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Aviation maintenance student awarded national scholarship that honors American pioneer aviator

Yoder is the first Liberty student to receive the scholarship.

Tyler Yoder, a student in Liberty University’s Aviation Maintenance Technician Program (AMTP) recently received the 2020 Phoebe Omlie Award, a scholarship named for a female aviation pioneer who in 1927 was the first female to receive a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified aircraft mechanic’s license.

The annual award is normally presented at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition (AMC) each spring. However, due to COVID-19, the event was canceled and Yoder, along with four recipients from other aviation programs, was presented the scholarship during a virtual awards ceremony on June 24.

Yoder, a member of Liberty’s maintenance competition team, was selected by AMC due to his outstanding academic performance. The $1,000 scholarship can be used for tuition or tools, and Yoder, who has served as a helicopter mechanic in the United States Marine Corps, will apply his funds toward tools since his tuition is paid by the GI Bill.

Before the AMC was canceled, Yoder and his teammates had planned to travel to Dallas, Texas, to participate in the maintenance competition which places teams in a head-to-head contest to identify, diagnose, and repair electrical or mechanical issues on aircraft. David Ashburn, maintenance instructor and the team’s coach, said the event gives students the chance to meet professionals in the industry. In addition to educational institutions, teams representing commercial airlines, repair and manufacturing companies, general aviation and space also participate in competitions that showcase the best talents in the industry.

“We have participated in the competition for four years and it is a very rewarding experience for our students because they meet people who could hire them,” said Ashburn. “The couple of years that we’ve taken our team of five students, we’ve had students come back and say that they had legitimate job offers during the convention. We’ve also won multiple awards, including the Competing with Professionalism award presented by United Airlines. Not being able to go this year was a real letdown for our team.”

Although Yoder and his teammates did not have a chance to display their skills at the annual competition, Yoder plans to showcase his experience working on helicopters and fixed wing aircraft when he graduates in August. He said he will likely spend a few years working for a regional airline but would ultimately like to work for a large carrier like UPS.

“Because I worked on helicopters in the Marines, in the future I could work on rotorcraft since I enjoy working on helicopters,” said Yoder. “I’ve gained a lot of experience in this program, and I’m learning things that I never had the opportunity to learn in the Marines. Even though I wasn’t considering fixed wing at the beginning of the program, now I can look at both options.”

The impacts that COVID-19 has had on the aviation industry are affecting the hiring of maintenance technicians and pilots throughout the world, but according to Ashburn, students like Yoder still have a very bright future ahead of them.

“Even though there is a dip in the industry right now, we really feel like the industry is going to bounce back with some strength. The same need for pilots and mechanics still exists, as much as before,” he said. “Coming to an AMTP program like Liberty’s is a great opportunity for a student who wants incredible job opportunities in their futures but may not be of the mindset to do a traditional four-year degree program.”

The AMTP is designed for the FAA Part 147 certificate portion to be completed as a single block in one year. Students can also continue their training to complete an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree. For more information, visit the AMTP webpage.

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