The Doug Yost Scholarship Committee has selected Craig Blumer of Ottumwa, Iowa as the 2010 Scholarship Recipient. Craig attends Southern Illinois University of Carbondale and will be graduating this December with a four year degree in Aviation Business Management. Craig currently holds the following ratings: CSES, CSEL, CFI, CFII, and Craig just successfully performed the practical test for MEI September 3. Below is the essay Craig included with his Scholarship application about why he would to receive the scholarship. Editor's Note: This essay was written before Craig worked to obtain all the ratings he holds today

Personal Essay submitted for the Doug Yost Scholarship by Craig Blumer in 2010

I have always dreamed of flying. I used to draw pictures of airplanes in kindergarten. I was overwhelmed when my dad took me to an air show outside of Ottumwa, Iowa.  The planes did loops, spins, formation flying, and fast fly bys. I wanted to do exactly what they were doing.  
During high school, I started working on my private license at Ottumwa Industrial Airport. Ben Kreager was my instructor and I was his first student.  He fumbled and corrected himself on a variety of things but I could tell he was very intelligent.  I earned my private license the day before I graduated high school and I started at Indian Hills Community College in the fall.    
My plan was to obtain the ratings to get a job instructing and save up for aerobatic training. Indian Hills helped me obtain an instrument rating, commercial, CFI, and CFII.  Graduating from college became a wakeup call.  The economy had slipped and left me with very few options.  I decided to further my education at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. 
I major in aviation business management and I have realized I am not suited to be a manager. Ed Phillips an instructor at SIU said, "Managers do not manage people but they are responsible for their people".  I actually do well in economics classes and I pay for most of my school trading stocks online.  The University of Carbondale did give me another idea.  I want to own a fixed base operation business or a seaplane business.  I really want to be an owner of an aviation business providing flight instruction, charter, tours, et cetera.  College does not stop me from flying. I saved up enough money to get my multi engine rating at St. Charles Flying Service. I plan to earn my tailwheel endorsement at a local airport in a 1946 Piper Cub. I have scheduled a seaplane add on in Michigan over the summer. I am always striving to be the best and gain experience. I love to travel and be in new situations. 
Working at a grocery store for five years has taught me a variety of lessons. Most of the things I have acquired are people skills.  When the manger is busy, I might train someone to do a position or my position.  I understand how to read people, how to modify my teaching method, and how to teach employees.  I also understand how to talk to customers even when they are frustrated. There are times when you need to ask someone else and you work as a team.  The economic downturn gave me a glimpse of how businesses work and survive. The whole experience allowed me to piece together the management structure and business decisions. 

I want this scholarship because it is my dream to be an aerobatic pilot.  The aerobatic training will also improve my flying skills and my safety as a flight instructor.  The training will help me be able to explain a stall in more detail to a student.  This scholarship will also help me with the financing, which is difficult to obtain in the stock market.  The scholarship will help me obtain my goal of my own aviation business.