Penn College News

Student Among Helicopter Association’s Scholarship Recipients

Monday, April 10, 2017

A Pennsylvania College of Technology student was among only eight in the world to receive a Bill Sanderson Aviation Maintenance Technology Scholarship from Helicopter Association International's Technical Committee.

Zachary D. Reese, of Littlestown, a junior in the college's four-year aviation maintenance technology major, was recently awarded a scholarship that provides a tuition waiver for a helicopter manufacturer training school and a stipend to offset expenses. Reese will attend the Airbus EC-145 helicopter factory school.



Zachary D. Reese, an aviation maintenance technology major from Littlestown, will attend a factory training school with his Helicopter Association International scholarship.Offered in conjunction with airframe, engine and avionics manufacturers, the Sanderson scholarships enable recipients to attend airframe- or equipment-specific training courses through awards of up to $1,600.

Reese joins the 12 Penn College students earlier honored by HAI; total scholarship amounts awarded to those students over the years exceed $95,000.

From left are students Noah J. Ansell, David A. Gadalla, Ryan P. Biichle, Patrick M. Murray, Zachary D. Reese, Samuel J. Pham and Dennis J. McNamara; faculty members William Stepp III and William Stepp IV; and alumni Gregory B. Gilliland ('06 and '08) and Jason M. Smith ('06). Gilliland is lead mechanic for Metro Aviation and Smith is general manager at Sterling Helicopters.In March, he and six other aviation maintenance technology majors – Noah J. Ansell, of Friedens; Ryan P. Biichle, of Williamsport; David A. Gadalla, of Carlisle; Dennis J. McNamara, of Stroudsburg; Patrick M. Murray, of Hatfield; and Samuel J. Pham, of Camp Hill – and aviation faculty members William F. Stepp III and William F. Stepp IV attended the HAI Heli-Expo in Dallas.

For more information about aviation majors within Penn College’s School of Transportation & Natural Resources Technologies, call 570-327-4516.

For information about Penn College, a national leader in applied technology education and workforce development, email the Admissions Office or call toll-free 800-367-9222.

Photos provided