Written by AMA staff (02/2008); Transcribed by JS (02/2008), Updated (08/2008)
Brian Gilkey of Sterling Heights, Michigan, is the recipient of a $5,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship and $1,750 Sig Memorial Scholarship with a combined total of $6,750 awarded from the AMA Scholarship Program. Brian graduated magna cum laude from Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Sterling Heights.
Extra-curricular activities were a big part of Brian’s high school career. He played football and baseball for several years.
Brian traveled with the school’s marching band to perform at places including the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade, Disney World, and Carnegie Hall. The band took part in the City of Romeo’s Peach Festival/Memorial Day Parade.
Brian dedicated time to helping those less fortunate. He performed community service through the Macomb County Rotating Emergency Shelter Team (MCREST) Foundation, Meals on Wheels, and other various groups affiliated with his church to assist the homeless. Through Brian’s involvement in the Boy Scouts of America, he organized and collected for canned food drives.
Hard work is not foreign to Brian since he has held several odd jobs since the age of 12. He babysat, mowed and raked lawns in his neighborhood, and was the equipment assistant for the Great Lakes Sweet Adeline Chorus.
Brian’s first regular job was writing for a national modeling magazine. He worked with his dad to co-write the monthly “Combat Ribbons” column in RC Report.
Brian worked in the engineering department of TRW automotive as a design/engineering systems intern. He also worked at Wendy’s, an experience he believes helped him learn about working with others as a team.
Modeling has been a part of Brian’s life since he was six years old. He started out building AMA Cubs and other Free Flight designs. He gained experience assembling different types of gliders and rubber hand-powered models. Brian’s favorite thing to do was designing and building his own models.
Over the years, Brian experimented with all facets of model aviation. He worked with his father to build and then experience all forms of flight. When he was 8 years old, Brian soloed in Radio Control. He went on to compete in various competitions including fun-flys, aerobatic contests, and Radio Control Combat.
Radio Control Combat is arguably Brian’s favorite type of flight and competition. He has competed in Nats events for two years in the Radio Control Combat Open and Scale categories. Brian has received first- and second-place finishes in both.
Brian plans to attend Michigan State University with an intended major in mechanical engineering.
AMA wishes you well, Brian, and congratulations!
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