Andy Chang
Fort Bend ISD’s Austin High School leads the nation in the number of students selected to attend the elite Commander of Naval Air Forces Flight Academy with the recent announcement that Naval JROTC cadet Precious Ukah will attend the 2025 summer camp.
Naval JROTC cadet Hayley Soo was named as an alternate and will be notified later in the spring if she is selected for a spot.
Since 2023, four Naval JROTC Austin High School cadets have been accepted to participate in the program, all under the leadership of Austin High School Senior Naval Science Instructor and U.S. Navy Retired Senior Chief Aaron Johnson.
According to Johnson, Austin High School not only leads the Naval JROTC in producing student pilots, but all other branches of the JROTC as well.
Reva Jogdand
Each year, the United States Navy funds scholarships worth $26,000 for each student to attend its flight academy. Students participate in an extensive selection process in which they are evaluated based on their grades, leadership roles in school, community service and a 400-word essay.
They must also perform well on the Aviation Qualifying Test and other exams that measure their knowledge in all aspects of aviation. This year, more than 500 students applied for the 10 coveted spots.
At the end of an intensive eight-week program at the flight academy, cadets earn college credit and have an opportunity to get their private pilot’s license.
Reva Jogdand was the first Austin cadet to attend the flight academy in 2023. She is now a freshman at the University of Texas. Austin seniors Andy Chang and Imoleayo Oyeku received scholarships and attended the flight academy in summer 2024.
More Fort Bend ISD Students Flying High
Kempner High School’s Christopher Sigurdson also competed in a rigorous selection process, earning him a $15,000 scholarship to attend the 2025 Air Force JROTC Flight Academy.
In addition, Travis High School JROTC student Rishita Bagga was the first FBISD student selected to attend the naval flight academy in 2022.