AFA Awards $130,000 in Scholarships to Airmen, Guardians, and Their Families

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) proudly announces its 2025 scholarship recipients, awarding more than $130,000 to help Airmen, Guardians, and their Families pursue higher education. This year’s awards, made possible through the generosity of individual donors and partner organizations, support a wide range of academic goals, from undergraduate degrees and graduate programs to pilot training and professional certifications.  

“These scholarships reflect AFA’s unwavering commitment to those men and women who have served our nation and their loved ones,” said AFA President & CEO Lt. Gen. Burt Field, USAF (Ret.). “We’re honored to invest in their future and help them reach new heights in education and leadership.” 

2025 Scholarships & Recipients 

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 Madison Wright, daughter of a retired Air Force Colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in motorsports engineering at Purdue 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 Ellen Robins, an Active-duty Air Force second lieutenant, who is studying aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  

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 Kelly Fergus, daughter of a retired Air Force master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Florida. 

The Capt. Jodi Callahan Memorial Scholarship provides $3,000 awards to multiple Active, Guard, or Reserve personnel in the Air Force or Space Force, who are 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: 

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

• Elizabeth Ruiz, a senior master sergeant with the Air National Guard, who is pursuing an MBA at Southern New Hampshire University. 

• Howard Shao, an Active-duty captain at Air Mobility Command, who is pursuing an MBA at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. 

• Ling Yu, an Active-duty staff sergeant at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing an MBA at Fitchburg State 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 Caitlyn Spencer, daughter of a retired Air Force master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Daytona Beach. 

The Mike & Gail Donley Spouse Scholarship provides multiple $2,500 awards 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: 

• Berenice Briones, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at Air Combat Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Capella University. 

• Lyric Carabello, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at Pacific Air Forces, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Arizona State University. 

• Yuliia Davis, the spouse of a Space Force captain at Space Systems Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in social work at Columbia University. 

• Alexis Duncan, the spouse of an Air National Guard first lieutenant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership at Arizona State University. 

• Madison Eklund, the spouse of an Active-duty captain at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in conservation biology and ecology at Arizona State University. 

• Michelle Heredia, the spouse of an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Mobility Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in special and general education at Grand Canyon University. 

• Savannah Jacobs, the spouse of an Active-duty captain at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing a Master of Science in family nurse practice at the University of Alabama. 

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

• Chance Lowe, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at Air Mobility Command, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in business and accounting at Western Governor’s University. 

• Aliandra Maigue, the spouse of an Active-duty senior airman at Air Force Special Operations Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in healthcare administration at Louisiana State University 

• 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. 

• Natasha Saunders, the spouse of an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Force Global Strike Command, who is pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy at Augustana University. 

• Olena Steinmetz, the spouse of an Active-duty major at Air Education and Training Command, who is pursuing a Doctor of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University. 

• Kacey Weaver, the spouse of an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Education and Training Command, who is pursuing a master’s in psychology at Troy University. 

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: 

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

• Aimee Inman, an Active-duty master sergeant at Air Force Materiel Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Columbia Southern University 

• Anthony Moore, an Active-duty technical sergeant at U.S. Strategic Command, who is pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership at Columbia Southern 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 Mary Alderson, the daughter of a retired Air Force Lieutenant colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati 

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: 

• Ashton Abel, the son of an Air Force colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration and pre-dentistry at the University of Iowa. 

• Mahnoor Ali, the spouse of an Air Force captain, who is pursuing Fundamentals of Restorative Dentistry at the Duggan Institute of Dentistry. 

• Makenzi Henderson, the daughter of an Air National Guard senior master sergeant, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Spelman College. 

• Lydia Schlottke, the daughter of an Air Force lieutenant colonel, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a pre-dentistry minor at Baylor University. 

• Avery Wilson, the spouse of an Active-duty second lieutenant, who is pursuing a Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota. 

The Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Scholarship provides $1,000 to current and former members of the Air Force and Space Force, Air National Guard, and Reserve, and their spouses or children to pursue a college degree or flight training. This year’s winner is Ashley Corado Rivas, an Airman, who is pursuing an associate degree in health sciences at Butler Community College. 

Applications for next year’s scholarships will open December 1, 2025. Learn more here. 

About AFA 

The Air & Space Forces Association is an independent, non-profit 501(c)3 association dedicated to advocating for investment and support for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force, and for supporting 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 120,000 members and 200 chapters spread around the world, our mission is to promote dominant U.S. Air and Space Forces 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 and Space Forces.