Avfuel Supports Education with AVTRIP Scholarship

Ted Glenn, recipient of the 2015 AVTRIP Scholarship.

Avfuel Corporation announces Ted Glenn of Tucson, Arizona, as recipient of the 2015 AVTRIP Scholarship worth $2,000 toward aviation education. Now in its 17th year, the AVTRIP Scholarship is awarded annually as a means to inspire current and aspiring aviators to pursue their passion for the industry.

“We had many qualified applicants this year,” said Marci Ammerman, vice president of marketing at Avfuel. “It was inspiring to read about their accomplishments and aspirations. We were highly impressed by Ted Glenn’s dedication to aviation, both present and future; his passion was evident.”

For Glenn, this scholarship means, “being able to take the next step in my aviation journey a little sooner and a little quicker than I thought possible,” having waited until after his daughter graduated from college and begins graduate school. That next step includes obtaining additional instructor ratings—including instrument, multiengine and glider certifications—and obtaining his ATP certificate.

“Instructing brings a certain sense of accomplishment; I enjoy being able to help others achieve their goals and discover what they’re capable of,” said Glenn, a software developer, and track and field coach. “I spent years as a pole vault coach and find it rewarding to see students exceed the heights they thought were impossible at the beginning of the season. The satisfaction of instructing is hard to put into words. I had an opportunity to help another kind of student a few months ago when I sat down to mentor him and help him pass an aviation exam.” Combining Glenn’s passion for aviation with his coaching instincts made pursuing a flight instruction certificate a perfect fit.

In addition to helping future generations fly, Glenn also aspires to impact the outlook of aviation with human factors research focused on how personality types are related to accidents.

“I have an interest in studying which personality types are more prone to accidents, how to teach flight instructors to identify those personality types, and how flight instructors can train students with certain personality types to avoid accidents,” said Glenn. This research blends his interests in psychology and computer technology, taking an integrated approach in an effort to make flying safer. “Reduced accident rates ultimately lead to reduced insurance rates, which may translate to more people getting into aviation,” said Glenn of the research’s potential impact.

Because of the high caliber of applicants this year, Avfuel awarded an additional $250 in scholarship funds to Gregory Haller of Encino, California, in pursuit of his commercial pilots license and aspirations to serve on important public sector missions, such as search and rescue, wildfire mapping, storm tracking, disaster relief and medical evacuations.

Applications for the 2016 AVTRIP Scholarship—due Oct. 1, 2016—are now available on Avfuel’s website. Applicants must be current AVTRIP Members (new member enrollments apply), have accrued 250 AVTRIP Points in the previous 24 months, demonstrate an interest in continuing their aviation education, and complete all information in the application packet (Avfuel employees and/or their relatives are not eligible).