Epic Captain Judy Rice Pilot Scholarship
Offered by Epic Flight Academy
About this scholarship
Epic Flight Academy’s top 2026 pilot award is the $20,000 Captain Judy Rice Pilot Scholarship, named for a longtime ground-school instructor and scholarship judge. The award supports flight training toward a private pilot license and may be used at any Epic campus. Applicants use Epic’s direct 2026 pilot scholarship form, which also considers them for the academy’s other pilot awards. The competition is open to U.S. high school juniors and seniors who are citizens or permanent residents and will be at least 16 by December 31, 2026. Candidates must be able to begin training within twelve months, use the award within twenty-four months, obtain a Third Class Medical Certificate, and reliably travel to or relocate near an Epic campus. The application requests community-service and extracurricular information, responses to two short essay prompts, two adult recommendations with at least one from a school official, a short YouTube video explaining the applicant’s strength, and an aviation-related photo. Parent or guardian approval is required for applicants under 18. Epic will choose finalists for phone interviews after the October 1, 2026 deadline.
Eligibility
- Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Be a current high school junior or senior attending school in the United States
- Turn at least 16 years old on or before December 31, 2026
- Be able to present a Third Class Medical Certificate for flight training
- Start training within 12 months and use the award within 24 months
- Have reliable transportation to an Epic campus or be willing to relocate
- Obtain parent or guardian approval if younger than 18
- Submit the essays, two recommendations, video, photo, and activity record by the deadline