The San Diego Air & Space Museum recently celebrated a significant achievement: 35 years of awarding scholarships to graduating high school seniors, highlighting its enduring dedication to education. The Museum serves as an inspiring force for young learners, motivating them to take on the challenges of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Continuing its mission to Educate and Inspire, the Museum granted a total of $33,000 in scholarships to ten graduating seniors. The ceremony took place on June 12 in the Museum's Pavilion of Flight. These scholarships are awarded annually through three Museum-administered scholarship endowment funds: the Bill Gibbs, Convair Alumni Association, and R.A. Rearwin funds. The Museum also bestows an annual scholarship to an exceptional student pursuing a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degree. To date, 355 talented San Diego County high school seniors have received a total of $1,080,500 through these scholarships.

Every year, the Museum evaluates numerous exceptional applicants and is consistently impressed by their many achievements. Each scholar submits an extensive application detailing their academic accomplishments, extracurricular and community service activities, multiple teacher recommendations, and an essay. Subsequently, they undergo an interview by a panel of judges to determine the final winners. These scholarship programs exemplify the Museum's commitment to supporting deserving students in advancing their education.

This year's winners are:

San Diego Air & Space Museum Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Scholar:  
Nicholas Usher

Bill Gibbs Scholars:
Serena Zhang
Arin Berger
Nikita Tatineni
Christian Luna 

Convair Alumni Association Scholars:
Joshua Hossmann Lees
Kelly Rickwa
Zane Andrew 

R.A. Rearwin Scholars:
Orianna Russell
Robert Vazquez Artigas

About the awards:
Bill Gibbs Endowment: The late Bill Gibbs, a San Diego businessman and founder of Montgomery Field, established the Bill Gibbs Scholarship Fund with a $10,000 gift to the San Diego Air & Space Museum in 1988. Students are selected for the Bill Gibbs Scholarship who are graduating from a San Diego County high school, and who express and demonstrate a desire to pursue a career in aviation or in an aerospace-related field. Since 1989, $337,100 has been awarded to 132 Bill Gibbs scholars. 

Convair Alumni Association Endowment: In 1997, the Convair Alumni Association provided Convair Recreation Association funds, as well as funds from the General Dynamics Corporation, to support scholarships for San Diego County high school graduating seniors who are direct descendants of former employees of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft Corporation, or the Convair, Astronautics or Space Systems Divisions of General Dynamics Corporation, and who worked in the San Diego area. The Fleet Foundation also provides annual funding in support of these scholarships. Since that time, 163 scholars have enjoyed the support of a Convair Alumni Association Scholarship, totaling $567,600. 

R.A. Rearwin Endowment: In 2000, the late Kenneth Rearwin and his family established a scholarship in honor of his late father, R.A. Rearwin, a noted aircraft and engine manufacturer. Scholarships are awarded to San Diego County high school graduating seniors who demonstrate a strong career interest in the aerospace industry and who love to "tinker" with electronics and engines. Since then, there have been 48 R.A. Rearwin scholars, who have received a total of $130,300. 

San Diego Air & Space Museum Scholarship: Students are selected for this award who are graduating from a San Diego County high school, who have expressed a desire to pursue a degree in the sciences, technology, engineering or mathematics, and who have demonstrated an interest in exploring the outer bounds of what we can be. Initiated in 2014, seven scholarships have been awarded, totaling $33,500.