Emerald Ridge Senior Earns Aviation Scholarship

On May 8, 2025, Emerald Ridge High School senior Juanita Leonard was named one of 16 students statewide to receive an aviation scholarship from The Museum of Flight. Awarded with the 2025 Reba Gilman Endowed Scholarship, Leonard received $5,000 towards STEM-based post-secondary education. 

In Fall 2025, Leonard will attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, where she plans to major in Aerospace Engineering with a focus on Aeronautics. Her long-term goal is to become a test engineer at Blue Origin or SpaceX, and ultimately, work at NASA. 

Leonard has served as a teen volunteer with The Museum of Flight and previously participated in the Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS) program.  

“Some might believe teenagers can’t embody the entrepreneurial spirit because of age or experience. Ridiculous,” Leonard said in an interview with The Museum of Flight. “During the Washington Aerospace Scholars program, I was juggling my regular coursework and college-level coursework. I learned I was more than capable, and instead of worrying about being incompetent, I found people who helped me succeed.” 

Please join us in congratulating Juanita Leonard on this outstanding accomplishment and significant next step in pursuit of her dreams.