Hayward Air Rally

Apply Before April 30, 2026

Pursue your dream of flight. The Hayward Air Rally awards scholarships to passionate aviators ready to take the next step in their aviation journey.

Scholarship Information

Welcome to the Hayward Air Rally Scholarship application. Our goal is to enhance and encourage candidates who have a strong interest in pursuing a career in aviation. We offer awards of up to $3,000, which can be applied toward educational expenses associated with aviation curricula. This includes flight training, aeronautical degrees, A&P mechanical certification, air traffic controller certification, avionics training, airport management, and other related fields.

In Memory of Ray Hazel
This scholarship is named in memory of Ray Hazel, a dedicated participant and volunteer with the Hayward Air Rally for more than 30 years. Ray's journey with us began as a passenger in 1988. He later flew as a navigator from 1998 to 2005, winning the event in 2001. For many years after his competitive flying, he served as our veteran timing line official until his passing in early 2023. If you flew the rally in recent years, his voice was likely the one greeting you at the final timing line. We hope this scholarship helps others carry forward his incredible spirit and passion for aviation.

Eligibility

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Due Date: All applications are due April 30, 2026.
  • Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
  • Geographic Connection: Preference provided to individuals with a personal connection to the San Francisco Bay Area or the Sacramento area. Eligible counties include Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo.
  • Academic Execellence: Strongly encouraged but not required that applicants provide a current grades transcript and a letter of recommendation from an instructor / teacher.
  • Active Pursuit of an Aviation Career: You must provide proof that you are actively working toward a career in aviation. Acceptable examples include current flight training, enrollment in an aviation major, leadership within an aviation organization, or documented progress at a vocational school toward aviation ratings or certificates. Applicable career paths include airplane or helicopter pilot, aircraft mechanic, airport management, air traffic controller, airline dispatcher, and more.
  • Payments: Award payments will be made directly to your flight school or aviation program. The award amounts are at the discretion of the scholarship committee
  • Use of AI: To ensure your application truly reflects your unique voice and experiences, we are asking that original essays are written entirely by you. While AI tools can be helpful for brainstorming, we ask that you avoid using them to generate or rewrite your content, as our committee prioritizes authentic, personal narratives over polished, machine-generated text.

Personal Information

All fields are required.

Essay Questions

Each response must be between 10 and 5,000 characters.

Describe your aviation journey so far. What sparked your interest in flying?

0 / 5,000

What are your career goals in aviation and how will this scholarship help you achieve them?

0 / 5,000

Tell us about your ongoing interest in aviation and your specific plans going forward.

0 / 5,000

List up to three schools or programs you are considering and why (e.g., flight schools, universities). Be sure to include the school name, address, phone, email and a contact to receive scholarship payments.

0 / 5,000

Is there anything else you would like the committee to know about you?

0 / 5,000

Supporting Documents

Upload up to 3 supporting documents (PDF or Word). These are optional but strongly encouraged. Maximum file size: 10 MB each.

1 of 3
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