BILL COWDEN MEMORIAL AVIATION SCHOLARSHIP
For Bill Cowden, aviation wasn’t just a career choice, but a way of life. Since he was a young boy, Bill had always dreamed of being a pilot. Through diligence and perseverance, he nurtured that goal into a 25-year-long aviation career.
As a private pilot, North Dakota Air National Guard F-16 pilot, commercial airline pilot and air show performer, Bill accumulated over 7,500 flight hours in more than 85 different models of aircraft. He held a Level 1 Unrestricted Surface Level Aerobatic waiver. Bill was also an Airframe and Power Plant mechanic and aircraft builder. He loved giving rides to and mentoring aspiring young pilots, and served on numerous aviation boards and committees.
Bill passed away at the age of 47 in an air show performance accident in June 2014. Those who knew Bill remember his attention to detail and hunger to attain each subsequent aviation rating. His passion was honing his aviation skills and promoting aviation activities in all their forms.
It is in this spirit and in his loving memory that his wife, Heather Cowden, reached out to the Community Foundation of Dunn County to establish the Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship. It is Heather’s hope that aspiring pilots who lack the financial resources to pursue advanced pilot training will be able to fulfill their dreams in Bill’s memory.
Starting in 2015, one scholarship will be available each year to provide financial support to an area pilot working to obtain higher ratings in aviation, up to $1,500.
Applications are accepted from March through May of each year.
Criteria of Eligibility:
- Available to Private Pilots of all ages.
- This scholarship is specifically to promote advanced training in aviation. Applicants must already hold a current Private Pilot Certificate
- Scholarship is to be used toward advanced training in aviation.
- Applicant must provide a professional resume, and include one letter of recommendation related to aviation skills.
- Applicants must submit a one-page, typewritten essay giving their reasons for pursuing advanced training in aviation.
- Available to pilots in the Midwest, limited to: ND, SD, NE, KS, MN, IA, MO, WI, IL, MI, IN, and OH.
Click the “Apply Now Through the Portal” button and follow the instructions to access the scholarship submission form:
- First, you will need to create a New Account
- Once you’ve created an account, you will receive a confirmation email. Click the link to return to the login page and use your username/email and password to access your new account
- Complete a short eligibility survey in the section labeled Eligibility – Bill Cowden Memorial Aviation Scholarship (just below the ‘Eligibility – Scholarships’ section)
Applications are only accepted from March through May each year. The 2024 deadline is 5 pm on May 19th. Email info@cfdunncounty.org with questions.
“The Bill Cowden Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of my husband and my son Gunnar’s father. We established this scholarship because his passion in life was to be the best he could be in any aviation related activities. He was never satisfied to stay at the level he was at. He was always trying to obtain the next rating. So this scholarship is designed to help others accomplish obtaining that next level or next rating of aviation. I think that is a fitting tribute to who my husband was.” -Heather Cowden
