NWWIIGPA Essay Contest Information and Entry Instructions

Looking for additional ways to honor our WWII glider pilots and support our mission of education outreach, the Executive Council (EC) of the WWIIGPA activated a Scholarship Sub-committee and approved the sum of $2000 to be awarded during academic year. Major Trevor Shimulunas, USMC and Colonel Mark C. Vlahos, USAF-Retired volunteered to work this new program for the Association. Essay contest/scholarship winners will be announced after dinner on Saturday night at the fall Reunion. Additionally, winning essays may also be published in The Briefing. Finally, the winning authors will receive a year membership in the NWWIIGPA.

Look for specific instructions and eligibility for these scholarships to be posted on May 1st.

2025 Leon B Spenser Scholarship went to four recipients this year.

Ezri Ambriz, Age: 18, Home: Chula Vista, CA., School: San Diego State University, awarded $1,000
Essay Titled: Glider Operations of World War Two: Innovation Under Pressure

Michael Romeo, Age: 20, Home: Buffalo NY., School: State University of New York, awarded $1,000

Alfonso Tenore, Age: 17, Home: Foggia, Italy, School: Liceo Scientfico Alessandro Volta. Awarded $500.
Essay Titled: Volunteers to Hell – The Story of the 22 American Glider Pilots that Flew the Ladbroke Mission, Sicily 1943

Samantha Middaugh, Age: 19, Home: Bourbon, IN, School: Huntington University, Awarded $500
Essay Titled: Glider Pilots of World War II

2024 Leon B Spenser Scholarship went to two recipients this year.

The first scholarship went to Luke C. Bautz, Age 18, High School Senior, Swansea, IL. His essay Heroic Role of Glider Pilots in WWII was ranked #1. Luke is a senior at Belleville Township High School – East (BTHSE) in Bellville, IL. He is an honors student with a 4.8 GPA and a Varsity baseball player. Luke is active in social-service and honors clubs including the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and Octagon Service Club.
Luke is an active volunteer, having served in multiple liturgical ministries in his church starting in the 4 th grade, and growing as a group leader for junior high retreats. He has also volunteered at a local elementary school, has been a student-coach at a junior high baseball camp for four years, and participated in the Rotary Christmas Parade.

Luke has been accepted to, and plans on attending, the University of Mississippi in the fall of 2025. He plans to study applied math in hopes of becoming a sports-data analyst or actuarial scientist.

The second scholarship went to Ms. Angela Henry, age 19, a Freshman at a Technical College, Eagan, MN. Her essay Why Studying WWII and the contributions of Glider Pilots is Important. Angela is currently a prerequisite student for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program at CVTC in Eau Claire, WI. Her goal is to become an Ultrasound Techician to help diagnose what can't be seen through the human eye. One of my main motivators is to heldp people. Angela's grandfather was Corporal Henry I. Laverne, a glider mechanic!

2023 Leon B Spenser Scholarship went to Ms. Abagail Kay Bradberry, of Fort Worth, TX. for her article, Glider Operations in the European Theater in World War II Abagail is Currently pursuing a career in aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Arizona, Abby is a promising individual in the field.