Making Dreams Come True

The adventure of flight. There is something to be said about the feeling of soaring into the sky seeing the world as only a small speck. It makes hearts feel free and full of adventure, and our troubles seem so small. For those who have been intrigued by the opportunity to study aviation, it seemed for many that it was an unattainable goal. But that may no longer be the case.

North Idaho College Foundation recently introduced three new scholarships, funded by Barney and Carol Ballard of Sandpoint, that will assist North Idaho College students from both Bonner and Boundary counties pursue a career in the aviation industry, including aerospace and engineering.

“These scholarships are intended to educate and show the multitude of career options available locally in aerospace,” said Barney. “Good paying jobs abound in this Inland Empire area. It is our duty to provide an educated workforce to sustain the burgeoning homegrown industries in North Idaho. Getting our students through this process without debt is an overriding goal of the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program and NIC.”

The first such scholarship is the Captain Chris “Boomer” Wilson Scholarship. Named for the former North Idaho resident who served as the inspiration for Tom Skerritt’s “Viper” character in the movie “Top Gun,” Captain Wilson commanded the Navy Fighter Weapons School and was known for the cutting edge maneuvers he used during his 28 years of service in the Navy.

Captain Wilson, who passed away in 2010, was an integral part of the aviation world in Sandpoint. He founded the volunteer program at the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center just south of Sandpoint and last year was honored with a display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

“The scholarship named in honor of Chris Wilson is simply that this honest, humble and likable man was a person deserving to be honored as an exemplar of admirable qualities today's youth may wish to emulate,” said Barney of why he and Carol chose to name a scholarship in honor of Wilson’s memory.

Captain Wilson’s daughter, Kim Russo, lives in Sandpoint and is honored that her father’s memory will live on and benefit young aviation students in the community he loved.

"I know my dad would be honored to know that his legacy will continue to live on and benefit young people who want to pursue the career that was so important to him," said Russo.

The second scholarship is the Sí Tú Puedes Volar Scholarship, named in recognition of the “Aztec Eagles” of Mexico. This World War II squadron was attached to the 58th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during the liberation of the main Philippine island of Luzon in the summer of 1945 and was composed of more than 300 volunteers, 30 of which were experienced pilots and the rest ground crew. This scholarship criteria states that it is available to females enrolled in the aerospace program and who reside in either Bonner or Boundary county.

“This scholarship honors the many Hispanic contributions to aviation in our country as well as the incredibly rich and diverse culture that comes to us from the Latino heritage,” explained Barney of why he and Carol chose to name the scholarship as they did.

The third scholarship announced also gives priority to female students enrolled in the aerospace fields of study that are from Bonner or Boundary county. The Elizabeth “Bessie” Coleman / Tuskegee Airman Scholarship is named for an American civil aviator who was the first female pilot of African descent and the first person of African-American descent to hold an international pilot license.

Of this scholarship, Barney shares, “The Bessie Coleman/Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship is meant to honor the first black aviatrix in the United States. The Tuskegee Airmen are deserving of praise and meant to be honored for their valor and incredible flying expertise in combat. Together, these black citizens have added to our aviation lore and overcame so much that is beyond the knowledge of today's students.” He added that he wants North Idaho to be known as an inclusive population that appreciates diversity in our midst.

Barney notes that the Wilson scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship, and the other two are $500 each.

Barney stated that his personal goal is to have a prolific high school aerospace program that becomes incorporated in our community college thus poising ourselves for future economic development opportunities by having a trained and available workforce.

“As a city, Sandpoint should establish a ‘sister city’ relationship with the home base of the Japanese company that owns Quest (Aircraft headquartered in Sandpoint),” said Barney of what he would like to see happen in the near future. “We should then reach out for all language and culture training in Asian languages we can possibly support. I would love to send one of our students off to China or Japan to build and repair Kodiak aircraft. Ideally, that student would possess a mechanic's AMT license, an associate’s degree from NIC, and a working knowledge of a language that lets our student speak authoritatively and accurately in the construction of that Kodiak.”

How to apply for North Idaho College Foundation Scholarships:

NOTE: Additional scholarships are available and all students are eligible to apply.

1. Students - Sign on to MyNIC and activate your Cardinal Mail. Directions will be sent to you through the U.S. mail when you’re admitted.

2. Apply for free scholarship money. Go to www.nic.edu/mynic and log in to your MYNIC account. Click on “NIC Foundation Scholarship Application” under Bookmarks.

3. Enter basic information on the scholarship application and complete the essay. You will then be directed to a list of scholarships you may be eligible to receive.

4. Check your Cardinal Mail often for notification of scholarship awards.

5. For additional information: http://www.nic.edu/scholarships

How can I make a difference in the lives of Bonner/Boundary students?

The community has expressed an interest in growing scholarship support to fund students in Bonner and Boundary Counties. Individuals, businesses, and social organizations are encouraged to contribute to the scholarships.

Please partner with us by investing in scholarships as we strive to ensure all students have access to an excellent education right here in this region. The success of these students will in turn have a positive effect on our community and the overall economy.

What are the tax benefits of making a donation to the North Idaho College Foundation?

Donations to the NIC Foundation are eligible for a 50% state tax credit! If you itemize your taxes, your gift may be eligible for both a federal and state tax deduction plus the Idaho State tax credit. For example, a gift of $1,000 made by a married couple in the 25% tax bracket who itemize their tax return, could have a true donor cost of as little as $172.

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