The cost of education and training is one of the most challenging barriers to entry for NGPA members interested in aviation as a career. Whether it's getting a private pilot's license, an advanced certificate or rating, or even an A&P license or float plane endorsement, NGPA scholarships provide a stepping stone for aspiring members at a crucial point in their journey. 

Click here to learn more about the NGPA scholarship program.

**Important!** Please send all your inquiries about scholarships to [email protected]. 

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FAQs

The Scholarship Selection Committee welcomes your questions.  Before emailing us with an inquiry, however, please read through the FAQs and RAQs to ensure your question has not already been answered.    

How do I know that my application is submitted?

You should receive a confirmation email from SmarterSelect as well as log in to Smarter Select to see confirmation you have successfully submitted your application.  Once you receive the confirmation email, ignore any automated emails noting that your application is incomplete.  These emails are often queued to be sent to all users who have an incomplete application on file before you submitted your application. 

I graduated a long time ago, and/or I have advanced degrees, and/or I have applied to many other scholarships, and I’ve never had to submit my high school transcripts before.  Does NGPA SSC really have to have my high school transcripts (or my nation’s equivalent)?  

Yes. 

Career GPA is among the strongest indicators of follow-on success in an intense training program such as flight training.   This delineator served NGPA SSC immensely well in the past, and we will continue to require this item now and in the future.   

Therefore, high school/secondary school transcripts are a very important factor in determining if an application package represents a strong candidate.    

Usually the school board, city hall or county seat in which your high school was located will be able to give you pointers on where to go to get these public records.  If you get cracking on it, you can likely have them in your hands in a week or two.  

Note: SSC does not need sealed, official transcripts for the academic record.  Unofficial transcripts will do so long as the scan quality is high enough that authenticity can be reasonably verified.   

How do I determine what scholarships I am eligible to receive, and thus list in my preferences?   

Applicants will be considered for all scholarships that are meant to aid them in their immediate next stage of training.  For example, an applicant who has zero hours will be considered for all “private pilot” scholarships, but not for scholarships listed for “advanced ratings.”  The inverse applies for those who have earned their private pilot certificate.  Ensure your application clearly delineates what flight training and certificates you have accomplished as well as what you plan to accomplish next with the scholarship.   

I was a 2022 applicant, and I attempted to access my 2022 application and information before 22 May 2023.  I was unable to do so.  What do I do?   

After working with Smarter Select, SSC has accomplished an application list reset to re-pull all 2022 applications into 2023. 2022 applicants should now be able to access their 2022 application information. Applicant responses pertinent to last year should be retained, to include old attachments. 2022 applicants need to respond to the new 2023 questions. 

This reset occurred at 22 May 2023, 1100 CST. 2022 applicants who had trouble accessing their old application information before the reset should log in to Smarter Select and verify they can access their old application responses. Any questions, concerns, or issues with utilizing Smarter Select?  Contact SSC at [email protected]. 

Can SSC help me with my application?   

No.  

Applicants must fill out their own application.  Scholarship Selection Committee will not offer advice to individual inquiries on “how to strengthen an application” other than advice offered through seminars and resources available to NGPA membership as a whole.   Inquiring individually will not yield further nuggets of wisdom.   

Trusted mentors may be able to provide an answer to a question you might have in how to fill out the application.  Applicants may seek help from others within NGPA, trusted mentors, or elsewhere to proofread essays and other assistance.  Applicants may not ask others to complete the application for them.   If you do not have an aviation mentor, consider joining the NGPA ASCEND program.   

I am trying to help my son/daughter/relative/friend apply for this scholarship program.  Can you help me fill it out on their behalf, answer a question, explain the process, let me know what makes an application competitive, etc? 

SSC does not engage or work with mentors or agents of an applicant, as that gives supported and/or privileged scholarship applicants an unfair advantage.   

SSC standing policy is to not reply to any inquiries perceived to be from an agent or advocate of any applicant or potential applicant.  This policy ensures SSC does everything in our power to keep the field of competition as even and fair as possible.  We thank you for understanding on this matter.   

Where do I apply for scholarships?   

NGPA utilizes SmarterSelect as its application management program.  You can access this through the NGPA website, under the scholarships tab. 

Can non-NGPA members receive a scholarship? 

No. You must be a member of NGPA to receive a scholarship award. To become a member of NGPA, visit our website.  Student memberships are available.   

I am a member of NGPA, but I do not identify as LGBTQIA+.  Can I still apply for and receive a scholarship?   

Yes! Allies are welcome to apply.     

What are the scholarship requirements?   

Each scholarship has a different set of requirements – and every applicant will be considered for EACH AND EVERY SCHOLARSHIP for which they are eligible.  You will have a chance in your application to indicate which are your preferred scholarships.  Look to ensure your application package addresses the requirements of the scholarships you hope to win, but don’t fret if you erroneously select as a preference for a scholarship for which you are not eligible.  If you are among our highest ranking applicants for the season, you will be considered for every scholarship for which you are eligible.

Is an FAA medical required to apply for scholarships?  

For FLIGHT TRAINING scholarships, an FAA third, second or first class medical (or your nation’s equivalent) is required.   

For NON FLIGHT TRAINING scholarships (of which there are many!) no medical is required.  

I am looking for additional financial assistance beyond scholarships, can you help me with that?   

NGPA does not provide additional financial assistance outside of our scholarship program. We are exploring offering internships through our scholarship program.  This, of course, depends on sponsor willingness and participation.  Our scholarship application program is poised to make these offerings when they arise, and our application form gives applicants the option to be considered for those opportunities.   

I am not a U.S. citizen (or I don’t live in the U.S.) -- may I still apply?   

