Hobbies and interests
Sailing
Flying And Aviation
Tennis
Reading
Adult Fiction
Adventure
I read books multiple times per week
Ashley Almquist
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FinalistAshley Almquist
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FinalistBio
I am a high school senior with a passion for aviation. Upon completing my private pilot license in November 2021, I have since been accepted to the University of North Dakota and plan to double major in Commercial Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems.
Going into a male dominated field has only pushed me to work harder by entering college level courses, getting involved in community service, and following a rigorous schedule of work, school, and sailing. During that time, I also took on the challenge of my Private Pilot's license, which only helped me to gain better time management skills.
One of my largest community contributions involved my work in raising two guide dogs for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I dedicated two years of my life to training them, socializing them, and taking care of their basic needs. My first dog Tito ended up graduating in the top 2% of his class and went on to be a breeder for the program while my second dog went on to harness training. It brings me considerable satisfaction to know Tito’s descendants will one day help to change someone’s way of life by supplying them with a new sense of confidence and self-dependence in the form of a furry friend.
Education
Bay High School
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Bachelor's degree program
Majors of interest:
- Air Transportation
Career
Dream career field:
Airlines/Aviation
Dream career goals:
Pilot
Future Interests
Volunteering
Future of Aviation Scholarship
Aviation flows through my blood. Each drop a keeper of my ancestor’s past ventures, like an archive of books stored away as a reminder of who I am or who I could be. Whispering tales of my grandfather’s prized colyaer freedom s100, a spanish seaplane he repaired himself. Tales of my father’s first flight and my mother’s first landing. All of the defining moments that changed their life trajectory towards one that navigates the sky.
As my mother once said, “If you find a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” So when I had opened my eyes to the sun drenched horizon on my first flight, felt the wind whistle over the wings and the little pieces of my heart lock into place, I knew I had found my calling. One that would send me around the world, push me as a person, and grant me the ability to soar with the swiftest of birds or chase sunsets painted by Monet himself.
After my grandfathers unfortunate passing in a plane crash, flying became a sort of therapy to me. Up high I was untouchable and his spirit seemed to race alongside my wings. Urging me on and taking away all of the day's problems. If I was able to continue along my path and become an airline pilot I know my hard work would not only make me proud, but him as well. My dream for the future is to pilot an aircraft alongside my sister and dad. To have my family with me during a trip is something that would only bring my family closer and has been a goal of mine since I was little.
The path ahead was bound to be costly and challenging, with female pilots making up only 3.4% of the total pilot population. However, the idea of entering a male-dominated field only pushed me to work harder than my peers. Entering college level courses, finding employment to save money, and getting involved in community service. To top off my already busy schedule of work, school, and sailing, I also took on the challenge of completing my private pilot’s license before entering the University of North Dakota. Not only did my determination confirm my passion for aviation and elevate my graduating class rank to 3rd, it also helped me to reconstruct myself as a person.
Following graduation from Bay High, I plan to attend the University of North Dakota to double major in Commercial Aviation and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. While at UND I will assist/take over my sister’s nonprofit business which provides money for pilots that lost their jobs due to covid as she will be graduating. Upon completion of those, I hope to be accepted into the United AVIATE program, become a CFI to gain hours for my ATP rating, and get a job at United to eventually fly international on the Boeing-777 with my family.