AMA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
For the first time in the history of the AMA Scholarship Program a girl has won the top scholarship award, proving ERA principles are alive and well among Scholarship Committee members. The winner of the $1,000 scholarship for 1978 is Linda Brown of Stone Mountain, GA.
Linda's long list of high school honors, community activities and a 3.89 grade average (out of 4.0) convinced the AMA Scholarship Committee that her accomplishments merited the top award. Her strong record in model construction and competition helped clinch the decision.
Since 1970, AMA Scholarship Awards have been made in varying amounts to applicants who are doubly distinguished by high grades and active careers in modeling competition. Community activities and public service are also stressed. The most desirable candidates participate in a variety of modeling, school and community activities and are academically exceptional. Linda fulfills all of these standards.
Linda graduated from Clarkston High School (Clarkston, GA) in 1977. Highlights of her scholastic and extracurricular record include:
- Straight A's in junior and senior years; honor roll from 8th through 12th grade
- Member, National Honor Society and National BETA Club (last three years)
- Participation in concert band, marching band, symphonic band, musical orchestra, jazz band, pep band and woodwind ensemble
- Editor and reporter, school newspaper (senior year)
Her many academic awards include:
- Certificate of Excellence — General Science (8th grade)
- Certificate of Excellence — Algebra I (9th grade)
- Certificate of Excellence — English (10th grade)
- Certificate of Excellence — Algebra II (11th grade)
- Certificate of Honor — Newspaper Staff
- Certificate of Honor — National Honor Society
- Certificate — Scholarship, English
- Certificate — Scholarship, Trigonometry
- Certificate — Scholarship, Accounting
- Medal of Excellence — Physics (12th grade)
She also placed in several school and local science and math fairs and has been active in Girl Scouts, the Explorers Club and her church.
Modeling and competition
- Built 23 model airplanes and competed in many contests
- King Orange Internationals (1974–1978): 4th in Payload (1976); 3rd in Cargo (1977); 2nd in Cargo and placements in Mulvihill Rubber, 1/2A Gas and Payload (1978)
- 1978 Nationals (Lake Charles): 1st in P-30 (unofficial event); 3rd in Mulvihill Rubber; 4th in Easy B; 4th in Pennyplane (Indoor Peanut Scale); 5th in A-1 Towline; 8th in 1/2A Gas
Education and plans
- Entered DeKalb Community College (Clarkston, GA) in September 1977; continued high scholastic achievement while working 20+ hours weekly to help finance her education
- Plans to transfer to Georgia State University (Atlanta) to study Business Administration with a major in Accounting
Proud parents: Mr. and Mrs. E. Donald Brown.
Scholarship program background
- The AMA Scholarship Program was initiated by Matty Sullivan of Pylon Brand Products, who made a substantial contribution to start the fund. The AMA Executive Council authorized apportionment of dues and solicitations for additional contributions to sustain the program.
- Since the program began AMA has awarded a total of $22,250, distributed as follows: $2,000 (1970); $2,000 (1971); no award (1972); $3,000 (1973); $4,000 (1974); $3,250 (1975); $1,000 (1976); $4,500 (1977); $2,000 (1978).
- The number and amount of scholarships vary annually according to the number of applications, applicant qualifications and available funds.
AMA Scholarship Committee (evaluates applications and recommends awards to the Executive Council):
- Bob Stalick, Albany, OR — Chairman
- Cliff Telford, Bethesda, MD
- Bob Underwood, St. Louis, MO
- John Worth, Fairfax, VA
1979 program and application information
- The 1979 Scholarship Program will follow recent procedures. To obtain an application, write: AMA Headquarters, 815 Fifteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20005.
- Eligibility requirement (current AMA member): have flown a model in an AMA‑sanctioned competition in 1977 or 1978 prior to submitting the application.
More 1978 Winners
Michael Nallen — Chicopee, MA (AMA scholarship: $500)
- 1978 graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School; attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute with plans for a degree in industrial or mechanical engineering.
