AFA in Action

Scholarship Awarded to Ohio Cadet

By Theodore Pifer, USAF (Ret.)

Air & Space Forces Association Steel Valley Ohio Chapter presented Cadet Bryce Moleski on Feb. 11 with a $500 scholarship presented by retired CMSgt. Theodore A. Pifer (USAF), chapter president. The chapter serves the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, its Air Force community, and greater Youngstown-Warren area in Ohio.

Moleski is a student in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Det. 630 at Kent State University in Ohio. An Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies at the University, Maj. Richard T. Spencer submitted his name for consideration to earn the scholarship. Spencer said, “Cadet Moleski is the epitome of servant leadership when it comes to assisting fellow cadets and creating a feeling of belonging and serving a greater cause than one’s self.”

Cadets interested in AFROTC at Kent State are required to take two classes per semester concentrating on: Aerospace Studies where they learn the basics of Air Force and Space Force leadership, management topics, and national security issues; and Leadership Laboratory, which includes physical fitness assessments, field days, drills and ceremonies, leadership studies, leadership-building exercises, as well as Air Force/Space Force career days.

AFA and its chapters provide students with a variety of scholarship options to advance their educational pursuits and to promote the Air and Space Forces mission. 

For more information please see https://www.afa.org/education-support/scholarships.                                               

Reaching Kids With STEM 

Endeavor Elementary School, an AFA Community Partner in Florida, hosted a STEM outreach event for fifth-graders on May 6, its first since the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person opportunities for mentors, academics, and scientists to introduce STEM opportunities to children in Brevard County.   

In cooperation with AFTAC—Air Force Technical Applications Center—AFA’s Space Coast Chapter Vice President for Aerospace Education Russell Lewey presented tech and science demonstrations including a Tesla Coil, liquid nitrogen, quantum levitation, a Van De Graaf generator, and explored the Bernoulli Principle with a windbag demonstration. Lewey and the AFTAC team then led a discussion with Endeavor teachers to discuss AFA/AFTAC and STEM opportunities appropriate for classrooms.   

Endeavor’s STEM coordinator wrote “The kids were so excited. … One even [said] I needed to write down the name SrA. William Saunders for him,” because the Airman made a big impact, and he needed to remember his name so he can “be ‘like him.’”