The Foundation

The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation was founded in 2002, in memory of LeRoy Homer, First Officer of United Airlines #93 when it crashed in Shanksville, PA on September 11th, 2001. The mission of The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation is to encourage and support young adults who wish to pursue careers as professional pilots and increase awareness to the field of aviation. The Foundation awards flight scholarships to obtain private pilot certification.

Since The Foundation began in 2002, thirty-three scholarships have been granted.  Thirty-two past recipients have received their private pilot license and the current recipients are in training.  Nearly all our former recipients are working in the field of aviation as follows:

Twenty-three individuals have graduated from four year programs with degrees including aeronautical engineering, aeronautical science, aviation, flight technology, aviation business, cyber security and cyber engineering. Two recipients completed Masters Degrees and one presently is completing a PhD in Applied Hypersonic Aerodynamics. Seven students are currently completing their undergraduate degrees. Two current recipients are completing high school. Most recipients have achieved additional ratings – instrument, complex, commercial single & multi-engine, airline transport pilot (ATP) and certified flight instructor (CFI.)

One past recipient is a graduate of the US Naval Academy, four are graduates of the US Air Force Academy and one is presently completing their studies at the US Air Force Academy. The Foundation’s scholarship recipients fly (or previously have flown) FA-18s and F-35s in the US Navy, RC-135 and C-17s in the US Air Force, F-15 in the Air National Guard, MD-11 for Western Global Airlines, MD-88 and 757/767 for Delta Airlines and 767 for FedEx Express.