Norman J. Crabtree Memorial Aviation Scholarship

Thank you for your interest in the Norman J. Crabtree Memorial Aviation Scholarship. The 2020 Application deadline is now past!  Best of luck to those who have applied! You will be hearing from us shortly!

March 31, 2020 Update:  Due to the postponement of the OAA Annual Conference, the OAA Board of Directors decided to separate the award of scholarships from the annual conference for 2020.  Those selected to receive a scholarship will be contacted with additional detail. Thank you for your understanding of this change.

History of Norman J. Crabtree

Norman J. Crabtree was a lifelong aviator and committed many years to the development and support of civil aviation, numerous aviation organizations, and air shows around the world. He was a graduate of Ohio University with both a bachelor’s and master's degree and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. 
 
Norman retired, after 29 years, as the Deputy Director for Aviation with the Ohio Department of Transportation.  He was a former instructor at Ohio University and The Ohio State University, and aviation advisor at Miami University and Columbus State. He was a Veteran who served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII, 8th Air Force, 2nd Air Division, 453 Bomb Group, England; Ohio and Michigan Air National Guard; and USAF. 
 
In addition, Norman was a longtime and highly respected consultant and advisor to the FAA and NTSB, a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, USAF Association, AOPA, and Boy Scouts of America.  

"During his long tenure as Ohio aviation deputy director, Norm was noted for his innovative and practical solutions and his advocacy for an airport in every county," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "We will all miss his passion for general aviation."

In recognition of his dedication and passion for aviation, the Ohio Aviation Association is proud to support the future of Ohio’s aviation community through the Norman J. Crabtree Memorial Aviation Scholarship. 

Details of Scholarship

Award Amounts

This year, up to five (5) scholarships in the amount of $600.00 each, may be awarded to eligible students enrolled in or preparing to enroll in an aviation-related program at one of Ohio’s technical colleges or universities. The areas of study include, but are not limited to Flight Technologies, Aviation Engineering, Aviation Management, and Aviation Maintenance. At least one (1) of the scholarships will be awarded to an Aviation Maintenance student that meets the requirements as listed below. Past scholarship recipients are encouraged to apply, provided that they still meet all eligibility requirements.  Any flight training or maintenance training must be associated with a degreed or certificated program (i.e., Part 141 Program or FAA-Approved Aviation Maintenance Technician School).

General Eligibility Requirements

  • Applicant must be accepted or enrolled in a two-year or four-year aviation-related program at an accredited Ohio technical college or university.
  • Applicant must be a student member of the Ohio Aviation Association (you can join during your application process).
  • Applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
  • Applicant must use scholarship funds within six months of receipt, if awarded.
  • Applicant must complete all components of the application process. 

Selection

Recipients are selected by the Scholarship Selection Committee on the basis of meeting eligibility requirements, academic records, recommendation letters and an essay on educational and career goals. In principle and in practice, OAA values and seeks diverse and inclusive participation from the aviation business community. OAA promotes involvement and expanded access to leadership opportunities regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, nationality, cultural identity, disability, appearances, geographic location, professional level, political views or affiliations.

To Apply

  1. Complete the online application form.

  2. Submit two (2) letters of recommendation, one (1) personal and one (1) professional, which can speak to your ability to achieve your academic and aviation-related goals. Letters of recommendation must include the following information about the person providing the recommendation: name, title, address, contact number, e-mail address, and signature. One of the letters must be from a school-related individual; the other must be from a work or community/extracurricular-related individual.  

  3. Submit proof of current acceptance or enrollment in an accredited Ohio technical college or university. Note: For high school seniors: if you have not received official acceptance into your institution as of the time of the application, please indicate such. If you are selected for a scholarship, proof of acceptance or enrollment must be received by OAA at [email protected] by May 15, 2020, or you forfeit your award.

  4. Submit an educational transcript. If the applicant has not completed a full year of university or college courses (at least half-time enrollment), the applicant should also submit a high school transcript. If the applicant has completed a full year of university or college courses (at least half-time enrollment), then the applicant need only submit a current university or college transcript.

  5. Submit a one-page essay on your career goals, highlighting how the scholarship funds will help to achieve them. Preference will be given to applicants who convey to the Scholarship Committee how achieving your career goals will benefit Ohio’s aviation community and/or industry.

Recipient Notification

All notifications will follow the schedule outlined in the "Important Dates" section below. Scholarship recipients will be announced to the public at the OAA Annual Conference held on May 28, 2020, and will also be featured on the website and other social media venues. By completing the scholarship application, the applicant agrees, if awarded a scholarship, to allow OAA use of their application information for promotional purposes.  Further, if awarded, the recipient (and one guest) agrees to join OAA for the award ceremony on May 28, 2020, at the Annual Conference Awards Banquet.  

2020 Important Dates

  • Application Availability Announced by January 6, 2020
  • Applications Due: April 3, 2020
  • Awardee Notification(s): by April 30, 2020
  • OAA Annual Conference Dinner: May 28, 2020

Prior to submitting your application, ensure all items to be submitted are in a pdf (.pdf) or word document (.doc) format.  If you have any questions about this process, don't hesitate to contact us at [email protected]!

Notes: OAA reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of this scholarship and to make changes at any time, including termination, to the scholarship program. Previously approved scholarships will not be affected by subsequent changes to the program.