By Marcia Barnes, Clay County Progress
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Andrews – Gayland Trull, newly elected president of the Western Carolina Youth Aviation Foundation, was welcomed on March 26 by incoming and retiring board members.
The ceremony took place at Western Carolina Regional Airport. The retiring president of WCYAF, David Hourdequin, will continue as special assistant to new incoming officers.
Trull, director of Western Carolina Regional Airport, is flanked by board members dedicated to support, encourage and facilitate aviation career education for youth in western North Carolina. The main thrust of the foundation is providing flight training scholarships for high school students in Clay, Cherokee and Graham counties.
WCYAF’s board members who are stepping down are retired Lt. Col. David Brown and Lisa Turner. Brown has served as vice president and treasurer on the board. Turner has been the foundation’s web host and publicity coordinator.
Incoming members of the board bring with them enthusiasm to further the goals of the foundation. They also bring experience in their individual fields.
John Johnson is the new vice president of the foundation. Johnson, vice president of MOOG, Peachtree, is also a certified flight instructor.
Mark Pope will serve as secretary and is considered the board’s resident drone expert.
Reid Woody, who fills the position of treasurer, is aircraft commander, C-130s and stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base in Atlanta. Reid has served in three tours in the Middle East.
Hourdequin, retiring president of WCYAF, said scholarships provided by the foundation are an important step in furthering student education in aviation and he encourages high school sophomores and juniors to visit the WCYAF website.
Tri-County Community College in Peachtree offers courses in aviation science and provides an academic source for students. Scholarships provided by the foundation are a stepping stone to further student education and students between ages 16-19 who qualify may apply.
Trull, who now directs the board as president, knows the importance of moving students from the classroom to the cockpit. The newly elected board comes highly qualified to support and encourage local students who are interested in aviation.