Written by AMA staff (01/2003); Transcribed by JS (02/2008), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Joel Thomas Magnuson from McKinleyville, California was awarded a Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. He wants to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Joel attained a 3.97 grade point average and graduated eighth in his class.
Joel was active in student government at McKinleyville High School, serving as class treasurer, Association Student Body (ASB) Technology Commissioner, and ASB Recognition Commissioner. He was also involved in the Ski/Snowboard Club and served as a role model and leader for members of the freshman class.
Joel was a member of the school’s golf team, soccer team, and participated in a recreational basketball league. His community activities include running and walking in a 24-hour Relay-forLife for the American Cancer Society, a bowl-a-thon to raise money for Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and working at the Dixieland Jazz Festival.
Joel helped with the Halloween carnival at the McKinleyville Activity Center, worked at the Annual Mad River Dinner for Rotary International, assisted school counselors updating their documents, and participated in a leadership class. He also promoted model aviation at the McKinleyville Middle School Career/Hobby Day and participated in a leadership class. He also promoted model aviation at the McKinleyville Middle School Career/Hobby Day and participated in the Murray Field Aviation Day.
Joel has been playing soccer since he was eight years old. He became a licensed Level Eight referee in sixth grade and has worked from late August until early November since as both center and assistant referee in youth soccer fames. He is responsible for knowing all the rules and maintaining fair play of the game – including dealing with angry spectators and coaches. Joel plans to continue refereeing and wants to advance to the next level and beyond. Joel has been a member of the Eureka Radio Control club since 1999 and the Redwood Soaring Association since 1998 where he has served as secretary and this year as president. He got his start in Radio Control models from a cousin who had an airboat and was building a trainer airplane. “I got the same airboat and raced with him.”
A gas stadium truck was next. Joel wrote, “When looking in a hobby shop for a screw that I lost on my car, I somehow wandered toward the glider kit section and found myself walking out with a Gentle Lady. During the process of building it, I wandered into the mall show of the local power club and got some help on my building.”
Joel joined the Redwood Soaring Association, soloed with the help of then-club president Rob Crocket, and after a few years of entering the contests, Joel, with his father’s help, began to put on his own.
Joel made a hotwire cutter for himself after becoming interested in making his own pink foam airplanes. His father found a small vacuum pump for him and he began vacuum bagging fiberglass wings. Joel has experimented with hovercrafts, building small, cheap electric aircraft, and very fast gas ones. With a friend, he has experimented with WIGs (wing-in-ground-effect), helicopters, aero towing, and composites.
In 2001, Joel established a Class D Slope Duration record.
Joel wrote, “My goal is to help incorporate Stirling engines into aircraft power plants, for their increased efficiency the higher they go. I plan to get my private pilot license after college.” AMA wishes success to this future aeronautical engineer.
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