gala directly support the 2026 scholarship class — our largest commitment yet. This year, we’re awarding 10 scholarships totaling $112,500 across two tracks:
Pilot Scholarships — Five awards of $17,500 each, disbursed at key milestones from first solo through check ride completion. These scholarships fund Zero-Time-to-Airline pilot training for veterans who have served our country and dream of flying.
AMT Scholarships — Five awards of $5,000 each, supporting Aviation Maintenance Technician certification. New for 2026, this track opens the door for veterans pursuing the technical side of aviation. Recipients who enroll at Thrust Institute of Maintenance may receive up to $10,000 in additional support.
Since its founding in 2021, the Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship has raised over $675,000 and awarded scholarships to more than 20 military-connected aviators. Every ticket purchased and every dollar donated at the gala goes directly toward continuing that mission.
Be Part of the Mission
Whether you join us at River Ranch or support from afar, your generosity puts veterans in the cockpit. Tickets, tables, and donations are all available through our event page.
Fort Worth put on its boots again. On October 4th, the CloudDancer Gala 2025 brought the community together as they gathered at the Stockyards Station for our fourth annual Black Tie & Boots Gala — and it was the most powerful night in the organization’s history.
The evening opened with the familiar sounds of country music drifting through the stockyards as guests arrived in their finest — boots polished, hats in place, hearts full of purpose. What started in 2022 as a small gathering to honor Ashton Johnson and his dream of flight has grown into one of North Texas’s most anticipated philanthropic events. This year, supporters packed the house, and the energy from the moment the doors opened made it clear: the mission is resonating.
The live auction drew the crowd in tight. Bid paddles flew as supporters competed for a lineup that ranged from handcrafted Western gear to once-in-a-lifetime aviation experiences — every lot raising funds that go directly toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate. Aero Crew News was on the ground covering the night, and CBS 1016 was in the house, helping carry the mission beyond the Stockyards and into the broader community.
This year’s gala was made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our sponsors, including the Gary Sinise Foundation, Thrust Flight, Plunkett Aviation, The Rec Room, AW Streeter LLC, Tuttle Brands, and HALO — organizations that believe, as we do, that a veteran with wings is a veteran with a future.
Every dollar raised on this night goes toward a veteran’s private pilot certificate — the one credential the GI Bill doesn’t cover. This gala is how we close that gap.
Joe Johnson, Founder — Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship
Each year, we commission a challenge coin — a tradition rooted in military culture — to mark the evening and honor those who make it possible. The 2025 coin is presented to our scholarship recipients and key supporters as a tangible reminder of why this community shows up year after year.
The 2025 Black Tie & Boots Challenge Coin
$234,000 Raised
The 2025 Black Tie & Boots Gala raised over $234,000 for the CloudDancer Scholarship mission.
The CloudDancer Gala 2025 Mission Continues
Ashton Johnson never got to finish his. Every veteran we put in the cockpit carries that forward. If you believe a uniform earns the right to fly, join us — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.
Five more veterans awarded CloudDancer Scholarships to pursue their aviation dreams.
Alexander Boone
Breanna Scothorn
Jamar Ziegler
Le Hao
Tyler Perkins
A Special Thanks to All of Our Donors & Supporters
1845 Distilling
6 Flags Over Texas
Aaron Tippin
Air-O Specialists
ALL ATP’s Flight School
Amanda Higginbotham
American Airlines
American Hat Company
Ariat Brand Store
AT&T Stadium
ATP Jets / ATP Flight School
Barry Corbin
Bass Performance Hall
Bear Creek Ranch Golf Club
Ben E Keith
Beth & Keith Ashcraft
Bird Dog Flight School
Bluegrass Engraving
Brandon Maso – DPE
Brent Boyd Mult Engine Training
Brett Hobson
Carl Koele – DPE
Cavender’s Boot Store
Chelsea Peoples
Cinch
Class Axe Dallas
Colonial Blade & Wood
Cory Davis Hot Air Balloons
Cowboys Golf Club
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
David Clark
David Stiff Photography
Davy Knapp Photography Studios
DayDream Photography
Dickies Arena / FWSSR
Don Wallace
Dr. Rowan Fraser
Drink MOR
Flying Ace Services
Fort Worth Police Mounted Patrol
Grayson Taylor
Greatest Generation Aircraft
Hangar Eleven – Oscar Rincones
Hobson Comfort Experts
J&G Aviation LLC
Janice Wright – Rooted in NC
JB Ranch Akaushi
Jeremy Rider
Jerry Jones Foundation
Joel LeFluer
Joe T Garcia’s Restaurant
Joseph DiCarlo-Fischer Models
Josh Douglas
JSX
Kendra Scott Jewelry
Kerry LeFluer Gun Collections
Kevin Johnson
Lacefield Leather Goods
Ladd Gardner Insurance
Lightmaps
Lt Col Allen West
Mark Jacobs
Mark McDonald
Massage Envy
Melody Kennedy
Michael Burroughs
Miles and Miles Argentina
MJA Flight LLC
Oak Grove Washateria
Park Hill Photography Studios
Perot Museum
Pete Setian Auctioneer
ScogWorks
Scott Tekell
Sephora
Sheppard Air Force Base Honor Guard
SkogWorks
Sky Creek Ranch Golf Course
Skydive Spaceland
Smart Syndicator CRM – Brandon Wong
Stella Ballard Photography
Tailwinds LED Metar Maps
Tammie Jo Shults
Tavo Pets
Texas Ballet Theater
Texas Swine Stoppers
The Best Hat Store, Ft Worth TX
The Golf Club at Fossil Creek
The Longhorn General Store Stockyards
The Rec Room – Michael Colvard
The Rodeo Shop Stockyards
Thrust Flight
Tim Carpenter
Total Wine
Tuttle Equity
Tuttle Nutrition
TX Whiskey Distillery
Veracity Aviation
Walmart
WestRidge Golf Course
While every effort was made to recognize all of our generous donors and supporters, some names may have been inadvertently omitted for printing deadlines. We sincerely appreciate every individual and business who has contributed. A complete list of all the donors can be seen on this page.
