Young Eagles
volunteers recognized
By Barbara A. Schmitz
Some are pilots, others
aren’t. Some live in the Midwest. Others live on the East or West
Coast.
Yet one similarity binds
them together. They are all volunteers in EAA’s Young Eagles program,
and they have gone that extra mile to introduce aviation to today’s
youth. For their efforts, they will be recognized this evening in a
Theater in the Woods presentation that begins at about 7:30 p.m. Young
Eagles Chairman Harrison Ford will present the awards.
Field Representative
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Ted Kirkpatrick. Photo
by Phil Weston |
When Ted Kirkpatrick, of
Gwinn, Michigan, got involved with the Young Eagles program, he thought
he’d fly a couple kids and that would be that.
Was he wrong.
"The program really
hooks you," he explained. "After you see the smiles on the
children’s faces, you realized you will do a lot more."
And he has. Kirkpatrick
is a longtime field representative and also president and chapter
coordinator of EAA Chapter 850. Young Eagles Executive Director Steve
Buss said Kirkpatrick was selected not only for his many years of
service, but also for creating a chapter Air Academy to supplement the
flight experience.
Kirkpatrick said they
started the Air Academy about 18 months ago, after realizing the chapter
didn’t do a good job tracking its Young Eagles to see how many were
actually pursuing aviation as a hobby or possible career. "As we
discussed the issues, we realized we were only showing them one aspect
of aviation—actual flight," he said. Their program didn’t go
into things such as aircraft maintenance, avionics, air traffic control,
and other aspects.
So they created a one-day
Air Academy, calling on the expertise of their members. "Our
members have a wealth of information…and they came out of the woodwork
to help," he said. "We work to put together an event where
kids can see every little facet of aviation."
Chapter Coordinator
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Franis Uliano
(center). |
It’s the kids who
recognize him, even years after their flight, that keep Francis Uliano,
of Middletown, Connecticut, involved in Young Eagles.
Buss said Uliano, another
longtime volunteer who has flown about 450 kids, was nominated by
Chapter 27 for his efforts to support and improve their Young Eagles
program. "In addition, he works closely with the local FBO and
Aviation Commission to use Young Eagles as a positive community
relations effort."
In 2004, the chapter
mailed out more than 1,000 invitations to Young Eagles to come back for
a picnic, Uliano said. More than 100 showed up to reminisce about their
flight and talk to the pilot who flew them.
To get more youth
interested in the program, Uliano and friends created their own Young
Eagles video that explains the program and shows what a Young Eagles
flight would be like. The video is run on the local television channel
to advertise flight rallies, as well as used when speaking before
church, school, and scouting groups.
"I love the program
and I love what I’m doing, so I’ll keep doing it," he said.
"The Young Eagles program is important because it gets kids onto
the fields."
Ground Support Volunteers
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Janice and Larry
Dorgan |
Larry and Janice Dorgan,
of Davenport, Iowa, see their job as being ambassadors for the Young
Eagles program and aviation. They help the ones who suddenly decide they’re
afraid to go up in a sport airplane, as well as those who can’t wait
to get into the skies during flight rallies.
Nominated by EAA Chapter
75 for the award, the Dorgans have been a ground support team for the
chapter since 1992, organizing the ground activities and paperwork.
Janice basically handles
the registration process, making sure parents and guardians fill out the
correct forms, while Larry does much of the rest of the organizational
work on the ground.
"I’ve been a
member of the chapter since the 1960s," Larry said, adding that he
isn’t a pilot yet but is building a light-sport airplane. He got
involved in the Young Eagles program, however, because he likes to see
the children’s smiles.
"It’s seeing them
happy while introducing them to aviation that keeps me involved,"
he said. "We’re really surprised and honored by the award,"
Larry said, noting their success is a team effort.
Humanitarian Award
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Ulster Project
participants Gillian Brown, Jake Edwards, Casey McDonald, with pilot
Rob McLear of Chapter 670. |
Some youth are flying
across the world for a chance to get a ride in a small airplane. And
members of EAA Chapter 670 are making sure the teenagers from Northern
Ireland come away excited about that opportunity.
The Fort Worth, Texas,
chapter works with the Ulster Project and in five years has given about
160 teens from Northern Ireland a Young Eagles flight.
The Ulster Project is
dedicated to promoting peace between Roman Catholics and Protestants in
Northern Ireland. Under the sponsorship of the various U.S. city Ulster
Projects, teens from their paired Northern Irish communities come to the
United States to live in private homes for a month.
Dan Urbanski, Chapter 670
coordinator, said the chapter got involved after getting a call from the
Arlington Ulster Project in 2001. They were looking for something for
the teens to do while in the area.
This year, nine pilots
from chapters 670 and 34 flew 32 teenagers from Northern Ireland, as
well as counselors and host parents. Everyone also went through a ground
school, learning about how airplanes work, he said.
"The kids really
enjoy it; they said it made the whole trip worthwhile," Urbanski
said.
Horizons Award
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Larry and Maxine Durst |
There’s a saying that
if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. Someone must
have known that when they asked Larry and Maxine Durst, of Roseburg,
Oregon, to help out with the EAA Chapter 495 Young Eagles program.
Between being the state
scholarship chairman for the Elks and helping promote literacy through
the Altrusa Club, and many things in between, the Dursts have found time—a
lot of it, in fact—for Young Eagles.
Chapter 495 nominated the
Dursts for their longtime dedication to the Young Eagles program.
"They spend countless hours setting up flights, recruiting
children, and flying kids throughout the year," said Steve Buss,
EAA Young Eagles director. "They also organize airplane tours over
Crater Lake National Park for German exchange students each year."
Yet the reason they do it
is simple. "You don’t know the satisfaction of Young Eagles until
you experience it," said Larry.
He certainly should know
that feeling of satisfaction then. Larry gives up many weekends to take
youth in his 1956 Cessna 182; he has flown 1,751 Young Eagles to date.
Phillips Leadership Award
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Joe Godston (left) |
Joel Godston has a
passion to share his knowledge of aviation with youth. And the Young
Eagles program allows him to share quite a bit.
The North Haverhill, New
Hampshire, resident dons many hats when it comes to the Young Eagles
program and aviation. He’s been an active field representative since
1995 and a coordinator for Chapter 740. He mentors young people through
the local school district and still finds time to be an active member of
the Ask the Experts panel for the Young Eagles website.
He’s also involved in
the annual Dean Airport Awareness Day, an event to showcase to the
community the value of the local airport.
But Godston, who retired from Pratt &
Whitney in 1992, said the most rewarding thing he does for the Young
Eagles program is meeting a youngster who is apprehensive about flying
and easing his or her fears. He also enjoys hearing the success stories.
