A report on current activities of the National Aeronautic Association, to which all SCAA members belong, was presented during SCAA’s final meeting of the year on Nov. 8 at the Flight Path Learning Center. Those in attendance also met three of the winners of the 2007 SCAA scholarships.

Jonathan Gaffney, who became president of NAA last July, told SCAA members that the Washington, D.C.-based national organization is very active with presentations of honors and trophies to pilots, designers and others who distinguish themselves in aviation and aerospace. For example, he said, earlier this fall the Mackay Trophy was awarded to USAF Capt. Scott L. Markle, who saved the lives of many soldiers in Afghanistan when he flew his A-10 on a very hazardous, low-altitude ground attack mission.

“We also are very busy with the certification of all types of flying records, such as those for speed, altitude and distance,” Gaffney said. “At present, NAA lists 6,400 different U.S. aviation records that we have certified.”

At the Nov. 8 event, Scholarship Committee Chairman John Durant introduced three of the eight students selected by the committee for this year’s awards. There are two categories of scholarships, he said. The Marsha Toy Scholarships of $2,500 each to high school students planning to study in universities for careers in aviation. This year’s winners are Emily Ash and Jamie Bagtang.

The other category involves $2,000 scholarships presented by SCAA to each of six university students preparing for careers in aviation. This year’s winners in that category were Cynthia Araiza, Allan Eggleton, Prashantha Garnage, Travis Kingsley, Renee Manalo and Andrew Shockey.

Each year the SCAA Scholarship Committee reviews applications sent in by students from schools throughout Southern California and determines winners according to the applicants’ academic and other accomplishments. Application forms for 2008 awards will be posted on this website early in the year.

Scholarship chairman John Durant, third from left, with winners Travis Kingsley, Renee Manalo and Andrew Shockey.