Choose Aerospace and SkillPointe Debut New Aviation Maintenance Technician Scholarship

Choose Aerospace has partnered with the SkillPointe Foundation on a brand-new scholarship program designed to support aspiring aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs).

The Choose Aerospace SkillPointe Scholarship provides $50,000 for distribution to students who need help reducing financial barriers to pursuing FAA mechanic certification. Each student who is approved may receive a scholarship award of $2,500 applied directly to tuition costs.

Students can qualify for this scholarship if they are already enrolled or intending to enroll in a technical post-secondary program in aviation. Students attending institutions that are members of the Aviation Technician Education Council will also receive priority consideration. 

Interested parties can apply for this scholarship until the deadline of March 1, 2026. Choose Aerospace will announce the chosen recipients in early March 2026, and funds will be disbursed directly to training institutions or approved vendors.

Aside from the monetary scholarship, community partners have given support like:

• Textbooks
• Tools
• Training materials
• Certification exam fee vouchers

Through this partnership, applicants and scholarship recipients can also access networking opportunities with training providers and employers who are looking to hire professionals in aviation maintenance.

One aim of this scholarship is to bolster the pipeline of skilled workers entering the aircraft maintenance industry, potentially helping to mitigate the ongoing AMT shortage. By offering direct support to students and focusing on their immediate needs, the Choose Aerospace SkillPointe Scholarship hopes to:

• Bolster the AMT pipeline at its start
• Enable more students to complete technical training and enter AMT careers
• Meet the industry’s rising demand for aircraft maintenance

“This scholarship builds a direct workforce pipeline between training providers and the employers who urgently need aviation maintenance talent,” said Ryan Goertzen, president of Choose Aerospace and vice president of Workforce Development at AAR.

Goertzen continued, “Through our partnership with the SkillPointe Foundation, we’re expanding access to aviation maintenance technician pathways for students while supporting the workforce strategies of airlines, MROs and aviation employers across the country.”

“Aviation keeps America moving, and skilled technicians keep aircraft flying,” said Alvin Townley, founding CEO of SkillPointe Foundation, “We are proud to partner with our fellow non-profit, Choose Aerospace, to unlock student potential and build talent pipelines for this vital industry.”

“SkillPointe Scholarship partnerships like this truly matter because 75% of our recipients say they would have struggled—or been entirely unable—to complete training without financial support,” added Townley.

Organizations that want to contribute to this initiative can contact Choose Aerospace to learn how to take part in this or other scholarship programs.

This scholarship has been made possible by sponsors who provided the monetary awards and community partners who provided in-kind support, including:

• Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM)
• Aviation Workforce Solutions
• ASA
• U.S. Aviation Academy
• Aeronautical Repair Station Association
• Alaska Airlines
• Republic Airways
• Trades Workforce Foundation
• Snap-on
• Avotek
• Sonic Tools
• Aircraft Technical Book Company