October 12, 2024 · River Ranch Stockyards, Fort Worth
The Stockyards came alive on October 12th. Sold out before the doors opened, the CloudDancer Gala 2024 Black Tie & Boots Gala was a night the CloudDancer community won’t soon forget — and a milestone for the veterans we serve.
River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth has a way of making people feel the weight of Texas tradition — and this year, that backdrop made everything hit harder. Guests arrived in their finest boots and black tie, greeted by the sounds of country music rolling through the Stockyards. By the time the program started, the energy in the room made one thing clear: the mission was growing and the community was growing with it.
The evening raised $192,000 — from 82 supporters who dug deep at the live auction, bought tables, and showed up for veterans chasing a cockpit. Every dollar goes toward a private pilot certificate, the single credential the GI Bill still doesn’t cover.
A Sold-Out Night
For the first time in the gala’s history, we sold out in advance. The Black Tie & Boots Sold Out banner went up, and supporters who’d waited too long were left off the list — which means 2025 came with even higher expectations. That kind of momentum is rare for a three-year-old nonprofit. It’s a testament to what Joe Johnson and the team have built: an organization that earns loyalty because it delivers results.
Scholarship Recipients
The moment every gala builds toward: the scholarship presentation. This year’s recipients — veterans with honorable discharges, valid FAA medical certificates, and a fire to fly — were announced to a standing room that understood exactly what it means to chase a dream after a uniform. Their names, their stories, and their paths forward are the measure of everything this organization does.
2024 CloudDancer Scholarship Recipients:
Cortez Thomas
James Smith
Keldon Mort
Kouyo Kato
Samantha Condor
The People Behind It
An event like this doesn’t happen without a board and a volunteer crew that treats it like a personal mission. The 2024 gala was backed by sponsors including AW Streeter LLC, Creative Annuals, Dream Flights, Flying Circus, and the Gold Sponsor tier whose generosity year over year is building something lasting. Below, the team that made October 12th happen.
The CloudDancer team — 2024
As the night wrapped up and the last bids were tallied, one thing was certain: the CloudDancer gala had outgrown its own expectations. Sold out, fully funded, and with a room full of people already asking about next year — the 4th annual was already writing itself.
The 2024 Black Tie & Boots Challenge Coin
The CloudDancer Gala 2024 Mission Continues
Each year this community shows up bigger and gives harder. If you believe veterans deserve a seat in the cockpit, there’s a place for you — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.
The CloudDancer Gala 2023 proved the inaugural year wasn’t a fluke. The 2023 Black Tie & Boots Gala brought the CloudDancer community back to the dance floor with a bigger crowd, a louder auction, and a night that made clear — this organization had found its footing.
Austin Ranch in Trophy Club set the stage — a Texas Hill Country backdrop that felt like the right place for a room full of veterans, aviators, and supporters who believe a uniform earns the right to fly. Boots were polished, hats were tipped, and the evening unfolded exactly the way Joe Johnson envisioned when he founded this organization: a genuine Texas celebration of service, sacrifice, and second chapters.
The Auction
The silent auction opened the evening as guests worked the room, eyeing lots that ranged from authentic Western gear to aviation experiences. When the live auction kicked off, paddles came up fast. Sponsors including American Hat Company, Twisted X, Morris Boot Company, Skydive Dallas, and Vintage Flight Museum contributed items that made every round competitive. The auctioneer kept the energy high and the bidders kept pace.
This scholarship was created to bridge the gap the GI Bill leaves behind. A veteran shouldn’t have to choose between serving their country and affording to fly.
