Aerium Awards $30,000 in Scholarships to Future Aviation and Aerospace Professionals

Media Contact: Matt Crocco, Communications Director, Aerium
​Phone: 412.592.7061
​Email: Matt@aerium.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​August 19, 2026

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — In August, Aerium awarded $30,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace, distributed as eight $3,750 awards recognizing academic achievement across aviation, aerospace, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.

The scholarship recipients represent a range of colleges, universities, and flight schools: Eli Aiken of Indiana, Pa., attending Saint Francis University; Rowan Duffy of Beaver Falls, Pa., attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Ava Funkhouser of Beaver Falls, Pa., attending the Community College of Beaver County; Logan Glessner of Berlin, Pa., attending Saint Francis University; Samuel Jacobs of Kittanning, Pa., attending Nulton Aviation Services; Jackson Pawling of Oley, Pa., attending Marywood University; Railis Alexander Reyes-Rodriguez of Philadelphia attending Tailwinds Academy of Aviation; and Ava Sitko of Lancaster, Pa., attending Eastern Mennonite University.

Rowan Teagan Duffy Aviation Management Southern Illinois University CarbondaleAva Diane Funkhouser Professional Pilot Program Community College of Beaver CountyLogan Daniel Glessner Aviation Studies Saint Francis UniversityEli James Aiken Aviation Maintenance Technician Certificate Saint Francis University

Samuel Kenneth Jacobs Instrument Pilot Training Nulton Aviation ServicesJackson H. Pawling Postsecondary Aviation Education Marywood University

Railis Alexander Reyes-Rodriguez Professional Pilot Flight Training Tailwinds Academy of AviationAva Sitko Leadership & Management with Aviation Concentration Eastern Mennonite University

The scholarships were funded through Aerium's job training fund, which supports workforce development and helps create pathways for students entering aviation and aerospace careers.

Workforce development remains a critical priority for the aviation industry, which continues to experience shortages across a wide range of careers, including pilots, maintenance technicians, engineers, and other skilled positions. According to Boeing's Pilot and Technician Outlook, the aviation industry will need more than 123,000 new maintenance technicians in North America by 2044.

"Investing in the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals is at the heart of what we do," said Glenn Ponas, Aerium's Executive Director. "These students bring the talent, training, and tenacity that make Pennsylvania a place where aviation and aerospace businesses want to start, grow, and stay. We're proud to help them get there."

The scholarships continue a year of investment in the region's aviation and aerospace pipeline. In May, Aerium awarded $20,000 in prizes to student entrepreneurs at the 2026 Pitch Summit, held during the 4th Annual Aerium Innovation Summit at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. There, Soteria Flight Technologies and the Hosanna House Aviation Program were named the collegiate and high school grand champions for their work developing advanced aviation and drone technologies.

Aerium extends its gratitude to the students and families, and congratulates each recipient on this achievement. Together with its partners, Aerium is helping build the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals.

About Aerium

Aerium drives innovation in aviation and aerospace by supporting emerging businesses and developing the skilled workforce needed for today and the future. Through strategic partnerships, Aerium positions Pennsylvania as a national leader in aviation and aerospace by: accelerating the commercialization of next-generation technologies, including Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), and crewed aircraft, and training the professionals who will build, operate, and sustain them.