Ryan Lucas of Rock Port, Missouri, received a $13,000 scholarship from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). (Submitted photo)

A scholarship from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) is helping Ryan Lucas of Rock Port, Missouri, achieve his dream of becoming a pilot. With the assistance of Renee Kurtz of Kurtz Rural Aviation in Mound City, Missouri, and Kerri Rodriguez, a language arts teacher in the Rock Port R-II School District, Lucas applied for and received a coveted $13,000 scholarship from the AOPA.

Lucas said that becoming a pilot has always been his dream. He started working toward this goal while in high school. A 2025 graduate of Rock Port High School and son of Kristen and Jon Lucas of Rock Port, Lucas started taking flying lessons in Maryville, Missouri, in the fall of 2024. He also started working for Kurtz Rural Aviation in Mound City during this time. Lucas said that the Kurtzes opened the door for him to get into the field of aviation and he is grateful for the opportunity to work not only where he is able to explore a career in flying, but also a place he can receive hands-on training.

Lucas’ position was ground support at Kurtz Aviation, which included a multitude of tasks like fueling aircraft, mixing and loading crop enhancement products into airplanes, working with customers, unloading products, keeping track of inventory and more. He also worked closely with other team members and pilots maintaining aircraft and support equipment. According to Renee Kurtz, “Ryan jumped in with an enthusiastic attitude and plenty of common sense to complete any of the tasks.”

Lucas is well on his way to achieving his dream and completing his private pilot’s license. He is planning to complete his private pilot training this fall and hopes to schedule the final test soon. Flying lessons are expensive and the $13,000 scholarship money will really help Lucas in the pursuit of his dream. He is currently attending engineering school in Rolla, Missouri. He says he wants to keep his options open as to what his future may hold whether it be in aviation or engineering, or perhaps both. Lucas does not own a plane, but he has had instruction in a Piper Cub, Cessna 140, Cessna 150 and Cessna 172, along with a Beechcraft Skipper and an Aeronca Champ.

Lucas applied for the AOPA scholarship this past spring. Renee Kurtz was instrumental in helping Lucas with the paperwork for the award. The scholarship received by Lucas is the AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School Flight Training Scholarship. Lucas had to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private Pilot written knowledge exam before applying. The award is sponsored by the Ray Foundation, which was established by the late aviator, entrepreneur and philanthropist James C. Ray. Ray believed that life skills are learned through aviation and members of the AOPA are proud to help carry on his legacy by awarding merit-based scholarships to 80 high school students across the nation each year. It is difficult to receive one of these scholarships and Lucas is very, very grateful.

Garold Kurtz of Kurtz Rural Aviation said, “Ryan is a very deserving young man. He is a hard worker. I am very proud to have had any part in Ryan earning this award.” Both Renee and Garold Kurtz said that Lucas is “one in a million” and “incredibly humble.” They both feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to work with him and to help him receive this scholarship.