Written by AMA staff
Kyle Jones from Avon Lake, Ohio, was awarded $7,400 from Charles Hampson Grant funds, received $1,500 from the Weak Signals Award, and was the recipient of a $5,000 Telford Scholarship.
Introduced to the hobby by his father, who learned from his father, Kyle began flying when he was 10 and attended his first Nats in 2000. Beginning with Catapult and Hand-Launched gliders, he soon took on exceptional interest in Towline Gliders or F1A and F1H in FAI competition. Mentored by veteran Free Flight modelers Brian Van Nest, Jim Parker, and others, Kyle’s skills increased and he began attending contests across the US. He tried out for and made the US Junior team that competed in the 2006 World Championships in Germany. He placed ninth that year and the US Juniors won the team championships in F1A and overall!
He earned a place on the 2008 Junior team and made the fly offs at the World Championships in Ukraine, again placing ninth individually. The F1A team took second place and the US Juniors again won the overall team championships.
Kyle holds the National Junior Record for duration in F1H. He has placed well in a number of competitions including the America’s Cup and Max Men International.
Kyle graduated in the top 10 of his class at Saint Ignatius High School with a 4.37 weighted grade point average, taking a number of honors and advanced-placement classes. He joined the school’s rowing team in his freshman year and devoted many hours in the early mornings and after school for practice. Crew became a passion for Kyle. He medaled in the Midwest Scholastic Rowing Championships, contributed to three overall men’s team points trophies in the Midwest, and raced twice at the National Rowing Association of America’s National Championships. Kyle has participated in a number of charitable causes including the Mission Collection Committee, Christmas food drives, and volunteering at a local hospital assisting patients attend Mass. He is a student member of a Pallbearers Society, a group that organizes people to serve as pallbearers for poor and homeless people.
On a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, Kyle lived with a rural family and helped with many community projects. He has also participated in the Labre Ministry to the Homeless, sharing food and friendship with homeless people in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized with the Saint Michael’s College Book Award for Scholarship and Service.
Kyle will be attending Boston University and plans to study biomedical engineering. Best of luck to you in college, Kyle!
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