Scholarships

Aviation Scholarships for Veterans and Students

What is the CloudDancer Scholarship?

The Ashton Johnson Memorial Scholarship offers pilot training scholarships to U.S. military veterans pursuing careers in aviation. We seek applicants who demonstrate honorable service, strong character, and a clear commitment to earning their Private Pilot certification.

The application window for the CloudDancer Scholarship is currently closed. Applications open May 1, 2026 and close 90 days later. Selections will be announced no later than October 1, 2026. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to check back for updates. You can also get involved or make a donation to support our pilot training scholarships.

Total 2026 Scholarship Commitment: $112,500

Aviation Scholarship Award Structures

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Pilot Scholarship

$17,500 each

Upon Selection

$5,000

First Solo

$5,000

Solo Cross-Country

$5,000

Check Ride Complete

$2,500

5 awards for 2026

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AMT Scholarship

$5,000 each

New for 2026—supporting veterans pursuing Aviation Maintenance Technician certification and careers in technical aviation fields. Through our partnership with the Thrust Institute of Maintenance, AMT recipients who enroll in qualifying programs at Thrust receive an additional $5,000 scholarship, bringing their total award to $10,000.

5 awards for 2026

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Pilot Certification

Must not currently hold an FAA Airman Certificate for pilot privileges at the Private Pilot level or higher.

Military Service

Must be a current or former member of the U.S. Military with an honorable discharge if not active or retired.

Medical Certification

Must hold a valid FAA Airman Medical Certificate for 1st or 2nd Class privileges at the time of application and selection. Please review CFR 61.23 if you have questions about medical requirements.

Written Exam

Must have passed the Private Pilot written exam within the preceding 12 calendar months.

Application Materials

Complete the full scholarship application, including all prerequisite questions and references. Submit a one-page essay that details:

How you plan to utilize the scholarship.
Your background (both military and personal).
Your reason for applying.
Why you are an ideal candidate.

Important: Please ask any questions before submitting your application. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications will be removed from consideration.

Selection Process

After the initial review, a select group of applicants will be invited to continue in the evaluation process, which includes:

An interview with a member (or members) of the selection committee.
Possible follow-up interviews or requests for additional information.

Selected finalists will be required to:

Sign a notarized statement of acceptance of the scholarship Terms and Conditions.
Agree to scholarship completion goals, expectations, and administrative requirements.

Final recipients will be announced after completion of the selection process.

2027 Applications Opening Soon