Hyannis, MA, December 6, 2016 – Three aviation students from Bridgewater State, the University of North Dakota and Purdue University have been awarded scholarships by the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association. Adam Kee, Jamie Posk and Sawyer Murray were each granted a $1,500 award for their academic and community service work and for their desire to forge a career in aviation.
“These outstanding young people are well deserving of the scholarships,” said RACCA President Stan Bernstein. “The RACCA Aviation Scholarship was designed for exactly the type of student represented by Adam, Jamie and Sawyer who are pursuing a career in aviation and who have expressed interest in the air cargo industry. All excel in their academic work as well as athletic or community service. We are proud to be help them on their journey.”
The RACCA scholarship is designed to assist in the payment of tuition, flight training or to obtain new or additional licenses.
Sawyer Murray, the only woman among the recipients, is a member of the Class of 2018 at the University of North Dakota (UND) with a 3.644 grade point average (GPA). During her three years at UND she has focused her energies on academics and athletics as a platform diving champion. In addition, she has carved out significant time for her work with cancer research organizations including Love Your Melon, Curesearch and Pinkyswear, which provide services and therapy to families. Murray is also fluent in sign language to facilitate her work with the deaf community. She achieved her private pilots license as well as a Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operator’s certificate. She is working on her commercial rating and will pursue her multi-engine rating in the spring. During her senior year she will complete her Certified Flight Instructor (CFII) and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) ratings.
Jamie Posk is a junior at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts with a 3.637 GPA who is well on his way to achieving his dream of flying for a commercial airline. Posk was cited for both his academic performance and leadership capabilities. While pursuing his degree in Aviation Science – Flight Training, Posk achieved his private pilots license as well as his instrument rating after which he began to pursue aviation as a career. Having gained his commercial multi-engine rating, Posk became a member of the JetBlue University Gateway Program and is currently serving as a first officer with Cape Air in that program. He plans to become a flight instructor during his career path to becoming a JetBlue captain. He also hopes to join the ranks of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Designated Pilot Examiners. Posk also volunteers with Project Takeoff, an organization that promotes STEM education and aviation to children. He will graduate in December 2017.
Adam Kee is graduate student at Purdue University with a 4.0 GPA. During his career at Purdue, Kee has been active in its Aviation Technology program as well as a member of the student research team leading project initiatives in the university’s Hangar of the Future research laboratory. He was cited for continuously rising above his peers academically as well as for his personal integrity and professionalism. Kee is a member of Alpha Eta Rho, a professional aviation fraternity, Purdue’s Flight Team, Women in Aviation and Purdue Professional Pilots. He also serves as an aircraft mechanic in the US Air Force Reserve, having been an enlisted airman for nearly five years. Kee served an internship with RACCA member Ameriflight in Dallas, TX ultimately becoming a first officer. This experience enabled him to earn a first officer position on the university’s Embraer Phenom 100 flying as a professional pilot in its corporate aviation department. He will graduate in December 2017 and expects to ultimately fly with a major US airline.
About RACCA
The Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) is dedicated to representing and serving approximately 50-member Part 135 and Part 121 cargo carriers who have about 1,000 aircraft in their fleets. Their role in the aviation industry is meeting the cargo needs of small communities and connecting them to the national transportation aviation system, many via the global networks of FedEx, UPS and DHL. RACCA focuses on improving safety and representing its members in Washington.
