Greetings from the Mile High Flight “Crew”. We hope that everyone continues to stay safe and enjoy the wonderful Rocky Mountain weather. As our nation and community work to return to normal, the Mile High Flight program continues to consider ways to safely relaunch in October. At this point, it appears “all systems are go” with regards to our planned school visits in August – September, and we’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, we encourage you to invite your friends and acquaintances to visit our website at MileHighFlight.org and complete an online application. Though the selection process doesn’t officially begin until 1 August, we’re happy to receive your applications now.

After four challenging but fulfilling years, Mile High Flight Phase 2 Solo student Bendie Minu achieved a major milestone in his life, graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and earning his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. 2LT Minu writes:

Hello MHF “ Crew ”,

I wanted to personally let you know that I was commissioned as a 2LT in the Army and that I will be officially graduating from West Point on June 13th. I would like to thank you for all of the support and the inspiration you and the Mile High Flight program have provided me, as I believe it’s played a large role in getting me to where I am now. Upon graduation I will officially be a Cyber Officer in the Army and in August I will begin getting my Masters in Information Security at Carnegie Mellon University. Thanks again for your guidance throughout the years and the opportunities the program has provided me. Because I am currently at West Point I haven’t had the time to create a video for the Mile High Flight program but I will make sure to do so when I return home after graduation.

Sincerely,

Bendie Minu, 2LT USA

The Mile High Flight team continues to work with and support our students, even after they leave the program. Solo student Sareina Thomas had a short notice request, asking the Crew to endorse her application for several flight scholarships she applied for. The team got to work, writing letters of recommendation and received this response:

Hello, this is Sareina. I just completed my first year of college and realized that I really need to thank the Tuskegee Airmen for my first year’s accomplishments. Everything you did contributed to my successes this year. 

You will never know how much this (letters of recommendation) means to me. It truly made my day and brought tears to my eyes.

Thank you!!

Thanks to all of you who submitted entries for the new Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones chapter logo. It was a close competition, with DOTA Frank Macon casting the deciding vote. The winning submission was created by Paul Ortiz. Congratulations Paul!