Thirteen Deserving San Diego County Students Receive $51,000 in Scholarships from the San Diego Air & Space Museum

The Museum has awarded $810,000 in scholarships to 281 deserving students over the past 27 years.

The San Diego Air & Space Museum inspires young people to tackle the challenges of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics academic disciplines, and to make a difference in tomorrow’s world through an innovative, adventurous spirit. To further this goal, the Museum recently selected 13 graduating seniors from San Diego County high schools to receive a total of $51,000 in scholarships.

These scholarships are awarded annually on behalf of four Museum administered scholarship endowment funds, the Bill Gibbs, Convair Alumni Association, R.A. Rearwin and Jennings Kelly Scarborough funds. The Museum also awards an annual scholarship for an outstanding student pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. To date, 281 talented San Diego County high school seniors have been awarded a total of $810,000 through these scholarships.

“Every year we consider many outstanding applicants,” said Katrina Pescador, Chairman of the Museum’s Scholarship Committee. “I continue to be impressed with these future leaders, and their many accomplishments.” Jim Kidrick, Museum CEO and President commented, “These scholarship programs exemplify our intent to aid deserving students wanting to advance their education - our entire mission is all about inspiring our next greatest generations to excel in their lives.”

The Scholarships included:

San Diego Air & Space Museum Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Scholar: $4,500

David Pepper, St. Augustine High School, who will attend Dartmouth College.

Bill Gibbs Endowment Scholars:

Three Awards at $4,000: $12,000

Victoria Nagorski, San Pasqual High School, who will attend Texas A&M University.

Aanchal Mehndiratta, Westview High School, who will attend the University of California, Los Angeles.

Cole Parsons, Cathedral Catholic High School, who will attend Purdue University.

Convair Alumni Association Endowment Scholars:

Six Awards at $4,000: $24,000

Max Adler, Point Loma High School, who will attend the University of California, Santa Cruz.

David Hickman, Scripps Ranch High School, who will attend the University of California, San Diego.

Nicholas Johnston, San Dieguito Academy, who will attend California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo.

Sarah Martin, Escondido High School, who will attend the University of California, San Diego.

Sloan Quessenberry, University City High School, who will the University of Southern California.

Emily Sardina, University City High School, who will the University of California, Los Angeles.

R. A. Rearwin Endowment Scholars:

Two Awards at $4,000: $8,000

Aliasgar Badani, Mt. Carmel High School, who will attend the University of California, Riverside. (Not Pictured)

Miles Kiefer, Foothills Christian High School, who will attend San Diego State University.

Jennings Kelly Scarborough Scholar: $2,500

Jonathan Lansang, Del Norte High School, who will attend the University of California, Berkeley.

Each of the scholars submitted an extensive application, listing their academic achievements, their extracurricular and community service activities, several teacher recommendations, and an essay. They were then interviewed by a panel of judges to determine the final winners.

The 27th scholarship award ceremony was held Thursday, June 9, at the San Diego Air & Space Museum’s Rearwin Gallery.

San Diego Air & Space Museum Scholarship: Students are selected 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, three scholarships have been awarded totaling $11,000.

Bill Gibbs Endowment: Bill Gibbs, a San Diego businessman, the 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, $252,500 has been awarded to 108 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. Since that time, 130 scholars have enjoyed the support of a Convair Alumni Association Scholarship, totaling $441,600.

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 37 R.A. Rearwin scholars, who have received a total of $97,900.

Jennings Kelly Scarborough Endowment: In 2014, a new scholarship was awarded for a graduating San Diego County high school senior who professes and demonstrates a desire to pursue an aviation career as a pilot. The Jennings Kelly Scarborough Scholarship has been established by Mary Scarborough in honor of her late husband’s love of flight, as both a military and civilian pilot. Kelly Scarborough also served on the Museum’s Scholarship Committee. Three Scarborough scholars have received a total of $7,000.