Joe Johnson, Founder — Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship
Texas Through and Through
The details are what make a gala a gala. Boot shining stations. A puppy in the auction lineup that drew the loudest bids of the night. Clydesdales outside. Mounted patrol. Joey on guitar. Every corner of the evening felt designed — not like a fundraiser, but like a celebration that happened to raise a lot of money for a cause worth celebrating.
2023 Scholarship Recipient
The presentation of the 2023 scholarship is the moment the entire evening builds toward. A veteran who served with honor, cleared a medical, and committed to the cockpit — standing in a room full of people who believe the sky belongs to them too. James Halepaska was among those recognized this year, his path to aviation made possible by a community that refused to let the GI Bill gap be the end of the story.
James Halepaska — 2023 Recipient
2023 CloudDancer Scholarship Recipients:
McKinley Ritchie
James Halepaska
Alex Foster
Brett Bowser
Mike Neeley
Tyler Webb
$174,000 Raised
The 2023 Black Tie & Boots Gala raised over $174,000 for the CloudDancer Scholarship mission.
The Gallery
Two galas in, the pattern was set: a Texas venue, a live auction that punches above its weight, a scholarship presentation that stops the room, and a community that keeps coming back. Year three would be at the River Ranch Stockyards — and it would sell out.
The 2023 Black Tie & Boots Challenge Coin
The CloudDancer Gala 2023 Mission Continues
Each year this community shows up bigger and gives harder. If you believe veterans deserve a seat in the cockpit, there’s a place for you — as a donor, a sponsor, or a future recipient.
October 15, 2022 · CR Smith Museum, Fort Worth, TX
Before the tradition had a name, before sold-out signs went up, before the auction paddles became a ritual — there was the first one. On October 15, 2022, the Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship hosted its inaugural Black Tie & Boots Gala at the CR Smith Museum in Fort Worth, and proved that a community built around one man’s legacy could fill a room, open wallets, and launch a mission that would outlast the evening.
The venue sold out. Military dignitaries, aviation leaders, and supporters from across Texas filled the museum — Lt. General Steven Polk (USAF, Ret.), FAA Chief of Staff Michael Davis, Parker County Attorney John Forrest, and Kevin Lacy among them. The CR Smith Museum, home to the historic Flagship DC-3, gave the evening a backdrop that felt fitting for a scholarship built around flight.
The Evening
A uniformed Coast Guard member greeted guests at the door and escorted them to the red carpet — a paparazzi-style entrance that set the tone for the night. Every attendee received a challenge coin, the first in what would become a tradition marking each year of the gala. A social hour with an open bar gave the room a chance to mix, bid on silent auction items, and take photos on the DC-3.
Dinner was a three-course meal prepared by FarmHouse Catering of Dallas. The entertainment lineup featured comedian Ryan Perrio, a video tribute to Ashton Johnson, and an original performance by Alexis Spaulding that brought the room to its feet. Captain Neil Raaz announced the scholarship recipients, reading a short bio on each — the first veterans to receive the CloudDancer Scholarship and begin their path to the cockpit.
We didn’t know if anyone would show up. What we found out is that Ashton’s story — and the mission behind it — resonated with people in a way we couldn’t have predicted.
Joe Johnson, Founder — Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship
The Auction
Lt. General Steven Polk delivered the keynote speech — a reflection on service, sacrifice, and the obligation to lift up those who have served. Then Colonel Pete Setian took the stage for the live auction. Vacation packages to Cancun, private jet charters, custom handmade boots — the lots kept climbing, and the paddles kept rising. DJ Rudy Duron closed the evening with music, drinks, and dancing that carried the night to its finish.
$62,000 Raised
When the night was over, the inaugural gala had raised more than $62,000 for the foundation — a number that exceeded every expectation. It was a testament to the reach of Ashton Johnson’s life: the sheer number of people he had touched, both during his time in uniform and after. The community that gathered that night wasn’t just generous — it was personal. They came because Ashton’s story meant something to them, and because the mission of putting veterans in the cockpit was worth backing.
2022 Scholarship Recipients
The inaugural class of CloudDancer Scholarship recipients — four veterans beginning their journey toward becoming professional pilots.
Caitlin Lacomb
Alexander Taylor
Michael Moore
William Francis
The Gallery
What started as a question — can we actually pull this off? — became the answer. The 2022 gala wasn’t just a fundraiser. It was the proof of concept for everything the CloudDancer Scholarship would become: a community that shows up, a mission that resonates, and a legacy that keeps Ashton’s name in the sky.
Where It All Began
The inaugural gala set the foundation — not just financially, but culturally. It established the Black Tie & Boots identity, the challenge coin tradition, and the Texas-sized hospitality that would define every year that followed. Year two would move to Austin Ranch. Year three to the River Ranch Stockyards, where it would sell out before the doors opened. But it all started here, in a museum built around flight, for a scholarship built around a veteran who never stopped chasing it.
