choose aerospace announces 2021 scholarship recipients

Choose Aerospace is proud to announce its slate of 2021 scholarship and award recipients including two students, hailing from Liberty University and the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA), who claimed the top cash award. 
 
Angelo Cosentino of Liberty University and Julio Lorenti of PIA were each granted $2,500 to pursue their aviation careers. Lorenti is in the third of four semesters toward completing his Aviation Maintenance studies while Cosentino, from Pittsburgh, PA, is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Technology: Flight and Maintenance.
 
“Funding the education of deserving aviation students and leaders is one of the most important missions for this organization,” said Choose Aerospace President Ryan Goertzen. “The industry has a daunting task to meet workforce demand projections, and it is our privilege to encourage students to choose aerospace careers through our scholarship program.”
 
“I’ve been drawn to mechanics since I was young since my father is a diesel mechanic,” Cosentino said. “After 15 years working in the accounting world, I decided to take my love for mechanics and passion for nuances and explore the world of aviation. My ambition is to maintain my relentless pursuit of perfection and strive to make aviation and my community a better place. I want to give my daughter an example to follow and opportunities to do better and achieve more.”
 
Cosentino joined the aviation industry in middle school when he became a member of Civil Air Patrol inspired by his first commercial flight. “I gained a desire to serve others with aviation through the Civil Air Patrol which ultimately led me to pursue both pilot and mechanic certificates. My career path, which includes aerial survey or public safety sectors of aviation, provide a unique opportunity to accomplish by goals of helping others.”
 
He expects his studies to help him develop as a mechanic and an aviator. He is a student ambassador for the school’s aeronautics program where he worked with a fellow aviator and Associate Dean Dr. Mitchell Morrison, to develop future leaders in all aspects of aviation and sharing aviation with those in our community. He assists the student-led High Flight Mentoring Program as a Lead Mentor, counseling mentors as they tutor and coach underclassmen and new students. Cosentino is also a Safety Officer for our National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) flight team and a student representative on the Safety Committee.
 
Lorenti is pursuing an Aviation Maintenance Technology degree and is driven to success by his small daughter who inspires him to be the best he can including becoming class president despite only joining PIA in January. He also formed a collaborative study group which he credits for his 3.85 GPA and his place on the directors list.
 
“Since being class president, I have been invited to sit in on additional meetings such as the accreditation meeting,” he wrote of his experiences and how they helped his success. “I always take advantage of these opportunities as they give me the chance to get to know people in the field of aviation and hopefully put me in a good place when searching for my career path in the future. I became an ambassador for PIA through their Instagram page, which is helping to promote the school through social media. Most recently, I got a part-time job with Ryder Jet at the Hagerstown Regional Airport helping refuel and park planes. Between work and school, I am fully committed to the field of aviation.”

This year, a host of partner organizations sponsored $37,000 worth of scholarships, textbooks, tool sets, training systems, and testing fee credits for educators and future aviators. Scholarship donors include the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), Snap-On, Nida Corporation, AVOTEK, Aircraft Technical Book Company (ATBC) and CertTEC.
 
The entire slate of award winners are as follows:
 
Choose Aerospace $2500 Scholarship
Julio Lorenti, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics – Hagerstown
Angelo Cosentino, Liberty University

ARSA $1000 Scholarship
Fawn Carrington, Tulsa Technology Center

ASA $1000 Scholarship
​Jared Vigar, Purdue University
Daniel Kicinski, Liberty University

Snap-On Tool Set
Temitayo Afolayan, Connecticut Aero Tech School
 
Avotek AMT Series Textbooks
Nicholas Alatis, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Eric Zamora, George T. Baker Aviation Technical College
Abigail Carreiro, Cape Cod Community College
Ethan Sprague, Northland Community and Technical College
Tanner Empey, Southern Utah University

ATBC EASA Part 66 Study Set
Amber VanEvera, Liberty University
Ahmed Assoul, Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Fremont
Gardenia Davis Lopez, Honolulu Community College
Makana Mai Kalani Smith, Honolulu Community College

ASA A&P Textbook & eBook Set
Kelly Quillman, Tulsa Technology Center

Avotek Avionics Textbook Set
Oluwaseun Ajayi, Broward College
Robert Delghiaccio, Teterboro School of Aeronautics
Reminton Prentice, Lansing Community College
Kyla Wilson, Eastern Florida State College
Caleb Scott, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

CertTEC AET Certification Exam Testing Scholarship
Lillia Farr, Letourneau University
Sebastian Parker, Aviation Institute of Maintenance – Freemont
Vinicius Ribeiro, Teterboro School of Aeronautics
 
ATBC A&P Textbook Set
David White Jr., Honolulu Community College
Kayla Klopman, Broward College
Brin Barnett, Southern Utah University

Nida Training System
Des Moines Public Schools

Avotek Dale Hurst Memorial Instructor Scholarship
David Ortiz, Central New Mexico Community College

Congratulations to all the award winners and thank you to our generous sponsors.

Look for the 2022 Choose Aerospace scholarship applications to open in December!