Written by AMA staff (01/2003); Transcribed by JS (02/2008), Reformatted by JS (10/2009)
Michael Stanley Mickus, awarded a $3,000 Charles Hampson Grant Scholarship, was the Valedictorian of his class at Saint John’s Jesuit in Toledo, Ohio. With a grade point average of 4.0, Michael’s goal is to eventually learn a flight slot with the Air National Guard or as a commercial pilot.
Michael earned his Private Pilot Single Engine Land License in January 2001. He was a member of the National Honor Society, participated as a service volunteer for blood drives, and was member of the Student Council, Executive Council, Homecoming Committee, and Flag Committee. He was a member of the football team, Math Club, Junior Engineer and Technical Society, and was the TV camera operator for morning announcements at St. John’s. Michael announced school football, basketball, and hockey games live on St. John’s Web site, volunteered as a first grade assistant at a local elementary school , taught Sunday School, tutored at his own school, and helped with various church-related projects including raking leaves and picking up trash.
Away from school, Michael was employed at a local storage facility charged with keeping the grounds clean one summer, and the next in the meat department of a local grocery store. Michael is most proud of his swimming accomplishments. A four-year member of the high school team, a four-year varsity letter winner, a four-year district qualifier, and varsity record holder, Michael set out to do what no other from his high school had done in recent history; qualify for the state swim meet.
After missing the cut by only three seconds his junior year. Michael put himself on a strict practice regimen. Well before the season began, he was dedicating roughly 23 hours a week to swimming alone, running, abdominal exercises, and lifting weights. His hard work paid off as he set three varsity swimming records and became the first swimmer in 12 years from his school to qualify for the state meet.
Aviation has played a large part of Michael’s life. Both his grandfather and mother are skilled pilots and Michael was inspired to learn all he could. “Model aviation was my door to the excitement, knowledge, and satisfaction that aviation offers to everyone. As I spent hours building and flying my model airplanes, I learned firsthand about flight principles and procedures,” he wrote.
Michael’s aircraft included a Thunder Tiger Trainer 2000, another trainer he refurbished, and a U.S. Air Core F-16.
Michael is attending flight school at Purdue University in Indiana and plans to bring the same dedication and hard work to Purdue that he has displayed throughout his high school career. AMA is glad to help him realize his dreams.
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