Featured photo from left: Ayush Sharma and Tracie Walter, Vice President of Bemidji Aviation
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation announced two winners of the Larry Diffley Memorial Aviation Scholarships.
Ayush Sharma is an international student who works for Bemidji Aviation and is working toward licensure.
“I want to become an airline pilot; I would love to stay here and fly,” said Ayush, who is originally from India but moved with his family to Ireland.
“I am the first generation in my family to become a pilot. My father, Manish Kaushik, has inspired me to follow my passion in aviation, what he couldn’t follow himself.”
Devin Wikstrom has been a private pilot and is working toward his instrument and commercial license, following in his own father’s footsteps.
“I would like to do what my dad does but also tie in what I’ve learned here, at Bemidji Aviation,” Devin said.
“I started here through on-the-job training, no college. But they sent me down to college in Tennessee and I got my A&P license (for aviation mechanics). I would like to somehow tie the two together.”
The scholarship was established in memory of Bemidji Aviation’s former president, Larry Diffley, to help aspiring professional pilots.
Pictured are, from left: Devin Wikstrom and Tracie Walter, Vice President of Bemidji Aviation.
