EAA Young Eagles awards scholarship to assist CHS junior in getting her private glider pilot license
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Mon, 05/10/2021 - 11:31am
Mackenzie Tackett is currently a junior at Carson High School in Carson City, Nev. One of her many passions is aviation. This obsession began when she had her first flight with the EAA Young Eagles when she was 9 years old as a birthday present.
This organization saw the potential in her and, in 2021, offered her the ability to receive her private glider pilot license with a $2,000 scholarship to assist in the cost. After she was introduced to flight and the many amazing pilots that volunteer for the EAA, she began to saturate her life with aviation.
She became a member of the 99s women’s organization (she also received a scholarship to get her drone pilot license), joined the US Naval Sea Cadets where she trained in many summer programs, including but not limited to, aviation, worked her summer during 2020 at the Truckee Airport as ground crew support for Soar Truckee glider program, and will be working the ground crew at the Minden airport for Soar NV this summer.
Most of these programs Mackenzie has been involved in, evolved from or were from direct contacts through the EAA Young Eagles.
Mackenzie began her life as a fighter. Born at a mere 1 lb. 15 ozs., she has had to persevere through many obstacles in her life. But, she has always met and exceeded those challenges. Among her aviation endeavors, she has also trained and received her 3rd degree black belt, won 4th place in the TahNeva wrestling championship, won various essay scholarships through the VFW and FRA military organizations, on the Carson High swim team, Carson High rifle team, in NJROTC, and is currently working on becoming fluent in ASL.
Being an ambitious young woman, Mackenzie continues to set goals for herself and her future. She hopes to enter into a military academy in her future and aspires to continue her education in college. She decided long ago she wanted to serve her country in the military as a naval pilot. These goals all grew from her contacts through the EAA Young Eagles.
