Two students and one graduate from Enterprise State Community College’s Ozark Campus are reaching new heights after earning aviation maintenance training scholarships through the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Charities program. They are the first recipients from Alabama, an exciting milestone for both the students and the College.

Joel Green, aviation maintenance technician (AMT) student; Joshua Richards, avionics student; and Kevin Nelson, AMT program graduate; were each selected to receive an AMT Maintenance Scholarship. According to the organization’s website, these annual scholarships provide hands-on training experiences to students and working professionals. Scholarships are donated by aviation maintenance education and training providers and are dispersed through the NBAA Charities program.

“The NBAA Maintenance Committee [for AMT Maintenance Scholarships] is dedicated to promoting technical education and training as a means for business aviation maintenance technicians to enhance their careers,” the scholarship webpage states. “AMT Maintenance awards are generously donated by companies in business aviation and cover an array of technical subjects including aircraft maintenance initials, engines, avionics, and professional development. Applicants have various training options and rank their preferences as part of the application process.”

The students’ success was supported by industry connections on campus. In September 2025, Lynze Norris, aircraft program manager for Coca-Cola and a member of NBAA, visited the Ozark campus to connect with students and highlight opportunities in business aviation, including the NBAA Charities scholarship program.

Each student received training in a specialized area:

• Green received a training scholarship donated by Abaris Training Resources, Inc. for training focused on M1-R1 and R2 composite structures fabrication and repair.
• Richards received a scholarship donated by ASTM for the ASTM National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies (NCATT) Aircraft Electronics Technician (AET) certification exam and ASTM NCATT endorsement exam.
• Nelson, who currently works for Boeing in North Carolina, received a scholarship donated by Gogo Business Aviation for the organization’s Master Technician and Installer Course and Gogo aeroIT Certification Training Course.

They will be recognized by the NBAA during the National Maintenance Conference in New Orleans May 5-7, an exciting opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments on the national stage.

“I’m very proud of these students for taking the initiative and utilizing the resources available to them,” Ozark Campus Career Coach Lori Snell said. “It is very important in this industry that current and former students be willing to put themselves out there and actively seek opportunities to gain experience. This will give them the necessary advantage and place them in the best position to start their careers.”