Harbor Springs resident Kael Yothers has become Emmet County’s newest licensed pilot.
The 19-year-old earned her private pilot license after passing the Federal Aviation Administration checkride Jan. 31 at the Harbor Springs Airport.
Her training was supported by a $12,000 Ray Aviation Scholarship from the Experimental Aircraft Association. The EAA Chapter 1087, based in Harbor Springs, administered the scholarship, according to a community announcement.
Yothers plans to continue her flight training at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City in the fall. She is currently enrolled at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey to complete prerequisites for her flight training program, according to the announcement.
The Ray Aviation Scholarship is a merit-based program funded by the Ray Foundation. It is managed by EAA and administered through the EAA chapters network to help cover flight training expenses for deserving youth.
Yothers is the second local young person to earn her wings with the help of a Ray Aviation scholarship, according to the announcement. Forrest Neff of Harbor Springs was the first local scholarship recipient and is currently enrolled in flight training at NMC.
The Harbor Springs EAA chapter has been granted permission to award two additional Ray Aviation scholarships this year to fund private pilot training, according to the announcement.