AFA Announces 2026 Scholarship Recipients, Supporting Airmen, Guardians and Their Families

The Air & Space Forces Association proudly announces its 2026 class of scholarship recipients, awarding more than $117,000 to directly help Airmen, Guardians, and their Families to pursue higher education. The 2026 awards, made possible through the generosity of individual donors and partner organizations, support a wide range of personal development paths from undergraduate and graduate degrees to pilot training and professional certifications.

AFA’s Dr. Sydell Perlmutter Gold Memorial Scholarship provides a renewable $5,000 annual scholarship (for a total possible award of $20,000) to the daughter of an Active, Guard, or Reserve Airman pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field. This year’s winner is Olivia Delacruz, daughter of a retired Air Force master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Boise State University. 

The Destin Flight Works Pilot Training Scholarship, funded by Vertol Systems Company, Inc., provides one AFA member per year up to $10,000 toward pilot training courses, instructor fees, and aircraft rental, leading to a private pilot’s license at the Destin Flight Works school in Destin, Fla. This year’s winner is Jared Kuhn, an Air Force Reserve master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of West Florida.  

The Col. Aaron Burgstein Memorial Scholarship provides $1,000 annually to minor dependents of Active, Guard, Reserve, veteran, or retired members of any service branch pursuing a degree at an accredited college or university. This year’s winner is Madelyn Robinson, daughter of a retired Marine Corps major, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in dance therapy at the University of Florida. 

The Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship awards $3,000 to multiple Active, Guard, or Reserve personnel in the Air Force or Space Force pursuing a master’s degree in a non-technical field. This year, AFA awarded a total of $12,000 through this program to the following winners: 

• Kayton Clinkscales, an Active-duty staff sergeant with the Air Force Special Operations Command, who is pursuing an MBA at the University of Arizona Global Campus. 

• Shannon Goss, an Active-duty second lieutenant at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in human resources and organizational development at the University of Louisville. 

• Kelsey McWhirt, an Active-duty first lieutenant with a Direct Reporting Unit, who is pursuing a master’s degree in human resource management at the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

• Stephen Yelbert, an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing an MBA at Troy University. 

AFA’s Lt. Col. Romeo and Josephine Bass Ferretti Scholarship provides $5,000 to minor dependents of Air Force and Space Force Active-duty, Reserve, or Air National Guard enlisted Airmen and Guardians pursuing an undergraduate STEM degree. This year’s winner is Lexi Frederick, daughter of an Active-duty Air Force senior master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh. 

The Mike & Gail Donley Spouse Scholarship awards multiple $2,500 scholarships annually to Air Force or Space Force spouses worldwide to encourage them to pursue higher education. This year, AFA awarded a grand total of $35,000 through this scholarship to the following 14 winners: 

• Emma Brownell, the spouse of an active-duty Airman First Class at Air Force Global Strike Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in elementary education at the University of Wyoming. 

• Elizabeth Devine, the spouse of an Air Force Reserve second lieutenant, who is pursuing a Master of Physician Assistant Practice at the University of Dayton. 

• Stefanie Galindo, the spouse of a Space Force lieutenant colonel at Space Systems Command, who is pursuing a Doctorate of Educational Leadership at the University of Southern California. 

• Jennifer Hardin, the spouse of an Air Force Reserve senior airman, who is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Gonzaga University. 

• Emily Leonard, the spouse of an Active-duty airman first class at Air Combat Command, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology at Boise State University. 

• Jooyeon Jung, the spouse of an Active-duty major at the Defense Health Agency, who is pursuing an associate degree in nursing at Northern Virginia Community College. 

• Kyungmi Martinez, the spouse of an Active-duty major at Air Combat Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in business administration and management science at Georgetown University. 

• Yameris Middleton, the spouse of an Air National Guard staff sergeant, who is pursuing a Master of Legal Studies at the University of Missouri – Kansas City. 

• Kaylyn Pearce, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at U.S. Air Forces in Europe, who is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental management at the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

• Megan Thomas, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at Air Mobility Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in special education at Ball State University. 

• Hoan Thy Anh Tran, the spouse of a DAF civilian at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing an associate degree in supply chain management at Sinclair Community College. 

• Kerian Trice-Purnell, the spouse of an Active-duty technical sergeant at Air Education and Training Command, who is pursuing a Master of Science in nursing-midwifery at Frontier Nursing University. 

• Nichole Vizvary, the spouse of a Space Force technical sergeant at Space Training and Readiness Command, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Pikes Peak State College. 

• Alicia Washington, the spouse of an Active-duty captain at Air Force Special Operations Command, who is pursuing an associate degree in interior design at Berkeley College. 

The Col. Loren J. and Mrs. Lawona R. Spencer Scholarship provides three $5,000 scholarships for Air Force personnel (Active Duty, civilian, or full-time National Guard or Reserve) to pursue graduate-level education in management and administration in preparation for senior-level leadership roles. This year, AFA awarded a total of $15,000 through this program to the following winners: 

• Maeli Allison, an Active-duty lieutenant colonel at Air Education and Training Command, who is pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Harvard Kennedy School 

• Brenda Kraus, a DAF civilian, who is pursuing a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at Walden University 

• Stephen Yelbert, an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing an MBA at Troy University 

The John C. and Blanche Lee Lindsay Memorial Scholarship provides one $2,500 scholarship to a child of members of the United States Air Force who is pursuing a college degree. This year’s winner is Andrew McNutt, son of an Air Force veteran captain, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 

The Delta Dental Grant provides five $2,000 scholarships and grants to military spouses, military dependents, and transitioning service members for the advancement of oral health and wellness. This year, AFA awarded a total of $10,000 through this program to the following winners: 

• Elizabeth Devine, the spouse of an Air Force Reserve second lieutenant, who is pursuing a Master of Physician Assistant Practice at the University of Dayton. 

• Hannah Johns, the daughter of an Air Force lieutenant colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Florida Atlantic University. 

• Scarlett Johnson, the daughter of an Air Force lieutenant colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biology and pre-dentistry at the University of San Diego. 

• Madelynn Nichols, the daughter of an Air Force major, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders at Fort Hays State University. 

• Kerian Trice-Purnell, the spouse of an Active-duty technical sergeant at Air Education and Training Command, who is pursuing a Master of Science in nursing-midwifery at Frontier Nursing University. 

Applications for next year’s scholarships will open December 1, 2026. Learn more about AFA’s scholarships.

About AFA

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Space Force, Airmen, Guardians, and their Families. Founded in 1946, AFA is the single largest entity of its kind focused on air and space power. With more than 350,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air Force and Space Force as the foundation of a strong National Defense; to honor and support Airmen, Guardians, and their Families; and to remember and respect the enduring heritage of the Air Force and Space Force.