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| May 2023 |

Prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Awards Scholarships to two Montana Aerospace Scholars

Two Montana students, Trinidy Boyce and Marisa Zimmerman, will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University this fall on $5,000 per year scholarships through a partnership with Montana Aerospace Scholars and the Montana Learning Center. The scholarships are for up to four years, totaling $40,000 between the two recipients.

The Montana Aerospace Scholars program is a free, online program, developed in collaboration with the Montana Learning Center, NASA, the University of Washington and the Museum of Flight. Coursework focuses on earth and space sciences and the history and future of NASA space exploration. It offers Montana high school students a unique opportunity to explore STEM educational and career pathways while interacting with like-minded peers from across the state. Successful graduates are eligible for further educational opportunities, including visits and scholarships to ERAU.

The aim of the Montana Aerospace Scholars Embry-Riddle Prescott Scholarship is to recognize high school students who have demonstrated significant achievements in education and leadership during their high school careers.

“This partnership opens a tremendous opportunity for our students, and we are delighted to partner with Embry-Riddle to offer a scholarship to such an outstanding university,” said Montana Learning Center Executive Director Ryan Hannahoe. “This really bolsters our mission of encouraging Montana youth to pursue STEM-related career paths.”

Those who successfully complete the online portion are invited to a six-day summer residency at the MLC, where students have the opportunity to learn about Montana’s growing aerospace industry through activities such as behind-the-scenes aerospace company tours. Regional STEM experts offer engaging presentations and networking opportunities for participants.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Montana Aerospace Scholars to help support the next generation of aerospace industry leaders,” said Sara Bofferding, Director of Admissions. “The growth in recent years within the aerospace field has been significant, and more opportunities are continuing to arise every day. The future is truly limitless for students interested in this field, and Embry-Riddle is committed to promoting STEM education and providing opportunities for these students to achieve their goals.”

 Scholarship candidates are selected based on successful completion of the Montana Aerospace Scholars program, their academic records, standardized test scores, GPA, class placement, co-curricular and leadership activities, community service and an essay.

Trinidy Boyce is a senior from Clancy, Mont. and has been an avid volleyball player, weightlifter, and musician, who routinely medals at the state’s Science Olympiad. Prior to her participation in MAS, Boyce was considering a degree in biology or wildlife biology, but MAS brought her interests into focus and clarified her dreams. “As soon as I started the program, it opened up endless possibilities. It completely changed my career goals,” she said. “I’m grateful for this opportunity that they’ve given me. It will definitely be going to good use.” She will study aerospace engineering and is planning to pursue a career as an engineer for SpaceX, NASA, or Boeing.

Marisa Zimmerman is a senior at Flathead High School in Kalispell, Mont, and recently achieved her Shodan, or first-degree black belt, in Shotokan Karate. She is planning to major in aerospace engineering at ERAU. “The MLC has been very helpful in shaping my career goals, because without it, I most likely wouldn’t be down the path that I am today. Before I heard about the program, I knew I wanted to be an engineer, but none that I had heard about had really sparked my interest. It wasn’t until I dug into aerospace through the MLC that I had fully decided the direction I wanted to go,” Zimmerman said. “This scholarship will help me achieve the level of education that I aspire to. Five thousand dollars is a lot of money, and I am very thankful that I was accepted. This makes me a lot more confident in my journey, and I truly believe I will get as far as I need to in life.”

The Montana Learning Center at Canyon Ferry Lake offers youth summer camps in a variety of STEM fields, teacher learning opportunities, and the region’s premier astronomy program, featuring the largest public-use telescope in Montana. Montana Learning Center and Montana State University partner to facilitate NASA’s Northwest Earth & Space Science Pathways program in Montana, an outreach effort to strengthen aerospace education and outreach. The Center boasts a picturesque lakeside setting, which is ideal for exploring Montana’s geology and night sky.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University offers the world’s premier collection of programs in aviation, aerospace, business, security and intelligence, engineering and beyond. Residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida, and Prescott, Arizona, provide education in a traditional setting, while the Worldwide/Online Campus provides flexible instruction to support student advancement in the U.S. and abroad. With over 148,000 alumni around the globe, Embry-Riddle is not only leading the future; it is changing it.