District IX
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Scholarship awardees Cooper Eaton and Josh Bishop at Camp AMA 2021.
In recent columns, I’ve covered the evolution of the Denny Stong District IX Scholarship for Camp AMA. Here are a few words from this year’s recipients about their experience at the 2021 version of this event. From Josh Bishop of Longmont, Colorado:
“Attending camp AMA was easily the highlight of my summer. I got to meet amazing pilots and fly beside them. Hanging with other people my age with the same interests was a blast and helped me improve as a pilot and engineer.
“Over the span of the week, I got to fly some airplanes I could only dream of. I learned better engineering techniques and took part in awesome building challenges. I particularly loved getting to fly basically as much as we wanted.
“I can’t wait to go next year!”
And from Cooper Eaton of Wichita, Kansas:
“I have to say thanks for everything. Without this scholarship, my dad and I would have not been able to go to Camp AMA this year or be able to travel to Muncie, Indiana.
“This was a great opportunity to grow myself as a pilot and a person.
“Thank you so much!”
David Hatt, of the Sioux Falls Sodbusters, was able to have Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota name August 15, 2021, as Model Aviation Day, in conjunction with AMA’s National Model Aviation Day. Great work, Dave.
Sometimes things just happen at the 4th Annual Big Thaw, hosted by the Bismarck Aircraft Modelers at the club’s Hogue Island field last June. The four days and nights of flying along the Missouri River drew 30 pilots from four states. Lots of great flying, a little wind, and a great Saturday night steak fry were highlights.
