On Thursday, 29 October, The Air League welcomed scholars, sponsors, training partners, supporters, colleagues, friends and family to No. 4 Hamilton Place, London, for the Scholarship Awards Reception 2026.
The annual event provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our scholars, recognise the organisations that make our programmes possible and reflect on the impact that access, encouragement and opportunity can have on the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals.
With over 100 scholarship recipients and bursary beneficiaries supported this year, the evening brought together young people from across the UK alongside sponsors, training partners, industry professionals and supporters to celebrate their achievements. It was a truly magical and inspiring occasion, showcasing the talent, ambition and potential that exists across The Air League community.
Opening the evening, Janine Hornsby, CEO of The Air League, welcomed guests and reflected on the significance of the scholarship programme.
"This evening is all about celebrating our scholars. Every one of them has worked incredibly hard to earn their place on this year's programme. The selection process is highly competitive, and each scholar here should be enormously proud of what they have achieved."
an evening of inspiration
The evening began with remarks from Kerissa Khan, former President of the Royal Aeronautical Society, who shared her insights and encouragement with scholars as they prepare for the next stage of their journeys.
Drawing on her extensive experience within aviation and aerospace, Kerissa spoke about the importance of curiosity, perseverance
and remaining open to new opportunities. She encouraged scholars to make the most of the networks and experiences available to them through The Air League and reminded them that careers in aviation are rarely linear but are often shaped by the opportunities people are willing to pursue.
Her thoughtful reflections set the tone for an evening dedicated to celebrating achievement and looking ahead to the future.
Guests then heard from keynote speaker Sarah Furness, former RAF helicopter pilot, leadership expert and proud Air League alumni.
Sarah shared her remarkable career journey, from receiving an Air League scholarship as a young aspiring aviator to becoming the first female helicopter pilot to fly and lead
UK Special Forces missions in Iraq. Drawing on her experiences operating in high-pressure environments across Iraq and Afghanistan, Sarah spoke passionately about resilience, courage and self-belief, highlighting the lessons she learned throughout her career.
Her advice resonated strongly with those in the room, particularly the scholars at the start of their own aviation journeys.
"Fly the aircraft."
A simple phrase, but one that carries a valuable lesson about staying focused on what is immediately in front of you, especially when faced with uncertainty, setbacks or pressure.
Sarah also encouraged scholars to embrace challenges rather than wait until they felt completely ready.
"Practice scared."
Reflecting on the lessons from her own career, Sarah encouraged scholars to challenge themselves, trust their capabilities and take opportunities even when they don’t feel completely ready.
"Sarah's message couldn't have been more relevant for our scholars. Her experiences, honesty and encouragement were incredibly inspiring. 'Fly the Aircraft' and 'Practice Scared' are lessons that apply not only in aviation, but in life. We hope every scholar left the room feeling empowered to back themselves and take the next step towards their ambitions."
recognising outstanding achievement
The reception also provided the opportunity to celebrate a number of exceptional individuals through The Air League’s annual awards.
Prince Philip Award: Recognising Outstanding Potential
The Prince Philip Award, established to mark over fifty years of patronage by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, recognises a scholar who demonstrates exceptional promise and achievement.
This year’s award was presented by Sarah
Furness to Maxwell Elmore, whose dedication, commitment and performance throughout his scholarship programme made him a deserving recipient.
Evelyn Saunders Memorial Cup: Celebrating Excellence and Achievement
Presented by Lucy Castle, granddaughter of Evelyn Saunders, the Evelyn Saunders Memorial Cup recognises the Best Female Scholar of the Year.
The 2026 recipient, Emily Chase, was
recognised for her outstanding achievements, commitment to her training and the professionalism she demonstrated throughout her scholarship journey.
The Inaugural Spitfire Trophy
This year also saw the introduction of a brand-new award: the Spitfire Trophy, kindly supported by the Air Transport Auxiliary Association.
The award recognises a scholar who has overcome significant personal barriers to
achieve their scholarship and reflects the resilience, determination and perseverance that continue to define the Air League community.
