WesBanco Student of the Week: Western Hills’ Brooks receives aviation scholarship – State-Journal
Published 1:00 pm Friday, October 24, 2025
DreamFlight Charities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and equipping the next generation of aviators, has announced the awarding of its Fall 2025 Flight Training Scholarships to two Kentucky high school students.
Justin Brooks, a senior at Western Hills, is one of the students, and he has been named the WesBanco Student of the Week.
Brooks has made a head start on his collegiate career through courses with the Bluegrass Community and Technical College. He completed discovery flights through DreamFlight Charities earlier this year as part of the scholarship application process.
“Our vision has always been to make aviation accessible to every student with a passion to fly,” said Drew Underwood, executive director of DreamFlight Charities. “Both Brady and Justin represent the kind of drive and curiosity that define the future of Kentucky’s aviation industry. We’re proud to support their journeys and are excited to see where this experience will take them.”
Brady Crook, a junior at Lincoln County High, was the other scholarship recipient.
These scholarships provide each recipient with up to $6,000 in funding toward initial flight training, allowing students to earn flight hours and necessary experience in obtaining their private pilot license. The initiative is part of DreamFlight Charity’s ongoing mission to remove barriers to aviation careers by offering financial support, mentorship and hands-on experiences to young people across the commonwealth.
DreamFlight Charities’ scholarship program is made possible through the support of donors, sponsors and community partners who share the organization’s commitment to fostering aviation education and workforce development in Kentucky.
Brooks is the son of Joy Brooks and Patrick Brooks.
State Journal: How did you become interested in aviation?
Brooks: I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t intrigued with planes, always looking up to watch them fly over. As a younger kid I loved learning about jets and military planes, especially from WWII. To fuel my curiosity, one year for my birthday my parents gifted me with a discovery flight. Since that flight, I knew that the sky was where I wanted to be, and it sealed my love for planes and the aviation industry.
SJ: What aviation classes are you taking at BCTC?
Brooks: I am currently taking classes at BCTC through the Bluegrass College Academy (BCA) at Western Hills. The BCA program is allowing me to work toward an associate degree, and those classes are following a more traditional college path. The DreamFlight Charity scholarship has allowed me to begin aviation classes through Wings Flight Training at the Bluegrass Airport in Lexington.
SJ: How strenuous was the scholarship process? What all did you have to do?
Brooks: To be eligible to apply for the scholarship, I had to complete a discovery flight through DreamFlights Charities. From there, the application process included completing an application, writing an essay and submitting letters of recommendation.
SJ: What is the most challenging aspect of your aviation classes?
Brooks: I would say so far the most challenging thing about aviation is retaining all of the information and being patient with the process. There’s lots of different levels to go through, and I’m excited to fly on my own.
SJ: What are your plans after graduation?
Brooks: After high school I plan to continue by flight training through Wings Flight Training. Ultimately, my end goal is to gain all my certifications and licenses to end up flying for one of the big airlines one day.
