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.

Scholarship Amount(s): Cash award(s) in the amount of $1000 will be awarded (up to 2 total) for a winning essay submission with a length 2000-2500 Words. As the last veteran to hold the EC Chair, each $1000 academic scholarship memorializes glider pilot Otto F. Lyons. Essay winners will also receive a one-year membership to the organization.

Eligibility: Students ages 17 to 22 (high school senior thru undergraduate) who are enrolled full time in the fall of this year are eligible for the essay contest. Cadets or midshipman attending a National Service Academy are not eligible to enter.

Due Date: Completed essays must be received by September 1, to be eligible to compete for scholarship money. Email completed essays as an attachment in either MS Word or PDF format to both Trevor Shimulunas and Mark Vlahos at nwwiigpc.scholarship@gmail.com. Cover email must include entrants complete name, age, date of birth, home address, email and phone number, word count on the chosen essay and the name and address of the school attending full time in the fall of this year. Finally, after the essay, list all sources used, don't forget to footnote any critical data. Student's may use as many sources as desired.

Essay Topics: Choose one of the following:

1. Why studying WWII and the contributions of Glider Pilots is important.


2. Write an essay about glider operations in the European Theater of Operations.


3. Discuss how innovation is a tenet of American development in relation to Troop Carrier and glider operations.


4. Write an essay on the roles and missions the combat glider performed supporting Airborne Divisions on the battlefield.


5. Submit a topic related to WWII glider training or operations

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.