Benaquisto Memorial Scholarship Still Making a Difference
by J. Aaron 4Q AMT
Third quarter AMT student, Victor Udechukwu, has been awarded this year's Ronald Benaquisto Jr. Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship is awarded annually to exceptional students displaying financial need to honor Ronald Benaquisto Jr., a PIA student who died tragically in a motorcycle accident. His parents, Helen and Ron Sr. generously provide this gift to help students bear the financial strain of tuition and the many other costs associated with attending PIA.
Applicants for the award are required to be in good academic standing with an excellent record of attendance. Dozens of students filled out applications and wrote essays describing why they want to be in the aviation industry. Finalists were chosen from this pool and were then interviewed by a panel of administrators.
On Monday, October 1, Victor Udechukwu was announced as this year's winner and his relief and appreciation were apparent. A member of the Igbo Tribe in his home of southeastern Nigeria, Udechukwu has been living in the United States for six years.
Making rent on an apartment, paying for a vehicle, and keeping up with tuition, tools, and books is quite a burden. All this, coupled with speaking English as a second language and having his family being half a world away makes his success as a student a tremendous achievement.
In addition to attending class from 8-2:30 everyday, Udechukwu also holds a full-time job locally with the Precision Response Corporation (PRC). As a Customer Representative, he works answering phones after school until midnight, five days a week. When asked how he keeps up with such a demanding schedule, Udechukwu just smiles and says, "In tough situations, you have to make sacrifices. Plus, talking on the phone so much is good for my English".
PIA would like to congratulate Victor Udechukwu on receiving the Benaquisto Memorial Scholarship and wish him luck in his academic endeavors and in his career in aviation.