Written by AMA staff (03/2006); Transcribed by JS (02/2008), Reformatted by JS (02/2010)
Zechariah “Zach” Spychalla, son of Leo and Beth Spychalla, is the recipient of a $6,500 Charles Hampson Grant scholarship and a $1,000 Sig award. Zach plans to attend Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and major in biomedical science. He hopes to attend medical school. Zach graduated from Watertown High School in Watertown, Wisconsin, with a 3.986 gradepoint average. In school, he was an active band member, playing soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone in several school and church bands and ensembles. He qualified for state competition in the District Solo and Ensemble Festival in 2004.
Zach is held in high regard by his fellow students, teachers, and school administrators. His guidance counselor, Jon Sterling, wrote, “While his grades have always been exemplary, Zach strives more to learn what’s happening in class as opposed to worrying about the As.” A member of the National Honor Society, Zach served as the group’s treasurer his senior year. He was a member of the school’s math team and was the team captain his senior year. Zach’s work experience includes employment as a subcontractor for Spychalla Aircraft LLC, building plugs and molds from which parts are made and sold to the modeling community. An avid modeler, Zach has been involved in the hobby since he was six years old. He has been an AMA member since 1994. A former member of the Lakeland Radio Control Club, Zach is a current member of the Beaver Area Radio Flyers in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He learned to fly on a Kadet trainer with his father when he was six. The first airplane he built was a Big Stik. “With some glue and three engines later, this Big Stik is still flying,” wrote Zach. When Zach was 10, he acquired a 1/6-scale Pica T-28 and shortly after, he began construction on his 1/5-scale Stuka. Being an inexperienced scale builder, construction went slowly but with the help from his father in the wing design, he completed it in 2001. Zach has since built many Combat, aerobatic, and glow aircraft and has completed a Balsa USA Fokker D. VII and a yellow Aircraft Mk XIV Spitfire.
Zach’s competition experience is notable. He has competed in the Mint Julep Scale Meet, the AMA Nats, and the U.S. Scalemasters, placing well in the competitions and receiving “Best of” awards for various accomplishments.
Zach enjoys nearly every aspect of Radio Control including Giant Scale, Aerobatics, and Combat aircraft. “Recently, I have also greatly enjoyed electrics. I have had electric jets, warbirds, and 3- D airplanes. To sum it up, I do just about anything in Radio Control airplanes and enjoy every minute of it,” he wrote.
Zach, AMA wishes you good luck and hopes you enjoy every minute of school as well!
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