Robert J. Rummel, a recently retired professional pilot, has collaborated with the Lancaster campus of Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) to establish an aviation scholarship for students pursuing a bachelor's degree in leadership and organizational management (LOM) with an aviation concentration. The scholarship's purpose is to help aviation students achieve their goals. Rummel's extensive experience in the aviation industry will provide an opportunity for EMU's aviation students to receive mentorship and support from someone dedicated to giving back to his profession.

Rummel was a corporate pilot before his retirement. He began his flight training at Lancaster Aviation Flight Academy when he was 20 years old in 1970, and by 1972, he had obtained his private, commercial, and flight instructor licenses. Rummel served as a full-time instructor at the academy for three years. In 1975, he began his 44-year corporate flying career, which included piloting turboprops, helicopters, and large corporate jets. For the last 23 years of his career, Rummel flew a Bombardier Global Express for Paramount Pictures and the CBS Corporation, traveling to locations worldwide.

Rummel retired in 2019, but he still had a passion for aviation and flying. One day he attempted to rent a plane from Aero-Tech Services Inc., but he discovered that all of the company's aircraft were booked weeks in advance. It was then that he learned that Aero-Tech was partnered with EMU for its flight program. When Rummel learned that EMU did not have a scholarship program for its young aviators, he started one. The scholarship is available to students entering their junior year and working toward a commercial pilot certificate.

Recently, the scholarship committee named Griffin Snyder as the first recipient of the Robert J. Rummel scholarship. Snyder, from New Holland, will receive $5,000. He has already obtained his private, instrument, and commercial ratings and will use the scholarship to pursue his multi-engine rating and flight instructor certificates.

The scholarship award ceremony took place during EMU's Aviation Open House on Nov. 2 at Aero-Tech Services' facility at Lancaster Airport on Airport Road in Lititz.

EMU's collegiate aviation program operates under Part 141 regulations and offers reduced airline transport pilot (ATP) certification requirements. Graduates of the program are eligible for 1,000 hours toward their ATP license instead of the standard 1,500 hours. Through EMU's program, students earn their private, instrument, commercial with multi-engine rating, and flight instructor certificates. Additionally, they can participate in regional airline cadet and pilot preparation programs. Recruitment for the fall 2024 cohort is underway, with information available at the aforementioned website.