Presented by Candida Atkins, the inaugural Spitfire Trophy was awarded to Jakub Sikora. Jakub’s determination and commitment to pursuing his aviation ambitions, despite the challenges he has faced, embodied the spirit of the award and made him a deserving first recipient.
Drone Scholar of the Year
The evening’s final award, the Drone Scholar of the Year Award, was presented by Sion Roberts, CEO of Eagle Eye Innovations.
This year’s recipient was Ijeoma Nwokolo, who was recognised for her commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm throughout the
programme. Her dedication to developing her skills and knowledge made her a deserving winner of this year’s award.
The evening also recognised the remarkable efforts of Scholars Oliver Wright and Kamil Jazwinski, who were presented with special commemorative swords in recognition of their outstanding fundraising achievement. Earlier this year, the pair took on an ultramarathon across the Italian Alps, completing the challenge in under 24 hours and raising vital funds
to support The Air League’s work. Their determination, resilience and commitment embodied the spirit of The Air League, inspiring those in attendance and helping to create opportunities for future generations of aspiring aviation and aerospace professionals. The Air League extends its sincere thanks to Robert Pooley and Pooley Sword for generously donating the commemorative awards, helping to make this special recognition possible.
celebrating our 2026 Scholars
This year’s scholars represented a diverse range of programmes and disciplines across aviation and aerospace, including:
- Flying Scholarships
- Gliding Scholarships and Bursaries
- Electric Flying Scholarships
- Engineering Scholarships
- Ground School Scholarships
- Drone Scholarships
- Pilot Preparation Programmes
- Battle Back Veteran Recovery Programme opportunities
Across every programme, scholars demonstrated not only technical ability but also determination, professionalism and an unwavering passion for aviation.
"The scholarship programme is about far more than the training itself. It's about helping talented individuals build confidence, develop new skills and take meaningful steps towards their goals. Every year we're inspired by the commitment and enthusiasm of our scholars, and it's incredibly rewarding to see how these experiences help shape their future."
Whether completing first solo flights, developing engineering skills with industry partners, gaining advanced theoretical knowledge or preparing for future careers in aerospace, each scholar embodies The Air League’s mission of changing lives through aviation.
"Our scholars continue to impress us with their commitment, professionalism and determination. Every scholarship awarded represents an opportunity for someone to take a meaningful step towards their future career, and it's a privilege to celebrate those achievements alongside their families, supporters and the industry partners who help make it possible."
Looking to the future with Flight Path
During her address, Janine also shared exciting developments for Flight Path, The Air League’s new development programme set to launch in 2027.
Designed to support even more young people into aviation and
aerospace careers, Flight Path will provide structured career development pathways beginning with Pilot Preparation and Engineering and Maintenance streams. Through personalised development plans based on psychometric testing, industry engagement, mentoring, targeted skills and competency development and professional guidance, the programme aims to help participants navigate competitive recruitment and selection processes across the sector.
"While we're incredibly proud of the scholarships we provide, we know we need to do more to support the thousands of young people who look to The Air League for guidance and support. We are very excited by the potential this programme has to effectively bridge the gap between education and careers particularly for those who never dreamed that a career in these sectors could be possible. Flight Path represents a major investment in the future of our members and the future workforce of aviation and aerospace."
powered by partnership
The evening would not have been possible without the support of our headline partners, Boeing, whose generosity helped bring The Air League community together for this special celebration.
We would also like to thank the Royal Aeronautical Society for hosting the reception, alongside our scholarship sponsors, funders and delivery partners, including Boeing, the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation, the Air Cadet Charity, the BALPA Benevolent Fund, the Cranwellian Association, Airplan Flight Equipment, the 617 Squadron Association, the W.B. Rhodes-Moorhouse V.C. Charitable Trust, Eagle Eye Innovations, Affinity Flying Training Services, Saxon Air, London Gliding Club, Flight Training London, ACS Flight Training, South Warwickshire Flying School, Ravenair, Vertage (formerly Impellam Group), Virgin Atlantic, Atlantic Aviation as well as all the other individual doners and supporters who continue to help us provide these life-changing opportunities.
