Giving young aviators their wings.
The Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program provides scholarships, mentorship, and flight training to high school students pursuing a future in aviation — made affordable through the support of our community of donors.
Born from a love of flight and a call to service.
The Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program was founded in 2014 by three lifelong aviators who wanted to open the door to flight training for young people who would otherwise never get the chance. Over a decade later, that mission still drives every flight, every lesson, and every checkride.
Tuck McAtee
Vietnam F-100 pilot, original F-16 test pilot, Oshkosh race pilot, first WASP Board President. 60+ years in the cockpit.
Charley Rogers
Lifelong aviator and community leader. Instrumental in WASP's founding and continued operations.
Shaun Stewart
Owner of Williamsburg Flight Center, where every WASP student receives their flight training.
Meet our Board of Directors
Retired generals, airline captains, and lifelong aviators who volunteer their time to keep WASP flying.
From ground school to first solo and beyond.
WASP scholars follow a structured pathway from classroom fundamentals toward an FAA Private Pilot Certificate — supported by a dedicated mentor along the way.
Selection
Local high school students apply and interview. Selected scholars are matched with a personal aviation mentor.
Ground School
Students work through FAA ground school covering aerodynamics, weather, navigation, regulations, and flight planning.
Flight Training
Hands-on training at Williamsburg Flight Center — from first takeoff to solo flight in the local pattern.
Checkride
Students sit the FAA written exam and take their checkride — the final step toward a Private Pilot Certificate.
Meet this year's scholars.
Twelve students — plus one alternate — are currently working toward their Private Pilot Certificate, paired with experienced aviator mentors from across the Williamsburg community.
Alumni Voices
It was an exciting challenge learning how to operate and fly an aircraft all by yourself, being pushed to your limits and it was a great experience.
It was this great opportunity to become familiar with flying and the career itself, and now I know I want to do it for the rest of my life — the best decision I've ever made.
There is truly nothing that compares with aviation. From the cockpit, the breathtaking view makes me realize how insignificant I am overall. The freedom of flying restores my soul.
A decade of pilots in the making.
Get involved.
Our events bring together the Williamsburg aviation community and raise the funds that send the next class of scholars into the cockpit.
An Evening Celebrating Future Aviators
Join us for an evening celebrating future aviators and the power of opportunity — empowering tomorrow's pilots through education, mentorship, and the enduring spirit of flight.
- Celebrate our scholarship recipients
- Honor our donors, mentors & supporters
- Inspire the next generation of aviators
- When
- Friday, October 2, 2026 · 6:00 – 9:00 PM
- Where
- In the vicinity of Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
- Venue details to follow.
10th Annual WASP Golf Tournament
Our 10th Annual Golf Tournament returned to Kingsmill Resort — home of the LPGA Pure Silk Championship — on June 20, 2026. A heartfelt thank you to every golfer, sponsor, and volunteer who helped send the next class of scholars into the cockpit. We look forward to seeing you next year!
Every dollar puts a student closer to the sky.
WASP is community-funded. Donations help cover flight training, ground school, and checkrides so our students can focus on earning their wings — not on how to pay for them.
One Flight Hour
Covers a single hour of dual-instruction flight time for a WASP scholar — the building block of every pilot's training.
Ground School
Funds a scholar's FAA ground school curriculum — from aerodynamics and weather to navigation and flight planning.
Scholarship
Helps fund a student's path through the program: ground school, flight training, exams, and their FAA Private Pilot checkride.
Williamsburg Aviation Scholarship Program is a 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tax ID: 46-4254510.
Ready to earn your wings?
WASP supports aspiring pilots with ground school, flight training, mentorship, and a path to their FAA checkride. No prior flight experience required — just curiosity and commitment.
Who should apply
- Virginia resident attending a Virginia high school (including home school) in the Tidewater area
- Will turn 16 years old no later than June 1 of the program year
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Able to commit to ground school and weekly flight lessons over the 12-month program
- Full support and involvement from a parent or guardian
What to prepare
- High school transcriptA scan of your current transcript. An unofficial review copy from your school is acceptable.
- Two recommendation lettersFrom non-family members such as teachers, counselors, or coaches — up to 500 words each.
- Candidate essay (~500 words)What this scholarship would mean to you and how it would influence the pursuit of your goals.
- Short written responsesYour motivation to fly, interest in an aviation career, any flying experience, and your plan for balancing the time commitment.
- Parent or guardian informationName, contact details, consent, and household income range (used only by the WASP Board of Directors for selection).
- Optional: logbook pagesIf you already have any flight experience, you can upload pages from your pilot logbook.
Program timeline
Start your application
The application includes short essays and document uploads, so have your transcript and recommendation letters ready before you start. You can save your progress and come back later using the same Google account.
Opens in a new tab via Google Forms
Proudly supported by.
Flight training is expensive — these organizations, along with generous individual donors across the Williamsburg community, make every WASP scholarship possible.
Aviation Education Grants
Aerospace Propulsion
General Aviation · JGG
Community Service
Nonprofit Fundraising Partner
Tuck McAtee
“A decorated combat pilot, test pilot, and the driving force behind WASP's founding, Tuck believed deeply in the future of aviation and the young people who would carry it forward. His legacy lives on in every student who earns their wings.”