(L-R) James Menees, John Passehl, Kaleb Cheek, Patrick Fraze, Rojean Heimstreet, Ryan Pitt, Mike, Dalton Thompson, Arie Molina and Danelle Dobczyk

(Email from Rojean Heimstreet):
Dear Mike, Family, and members of AviationInterviews.com,

I can not express my gratitude enough for your generosity. Because of you, many students will be able to continue their flight training with less of a financial burden. This scholarship will help pay for the commercial flight course that I otherwise would not have been able to fund. The success that your family has had is an inspiration to me and those of us at SIU. I hope to one day be able to help others as much as your family has, but until then I will do everything in my power to pass on the lifestyle of "paying it forward".

I would also like to thank you for the unique experience of interviewing for this scholarship. It gives us students a glimpse of what to expect in interviews for our future careers. The unbelievable generosity that your family has bestowed upon this program for years is incomprehensible. It is an honor to be a recipient of this scholarship.

Sincerely,
Rojean Heimstreet

(Email from Arie Molina):
Dear Mike,

It is very hard for me to express in writing how grateful I am to have been selected as a recipient of the Aviationinterviews.com scholarship. Thanks to your support I will be able to continue doing what I love doing the most. You have aided me at a time where I needed it the most. This scholarship will help me get through the hardest part of my flight training and it has greatly lessened a burden that I had been carrying for a while.

You and your family have set a great example of what "paying it forward" is really about throughout the years. I hope to be able help others as you have helped me in the future.

Sincerely,
Arie Molina

(Email from Ryan Pitt):
Dear Mike and Brian,

Thank you for choosing me as one of the recipients of the 2015 aviationinterviews.com Scholarship! Your generosity will allow me to finish school next semester with less debt! Since my freshman year I have seen one of you up there on stage giving away scholarships year after year. Your generosity has been noted, not only by the students, but by alumni and faculty as well. Paying it forward is exactly what you both have done. I wish to do the same in the future. Once again, thank you!

Sincerely,
Ryan Pitt

(Email from Kaleb Cheek):
Dear Mike,

I cannot fully express my gratitude for this prestigious scholarship. Thank you for your continued support of my flight training. Because of your generosity, I will be able to obtain my commercial certificate. Your family has inspired me to carry on a "pay it forward" lifestyle and I hope I am able to give back to future aviators progressing through SIU's Aviation Program.

I also appreciate the unique interview process for the scholarship, I believe it will prove intrinsic to preparing me for future interviews throughout my career. Your contributions have led to the success of many students at Southern Illinois University, I hope to exemplify this success for the remainder of my flight training.

Sincerely,
Kaleb Cheek

(Email from John Passehl):
Mike,

I would like to personally thank you for the Aviation Interviews Scholarship that I received at the AMS banquet on October 30th. I have worked hard in my first two and a half years in college and I am happy to be able to see my hard work pay off. The "pay it forward" message really resonated with me, and I am glad to give back to my parents, who have helped me achieve my goals. I will definitely use this scholarship to further my aviation career and I am excited to someday be the one that "pays it forward." I will continue to work hard and utilize Aviation Interviews.com as I pursue my dream job as a professional pilot. Thanks again.

Sincerely,
John Passehl

(Email from James Menees):
Dear Mike,

I truly feel honored for being a recipient of the AviationInterviews.com scholarship. I can't express my gratitude enough for your generosity. This scholarship will help reduce the financial burden on my family and myself as I progress in my flight training at SIU. By receiving this scholarship, it is not only contributing towards my commercial pilot certificate, but is an example to be set that hard work, dedication, and a strong passion to achieve your goals will pay off in the end. My family and I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for helping me continue on my journey in aviation.

Your willingness to "pay it forward" is truly admirable, and not only an inspiration to myself, but many others who work hard to achieve their dreams. It was a pleasure to meet someone like yourself who has contributed so much to help so many make their dreams become a reality. I hope one day I can inspire and give back to SIU and the aviation community that has already given me so much! Thank you for your continuing support of the students of this program, as it has had an impact on the lives of so many pursing their aviation dreams!

Sincerely,
James Menees

(Email from Danielle Dobczyk):
Dear Mike

As a 2015 AviationInterviews.com Scholarship recipient, I am writing to express my deep appreciation for establishing and choosing me for this generous award.

It is clear that the AviationInterviews.com scholarship is much different from the rest. Because of your contributions, not just one or two, but several students each year are able to lift a portion of the financial burden that comes with pursuing a degree in aviation management and flight. In addition, this award has personally given me further hope that I can conquer my goals and push forward even more in the future. Because of you, I am closer to attaining my lifelong dream of becoming a professional pilot. I cannot put into words how truly lucky I feel to a part of a school with such honorable alumni such as yourself. I can only hope that one day I will be successful enough so that I, too, can pay it forward.

Thank you again; not only for your contribution to my future, but also for your continuing support for the students in the aviation program at Southern Illinois University.

With sincere gratitude,
Danielle Dobczyk

(Email from Dalton Thompson):
Dear Mike,

It is a true honor to be rewarded such an incredible scholarship, and I really can't thank you enough. For many people, money is not just a currency, it is a way to further yourself in the world. Your generosity will allow me to work towards completing my Instrument Rating with a little less stress on how it will be paid for. The biggest thing that has gotten in my way in life is to have my finances catch up to my dreams and determination. By you "paying it forward" and allowing me to win this scholarship, I will now have an even better chance of shortening the gap. People like you are an inspiration to others everywhere on giving back. One day, I hope to be in your shoes and giving money I worked hard for to students who need it so they can reach for the sky.

All the best,
Dalton Thompson