Scholarship Helps Student Rise to the Skies

(Estherville, Iowa) Freshman Andrew Tran wins a scholarship that will help him rise to the skies as he studies to become a pilot in the Iowa Lakes Community College Aviation and Airport Management program. Tran has won a Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship award of $6,600 for education-related expenses in pursuit of an associate’s degree in Aviation.

Tran, an Algona High School graduate, demonstrated strong leadership abilities through Model U.N., Academic Decathlon, quiz bowl, speech, theater, band, jazz band, and track in high school.

As a freshman at Iowa Lakes, Tran is an outstanding student academically with a 4.0 G.P.A., participates in jazz band, and plans to be the best pilot he can be. Tran first became interested in aviation when he watched the series Dogfights on the history channel.

“I was absorbed in the flights on Dogfights. The World War II pilots were so cool. My grandma got me a flight simulator when I was 5 or 6 years. I would play the simulator for hours upon hours,” explains Tran. “Money is always a hard commodity to come by, especially in college. I was fortunate to win this award, and for that, I am eternally grateful.”

The Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship program is a groundbreaking scholarship for high school seniors and college students pursuing vocational and trade degrees that will award up to $6,600 to as many as 150 recipients this year.

This scholarship program is the first of its kind within the domestic aerospace and defense industry to fund degrees at accredited vocational-technical schools to prepare students for careers in technology or advanced manufacturing that do not require a bachelor’s or advanced degree.

“Congratulations to Andrew on a well-deserved win. Andrew is an outstanding student in the aviation program and is making great progress,” said Tim Busch, Iowa Lakes Aviation and Airport Management Program Coordinator and Chief Flight Instructor. “The Iowa Lakes Aviation program continues to upgrade and grow. We are creating a world-class aviation program right here at Iowa Lakes!”

Andrew Tran wins $6,600 Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship to continue Aviation studies at Iowa Lakes Community College