2026 College Scholar Awards
Applications open August 1, 2026
Purpose
Every year, the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society Scholars Award Program provides financial support to eligible students who are pursuing careers in aviation and are enrolled in colleges or aviation trade schools in Florida.
Jannus Scholars program
In January of 1914, Tony Jannus flew a paying passenger from St. Petersburg to Tampa in a Benoist airboat. This achievement established the Tampa Bay area as the home of the first scheduled commercial airline. Each year, the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society celebrates this historic aviation achievement by recognizing a distinguished individual for outstanding contributions to scheduled air transportation.
The society also looks to the future by providing scholars awards to eligible undergraduate college students and trade school students who are enrolled in programs that could result in careers in aviation. The 2026 awards program has three elements:
Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society Scholars Award
The Society plans to provide up to six students a cash award of $6,000 each. At least one award will be given to an aviation trade school applicant.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport Scott Mikuen Award
This award is in recognition of long time Melbourne Airport Authority Board Member Scott Mikuen and will be awarded to the top scoring Scholar Awardee.
Southwest Airlines Jannus Award
Southwest Airlines is sponsoring an additional travel award to each of the Scholars Award recipients by providing two roundtrip tickets to any destination they serve. Southwest Airlines is committed to education advancement and invests in workforce development programs that introduce students to the diverse set of career opportunities in the aviation industry. From pilots to accountants and everything in between, Southwest offers a range of opportunities to help students soar to new heights in jobs of the future. Southwest is a proud partner of The Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and supports their mission to promote and provide support to students pursuing a career in commercial aviation.
Delta air lines Award
Delta Air Lines is sponsoring a special award to each of the six scholars. The award includes a round trip ticket to Atlanta to tour Delta’s Flight Museum. In addition, each scholar will be granted Delta Silver Medallion Status for one year.
How to Apply
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for consideration as a Tony Jannus Scholar, applicants must meet the following requirements:
Colleges and Universities - Students must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate program from an accredited college or university within the state of Florida Student and must have completed at least 30 credit hours with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 at the time of the application. Students not performing their studies on campus in Florida are not eligible.
Aviation Trade Schools - Students must be currently enrolled in an aviation maintenance program with an accredited aviation vocational trade school within the state of Florida. Students must have completed at least 25% of the program with an overall GPA of at least 3.0 or percent score of 86% at the time of the application.
Application Process:
The online application requires input from the student’s faculty and will require students to answer the questions below:
· How and when the Applicant first became interested in aviation.
· How aviation has already impacted life choices related to academic, service, and/or occupation decisions.
· How Tony Jannus has affected the Applicant's existing thinking with respect to aviation as a potential career.
· Any additional personal observations the Applicant considers relevant to the Committee’s evaluation process.
Note:
· Graduate students and previous Jannus Award recipients are not eligible to apply.
· Applicants that do not meet all of the application requirements will not be considered.
· Additional materials sent that are not requested will not be considered in the evaluation process.
· Applications must include faculty input.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of Tony Jannus Society board members.
Applications will be evaluated considering the following criteria:
· Academic achievement
· Quality of response to required questions
· General accomplishments
· Demonstrated commitment to aviation
· This year’s program begins August 1, 2026. Student applications are to be submitted by 11:59 pm Eastern on September 15, 2026.
· Required faculty input is due by 11:59 pm Eastern on September 18, 2026.
Winners will be notified around October 1, 2026 and invited to receive their awards at the annual Tony Jannus Awards on November 19, 2026 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Tampa.
How to submit
Applications are provided online at the link below.