In addition to evangelization, our apostolate to youth is integral to our mission and we seek to develop a generous menu of youth-focused options.

Vocational discernment is essential but much neglected. In this age, young people enter the adult culture adrift as to what to do with their lives. They too often leave their practice of their Catholic faith. They lose sight of the very meaning of their existence, to find meaning in a relationship with Jesus Christ, and as a result to find their salvation and salvation for others, and to build the kingdom of God on earth.

CAA has a vision of assisting with discernment whether or not it leads to an aviation vocation or something else. Priesthood and religious life are definitely on the table.

For young people discerning an aviation path, CAA will assist with helping find the way forward into education and training at the lowest cost consistent with a quality education which, by definition, must include "being Catholic" 24/7.

CAA seeks to find ways of acquiring an education leading to an aviation vocation which is as affordable as possible. We offer career counseling for both flight and non-flight aviation vocations. Note that vocational discernment should be done prayerfully and should always include listening for a call to religious life. "Vocation" imbues a broader meaning than "job" or even "career" and encompasses the God-given dignity of work such that we don't cease being Catholic when we enter the workplace. Compartmentalizing one's Catholic faith on the job is not an option.

We want to warn away from aviation diploma mills and other traps that cannot be repaired once a choice has been made and allowed to run. With a profound industry shortage for pilots and support professionals (air traffic control comes to mind) there are organizations which have sprung up willing to take students' or their parents' hard earned money with high risk of adverse outcomes. There are some choices which are far better than others and which take into consideration the need for a backup to the risk of industry wide layoffs as we experienced during Covid-19, as well as always present risks such as loss of one's medical certificate (required for pilots).

There is usually one best educational pathway, especially for those seeking flight positions. Flight training is expensive and we have suggestions which keep costs as low as possible, minimizing to the greatest extent possible student loan burden. Get in touch with us through the Contact Us link and we will set up a mutually conventient time to put you in touch with those who have "traveled the road."

Overview
Once funded, the Catholic Aviation Association will offer three cash scholarships to individuals each year. The scholarships will be awarded to assist the recipient with expenses related to aviation education. This may include the costs of tuition, books and materials and ground or flight lessons. The amounts of the scholarships are as follows:

Alpha Scholarship - $1000.00
Bravo Scholarship - $500.00
Charlie Scholarship - $200.00
Application for the scholarship must be made by September 1st and awards will be made by October 1st.

An announcement will be made through the CAA website, emails, Facebook, Twitter and news releases when award money becomes available.

Program Details
Eligibility will be based on being enrolled in an aviation related course of studies at an accredited high school or college and having a having a GPA of 3.0 or above, or being enrolled in a ground school/flight training program. In addition to the application form, applicants will need to provide a:

--transcript which reflects good standing;
--letter of recommendation; and,
--500+ word essay regarding the specific goal to which this scholarship money would be applied and how you, as an aviation enthusiast, can bring your faith to the aviation community.

Applicants wishing to apply the scholarship to ground and/or flight training must also submit documentation substantiating an agreement with a Certified Flight Instructor or Flight School for training leading to a pilot license or additional rating. Such documentation must include an estimate of hourly training costs.

Applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and submit a complete application package to be considered. Academic performance and the quality of the essays submitted, in terms of both content and form, will be evaluated and ranked. The applicants will be awarded the scholarship based on their ranking.

Selection Process
The CAA Director of Administration will receive all applications, assign each a unique numerical identifier and remove names/identifying attributes before the scholarship applications are passed to the selection committee. Selection will be based on the merits of the application without reference to the relationship of the applicant to any of the Directors, Officers or substantial contributors.

Follow-up
Completion of the specific goal to which the scholarship was applied is the only requirement to be met by the recipient. A follow up inquiry will be performed within 6 months of the scholarship being awarded to verify that the scholarship was used as intended and if the scholarship winner was able to achieve their stated goal. Should the scholarship money not have been used as specified, CAA will require the funds be returned. If the money is not returned, a collection agency will be hired to recoup the funds.