Yes! Some of our scholarships are eligible to non-U.S. citizens.  Most industry-sponsored scholarships (e.g., “United Airlines” or “Solairus” Advanced Flight Training Scholarships) require that you have authorization to work in the U.S. to receive the scholarship.     

Any NGPA-named scholarship is open to everyone regardless of where you live or learn to fly.     

I am new to aviation, and I want to work on my private pilot license. Where do I begin, and how do I qualify for a scholarship?   

The first place to start is by getting your student pilot certificate and your FAA medical certificate (or your nation's equivalent) All flight training scholarships require that you have your medical and at least a student pilot certificate to qualify for the scholarship. For more information, see the FAA’s website: https://www.faa.gov/pilots/become/student_cert/   

When will scholarships be distributed and announced?    

For 2023, SSC will use a multi-stage evaluation process.    

We aim to notify non-finalists and announce finalists no later than September 2023.   

We aim to notify recipients no later than October 2023.  All finalists will be notified by email of their status before announcing the results publicly.  Recipients will be announced publicly via the NGPA website.     

Do applications get a better chance of getting a better score if they are submitted early or late within the application window?  

There is no advantage or penalty to submitting your application early or late in the process -- so long as it is submitted before the deadline!  HIT SUBMIT when you have finished your application, and ensure that your application indicates SUBMITTED before you check this important to-do item off your list.   

I have applied to and/or been accepted into a special school or cadet program, such as those listed in the application.  These programs state they offer scholarships through the NGPA sholarship program.  Do I apply through this application, or through another application, to be considered for these special scholarships? 

NGPA has a single, universal application for ALL scholarships offered under its name.  No extra work is required.  Submit your one universal application and you will be considered for ALL scholarships for which you are eligible.   

If your application is still pending with one of these special programs, be sure to let us know by making the appropriate selection within the application form.  

If you are accepted into a special program BEFORE hitting “SUBMIT” on your application, simply update your responses within the application.   DO NOT send an email to [email protected] letting us know of the status change if you still have the ability to update the change in your application.   

I'm entering my employment history, and I've worked up to my present employment information block.  How do I delineate that I am still presently employed at this location?

For your current employment that you intend to keep until 31 July 2023 or beyond:

With the multiple choice question "Reason for leaving/ changing employment status for this time period:" select "Other." 

Under "Description of reason for leaving," state that you are still currently employed at this location.  

I hit SUBMIT on my application, and I’ve subsequently been ACCEPTED into a special flight training program.  What do I do? 

If you are accepted into a special program AFTER hitting “SUBMIT” on your application, send an email documenting your acceptance into the program to [email protected].  This includes after the scholarship window has closed.  We do want to know your acceptance status so that we can consider you for all scholarships  

DO NOT send an email to [email protected] letting us know of the status change if you still have the ability to update the change in your application.   

I put in a placeholder, nonsense phrase for a written response, or a random nonsense number for my hours worked at xyz place of employment.  I've put in a lot of good information in the application, and my resume is perfect.  My mentor says I'm a shoo-in for a big scholarship!  Is it actually important that I go back through my application form and correct these placeholder entries before submission?

YES. Applications presenting incredible/nonsensical information will not advance to the next round of evaluations.  

What scholarships are on offer this year?  Is there a scholarship for floatplanes?  Advanced ratings?  Multiengine ratings?  etc etc....  

Click here for a listing of our 2023 scholarships.

When the application window is CLOSED, how can I best prepare for the next scholarship window?    

1. Consider gathering and scanning the following documents NOW for upload: 

• Photo ID;  

• FAA aviation/aerospace industry certificates, or your nation’s equivalent;  

• High school academic transcripts, or your nation’s equivalent of secondary school academic records;  

• Junior college, trade school, and/or college transcripts, as applicable;  

• APPLICANTS COMPETING FOR FLIGHT TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS:  

• FAA medical (or your nation’s equivalent);  

• Logbook records – last twenty flights ;  

• Logbook records – all checkride flights and comments from your DPE in your logbook  

2. Consider compiling and polishing the following items NOW for upload and/or insertion into your application: 

• One-page resume;  

• Your entire employment history with dates (accurate to month/year);  

• Your entire community service history (accurate to month/year);  

• Consider how you will concisely articulate:  

• Why you deserve an NGPA scholarship;   

• 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year aviation related goals, and plans to achieve them;  

• Your unique financial need, and the steps you have taken to mitigate your financial need to achieve your dreams;  

• How your record of community service reflects NGPA’s mission 

I've submitted my application, but I'm still receiving messages that my application is incomplete.  What do I do?

If you did not re-use your 2022 application, and instead started over with a brand new 2023 application, you are likely receiving alert messages from SmarterSelect because that application is marked "incomplete" in the system.  All 2022 applications were cycled over for refreshing in 2023, and given the status of "Incomplete."  All "Incomplete" applications trigger alert messages for their respective owners.  

Never fear -- SSC is aware of duplicate applications in the system, and will consider the submitted application only.  A second, incomplete application in the system will not cause troubles for a  repeat applicant who chose to start over with a fresh application instead of re-using datapoints from the 2022 application.  

Bottom line: if SmarterSelect indicates that you have successfully submitted your application when you log in, and you've received a message indicating your application has been successfully submitted, you are fine.  

When I log in to ngpa.org and click the "apply" button, I am looped back to the login page and/or I receive an error message.  How do I resolve this?

Check to see if your membership is up to date.   If your membership has expired, and you haven't yet renewed, you won't be able to start the application process.  

Who do I contact with additional questions?   

Additional questions may be sent to [email protected].