Students Awarded Aviation Scholarships, Key NCWV Airport Individuals Honored at Pierpont Luncheon
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 18, 2024
Students, faculty, staff, and industry partners gathered for Pierpont Community and Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology 
Scholarship Lunch on Wednesday, May 1. During the event, 22 students were awarded over $18,000 in scholarships to support fees associated with required certification exams through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Scholarship Lunch on Wednesday, May 1. During the event, 22 students were awarded over $18,000 in scholarships to support fees associated with required certification exams through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Click HERE to see the complete list of students, which include plenty of local names three from Bridgeport. Bridgeport’s Luke Stewart, River Weese, and Timothy Hudson all received scholarships. Stewart’s scholarship was for $1,000, while Weese and Hudson both received $500 scholarships.
“We are very grateful for everything our industry partners do to support the program,” said Dr. Brad Gilbert, Director of Aviation Technology at Pierpont. “Our students spend 22 months in the program while also working part- and full-time 
jobs, raising families, and managing other personal responsibilities, and now they have to come up with $1,000 to cover their certification exams. That can be tough. These scholarships provide a tremendous amount of support to our students.”
jobs, raising families, and managing other personal responsibilities, and now they have to come up with $1,000 to cover their certification exams. That can be tough. These scholarships provide a tremendous amount of support to our students.”
Each year, several students are also recognized for their academic excellence in the program with the Outstanding Student in Aviation Maintenance Technology award. This year’s recipients are Joshua Bosely, Joseph Riggs, and Luke Stewart.
Students nearing the end of their time in Pierpont’s aviation maintenance technology program will have collected over 2,000 hours of classroom and shop time, in addition to time spent studying for their FAA exams. Gilbert spoke to their hard work and dedication to their studies, as well as the positive environment they foster within the program, during the event. “We understand the challenges that you are going through, and we 
support you. But it is the daily interactions that we have with you that truly bring joy and enthusiasm to what we do.”
support you. But it is the daily interactions that we have with you that truly bring joy and enthusiasm to what we do.”
Two Industry Appreciation Awards were presented to Ed Waske with Engine and Airframe Solutions Worldwide and Tracy Miller with the Mid Atlantic Aerospace Complex in recognition of their unwavering support and advocacy of the program, students, and the aviation industry throughout the years.
To view more photos from the event, visit go.pierpont.edu/AviationScholarshipSP24.
To learn more about Pierpont’s aviation maintenance technology program, visit go.pierpont.edu/AviationMaintenance or call (304) 367-4800.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Dr. Brad Gilbert, Director of Aviation Technology at Pierpont, awards a scholarship from Pratt and Whitney Engine Services, Inc. to Fairmont's Chelsie Wilson. Pierpont Photo by Kristen Cosner. Second and third photos show Tracy Miller and Ed Waske, respectively, during recent Airport Authority meetings.