- High school average: 94.3/100; letters in tennis and soccer; member of the National Honor Society and Pro Merito Club.
- Active competitor: member of the Flying Aces Club of Connecticut (rank: Major — 13 wins), Glastonbury Modelers and SAM-7. 1976 Nationals (Ohio): 1st in Outdoor Rubber Scale (Jr./Sr.), 2nd in Outdoor Peanut Scale, 3rd in AMA Rubber Scale; 4th in Embryo Endurance (Open, unofficial). Built 23 different models. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Nallen.
Joseph Musumeci, Jr. — Richardson, TX (AMA scholarship: $500)
- Outstanding CL Precision Aerobatics competitor since 1971. Attended J. J. Pearce High School; maintained a 93.5/100 average; member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta; graduated 44th in a class of 775.
- Competition record: 24 trophies in 25 contests (14 firsts, eight seconds, two thirds), including strong finishes at Nationals. In 1975 he was the youngest competitor at the Dayton FAI World Champ Team Trials (finished 11th). Has flown Precision Aerobatics indoors at Texas Stadium.
- Plans to use his scholarship at Texas A&M University, studying Chemical Engineering with a Business minor. Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Joe Musumeci, Sr.
AMA News
Staff and Headquarters
- Some AMA staff may be recruited into government positions (e.g., one GS‑11 and one GS‑10 position noted). College degrees or professional registrations are typically required for such government grades, so wholesale transfer of AMA staff to government posts is not expected.
- At lower salary levels, turnover is more likely because AMA salaries for those positions may be below comparable government entry levels.
- AMA Headquarters space is cramped and rent is comparable to the immediate Washington, D.C. suburban area; renewal costs are likely to rise. To avoid escalating operating costs and to obtain more adequate facilities, relocation to a less costly area and acquiring owned office space are suggested as long‑term solutions.
NOT FOR THE FAINT
If your club has ever wished it could stage an Expo that appeals to competition fliers, sport fliers, beginners, experienced builders and the general public, the Brockton, Massachusetts example is instructive.
- In January an AMA member contacted District I VP Cliff Piper when no club had volunteered to host the district meeting. He and six friends pooled resources: each invested $50, made a down payment for the Massasoit Community College Fine Arts Building, and began organizing.
- They invited prominent modelers representing many categories, solicited manufacturers, obtained booth commitments, secured donations for a raffle, and sold program advertising. Although the Toledo show was the following weekend, five companies staffed booths, 12 donated raffle gifts and 11 advertised.
- Event features included a children’s model-building room (over 800 gliders and rubber-powered models donated for children accompanied by a parent), two film rooms showing "Those Marvelous Miniatures" and "To Fly," and popular seminars and outdoor demonstrations by Dave Brown, Joe Birdi, Ernie Huber, Ed Izzo and Bob Hunt.
- Publicity efforts: mail packets to 70 clubs, 2,000 flyers to members, 60 press releases, personal media calls in Brockton and Boston, and a live appearance on Boston’s "Good Morning Show" two days before the Expo.
- On the day (April 1), despite drizzle and press distractions, lines formed early and over 1,100 people purchased admission during the five-hour Expo. All 800 children's planes were built with only one minor finger prick. Seminars were standing-room-only; foam-cutting demonstrations required a larger room; an added Control Line Combat event drew a packed audience. The local TV station later set a rain date for the planned flying demonstrations.
- The six original investors recouped their costs, paid bills totaling about $2,000, and donated $75 to each of the four clubs that helped.
This event demonstrates that successful Expos require determination, broad representation, aggressive publicity and a willingness to take financial risk — but the rewards for the modeling community can be substantial.
TRANS‑AM
- The Trans‑American Relay Race is underway and growing. Teams continue to be recruited in the Southeast to reach the target of 60 teams.
- Because of a large entry from the Southwest, one leg of the race was changed; the course now progresses from Ontario, CA, back to Las Vegas, NV, for a gala wind‑up hosted by Circus Circus.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
