Safety Harbor’s Matthew Dalton Awarded Richard Reitz Memorial Fund Scholarship
(l-r) Matthew Dalton and Bonnie Reitz Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 282 based at Clearwater Airpark in Clearwater, Florida awarded the first annual Richard Reitz Memorial Fund Scholarship to 17-year-old Matthew Dalton of Safety Harbor. The award was presented to Matthew by Mrs. Bonnie Reitz, Richard's widow at the Chapter's March meeting. She was pleased to meet young Matthew and delighted to award this first scholarship to him. Despite the unseasonably cold weather that evening, Bonnie glowed with warmth reminiscing about Richard's flying career as a brilliant Naval Aviator, Air Transport Pilot and was delighted that the passion was now being passed on to the next generation. Matthew Dalton, the scholar recipient, is President of the Aviation Explorers Post. Additionally, he has assisted in organizing visits to the US Coast Guard Station, McDill Air Force Base, Tampa International Airport, St Petersburg/Clearwater Airport for his fellow Aviation Explorers. Matthew's ambition is to serve as a Naval Aviator and later to design aircraft by using his skills as an aeronautical engineer. He will be attending the Advanced Aviation Academy in late July at Experimental Aircraft Aviation's grounds in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Matthew's time at the Academy will include actual flight time instruction in an aircraft. He will learn flight training ground school and how to build, repair and maintain airplanes and helicopters. Additionally, he will visit the extensive museum facilities and workshops at Oshkosh. The award is offered to students, ages 12 to 17, who demonstrate a love for aviation, a "can do" spirit, leadership qualities and have volunteered their service to EAA Chapter 282 projects and events, such as the Young Eagles Flight Rallies. EAA Chapter 282 meets every first Monday for social and business related matters at its own hangar at Clearwater Airpark. For more information about the chapter and related activities go to the website: www.eaa282.org or call please call Ed Dolezal at 727-647-2661, Young Eagles Coordinator for EAA Chapter 282, Clearwater, Florida or EAA 282's President, Bob Gibson at 727-644-8361.
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