LOWELL – Gabriella Santos, an 11^th grade Air Force Junior ROTC cadet at Lowell High School has received a scholarship to attend an accredited aviation university participating in a private pilot license training program in the summer of 2025.

Cadet Santos is one of 194 Air Force Junior ROTC cadets around the world to receive the scholarship from Headquarters Air Force Junior ROTC, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL.  More than 1,200 cadets applied.

The scholarship, valued at approximately $27,000, covers transportation, room and board, academics and flight hours required to potentially earn a private pilot license. Those who participate in the program do not incur a military commitment to the Air Force or other branch of service, nor does completing the program guarantee acceptance into one of the military’s commissioning programs.

The Flight Academy Scholarship Program is an Air Force-level initiative in collaboration with the commercial aviation industry to address the national civilian and military pilot shortage. It allows aspiring young aviators to get their Private Pilot’s Certification, at no cost, during an eight-week summer course at partner universities.

Cadet Santos currently serves as Flight Commander for C Flight and Captain of the Lowell High School Flight Club.

“We are extremely proud of Cadet Santos,” said Chief Master Sergeant (Ret.) Donald Felch, Lowell’s Senior Aerospace Science Instructor. “She received formal notification of her selection in front of her flight of AS-1 (Freshman) cadets on December 3.  LHS Head of School Mike Fiato presided over the brief ceremony providing congratulatory words. This selection would not have been possible without the dedication and careful follow-up of our flight club and academy faculty advisor, Master Sergeant Paul Perez.”