We are pleased to announce the winners of our 2017 BFA Balloon Camp Scholarships…..Ryan Sawin and Alina Williams.
Alina wins the CBA’s Jo Cline Memorial Scholarship, which is given annually by the club in memory of former member Jo Cline. Jo did much for the sport of ballooning and was instrumental in encouraging many pilots to be licensed.
Ryan is the winner of the Carolina BalloonFest Scholarship, given to the CBA to encourage future pilots in the sport of ballooning, with thanks to those pilots who have made Carolina BalloonFest such a successful event.
To win one of our scholarships, applicants must write a one page essay on why they want to win the scholarship and go to camp. They also must be recommended by a Carolinas Balloon Association member. Applicants are then voted on by the CBA board and the scholarships awarded. The scholarship provides full camp tuition. Winners must provide their own transportation to camp.
Alina was recommended by Tom Rousch. Ryan was recommended by Tom Lattin.
We thought you may want to read their essays, so we include them here. Congratulations to the winners! We hope we continue to see you advance your skills and training and cheer you on to being pilots one day.
ALINA WILLIAMS – Attending the Albuquerque Balloon Camp….
“There are two main reasons I want to go to balloon camp. The first is to meet new people, make new
contacts, and meet new friends. The second reason is to expand my knowledge of ballooning.
The reason I want to meet new people is so I can have contacts after camp for more training. The
people I meet could also help me by providing good examples for pilot behavior. These new contacts
and friends could also help me get closer to being a pilot. I know these contacts will help because over
the years I have crewed for a few different pilots. Doing this I notice every pilot has different way of
handling or judgment of the situation.
The reason I want more experience is so I can become a pilot. Going to balloon camp will help because I can learn from other pilots. I can also gain more hands on experience with the balloon. The camp could also help me with exams to get my pilots license. This experience could also help me sharpen skills that I already have.
I am excited for balloon camp and hope to have a wonderful time while there. I am also happy to meet new and see old friends. I look forward to all new experiences at balloon camp this year.”
RYAN SAWIN- Attending the Oshkosh Balloon Camp….
“The Journey of a Young Balloonist
A blast of fire shoots into the air as my Dad and I wander out into the
balloon field. As we approach we can see the towering balloons above us.
We feel the heat as the burner lights the ground around us. We get closer
to the basket for a better view good, being careful not to bother the crew.
Dawn breaks as I stare into the sky at the glowing flyers. It was October,
2015 and my family was on a RV trip in Albuquerque, NM. This was my
first time seeing a balloon up close. I was hooked.
By January 2016 I was still interested in ballooning, but I didn’t know
any balloonists. In April I became a member of the CBA. Soon after my
family was on another trip to the Cherry Point Air Show. They had a ReMax balloon basket at the airshow. I met Tom Lattin and he invited me to volunteer at the Freedom Balloon Fest.
In May 2016 I crewed for Mark Fritze at the Freedom Balloon Festival on the pre-show media flights. For the rest of the festival I crewed
for Tony and Claire Colburn. Two months later I signed in at the Great
Eastern Balloon Camp in Kutztown, PA. I signed up at the last second
when another camper dropped out.
I took a rest from ballooning that I wasn’t really looking forward to. In
October I signed up for the Carolina Balloon Festival. We had my birthday
party on the balloon field between briefing and flight. In February 2017 I
was registered for the CBA safety seminar. Unfortunately I was sick that
weekend and had to stay home.
I am excited to go to the Great Lakes Balloon Camp in Oshkosh,
Wisconsin because I want to fly balloons, meet new balloonists, and learn
more about ballooning. After last year at balloon camp I decided that I
want to become a Pilot. Another summer at balloon camp will help me get
closer to my goal.”