Cascade Warbirds Awarded First Aviation Scholarship

The nonprofit program now supports aircraft maintenance students at two Washington colleges.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Scholarships

Cascade Warbirds Awarded First Aviation Scholarship

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Cascade Warbirds has granted its inaugural aircraft maintenance scholarship to Kloe Manderville. The recipient is a student at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.

Why it matters

This new initiative was designed to provide essential financial assistance to students pursuing careers as aircraft mechanics. It reflects a growing effort to support the next generation of aviation technical professionals.

The Cascade Warbirds organization, which includes more than 230 members, has expanded its reach by establishing this scholarship program across 2 state colleges. Big Bend Community College and Clover Park Technical College are the currently participating institutions.

The players

Kloe Manderville

She is the first student to receive the newly established Cascade Warbirds A&P scholarship.

Cascade Warbirds

This organization operates as Squadron 2 of EAA Warbirds of America and maintains a membership base of over 230 individuals.

Big Bend Community College

Located in Moses Lake, this institution is one of two Washington schools partnering with the scholarship program.

Clover Park Technical College

Situated in Puyallup, this college is the second institution participating in the aircraft maintenance scholarship initiative.

The details

The selection of Kloe Manderville was the result of a collaborative review process involving college faculty and the Cascade Warbirds A&P Scholarship Chair. The organization, known as Squadron 2 of EAA Warbirds of America, aims to bolster the ranks of trained aviation maintenance staff.

October to May is the period when Cascade Warbirds holds its membership meetings.

Culture Shift

This initiative represents a localized effort to address the aviation mechanic labor shortage identified by the Federal Aviation Administration. It follows a pattern of private-public partnerships designed to mitigate industry-wide recruitment challenges.

Students currently enrolled in aircraft maintenance programs at Big Bend or Clover Park should monitor for future application windows. This program provides a direct financial pathway for those pursuing A&P certification in Washington.

The takeaway

The establishment of this scholarship highlights the increasing importance of private support for technical education. Students interested in aviation maintenance should stay engaged with local industry squadrons for emerging career development funding.