Atlas Air Scholarship Fund’s inaugural employee dependent scholarship program drew an impressive group of candidates. The 10 recipients of $3,000 scholarships are students from diverse backgrounds, pursuing lofty goals ranging from entertainment and politics to aviation and medicine. The program was administered through Scholarship America, which selected the recipients from the pool of eligible applicants, all dependents of Atlas’ U.S.-based employees. We congratulate the recipients and their proud parents.
After he lost his grandfather to pancreatic cancer, Robert knew he wanted to devote his life to medicine. This fall, he will begin his freshman year studying biology on a pre-medicine track at the University of Pittsburgh.
“I am extremely honored to be chosen as a recipient of this scholarship and thankful to Atlas Air for their generosity,” said Robert, 17, who hopes to become an anesthesiologist or a pediatric dermatologist. “After seeing my grandfather go through such pain with pancreatic cancer, I am determined to help those who are suffering and find ways to heal. This scholarship will help to alleviate the large financial burden of college and get me one step closer to my goal.”
Connie Conti, Director IT Business Services Tech Ops and Safety, is Robert’s very proud mother.
“Robbie has worked extremely hard, and he has developed an incredible work ethic that will take him far,” Connie said. “We are so proud of all his accomplishments and, more importantly, the kind young man he has become. We are grateful to Atlas for providing this opportunity and their generous support to our family during this exciting time in our son’s life.”
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Growing up, Madeline was inspired by her father Check Captain Chris Goussios and his work flying 747s for Atlas Air. Now, as a junior in Kent State University’s aeronautics program, she aims to follow in his footsteps.
“My dad and his career at Atlas have played a big role in my decision to pursue aviation,” said Madeline, 20, who lives Howland, Ohio. “I remember as a small child when my dad was going through training at Atlas. When he would tell me about his trips, how great the people he works with are and how much he appreciated the aviation community – and when I started flying myself right out of high school – I knew I was sold.”
Chris is proud of his daughter’s accomplishments and her drive to pursue her dream of a career in aviation.
“Madeline is so dedicated to her education and her goal of becoming a professional pilot. She works tirelessly to achieve her goals,” he said. “We are very grateful for this scholarship and proud to be part of the Atlas Air family.”
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A passion for art drives Captain Jwalant Bakshi’s son Vinay as he pursues his education in graphic design at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. He hopes to build a freelance art and design business and, eventually, use his talent in the film industry.
“We greatly appreciate that Vinay’s hard work is being recognized,” Jwalant said. “This scholarship is a very real benefit for us to save some money, and in turn it helps Vinay pursue his goals.”
Vinay said the scholarship has special meaning for him.
“I am honored to have been chosen for this scholarship, as it helps me recognize my own skills in certain areas and helps raise my level of confidence,” he said. “Along with this, it feels good to have been recognized by the company that has employed my father for decades.”
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Training Center Administration Manager Yovankha Untracht’s daughter Emily is studying psychology on a pre-medicine track as a sophomore at Florida International University.
She hopes to complete medical school and meet all the requirements to become a Board-Certified Psychiatrist. She is grateful for the scholarship, which will help her achieve those goals.
“The Atlas Scholarship will not only help me financially this upcoming fall semester, but it has also provided me with a sense of confidence to know that I am able to achieve anything I set my mind to,” said Emily, 18.
Yovankha said Emily has been a source of pride for her family from the earliest age.
“Emily is an amazing young lady, who from a very early age has been very independent, intelligent, determined yet very loving and caring,” Yovankha said. “She has grown up surrounded by our Atlas family, and I am extremely proud to see that her academic accomplishments and hard work are being recognized as one of the recipients of the Atlas Worldwide Scholarship.”
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Captain Brian King’s daughter Caroline hopes to bring her passion for athletics to a career in sports statistics, and she plans to work toward a Ph.D. in pursuit of that goal.
“In 10 years, I hope to be working for ESPN and analyzing sports data,” said Caroline, a freshman at the University of Florida studying mathematics. “It means so much to have been chosen as a recipient because it represents the founder of Atlas Air’s belief in the power of education. It is a huge honor to represent that.”
Brian said Caroline works to achieve success in and out of the classroom, but her top priority has always been caring for other people.
“My wife Tonya and I are incredibly proud of Caroline,” Brian said. “We are very thankful and honored for Caroline to be recognized for her hard work and dedication… It is so great that Atlas Air is investing in the children of its employees in such a generous way!”
