Stakes are high and wings are up as one of our very own Thompson High School students takes the next steps for her future.
Senior Yandiely Torres is pursuing her dreams of becoming a private pilot. She's being given the tools to chase these dreams by becoming the first person ever to win the Thomas Willard "Pete" Ray Scholarship. The scholarship was named at Ray, a pilot killed during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, Torres says being the inaugural winner of this award is an honor.
"It feels like a blessing to be able to get the scholarship first," says Torres.
So how did Torres fall in love with the friendly skies? She says her drive to become a pilot started at home.
"The love of flying came from my parents when they inspired me to become a pilot," says Torres. "My dad once wanted to become a pilot when he was a teenager."
Torres is hoping the tools she'll learn will help her in the cockpit through her training.
"I'm most excited about learning to fly for my private pilot's license," says Torres.
Torres has been taking classes at the Birmingham Flight Center, learning the different aspects of flying.
"I'm super excited to work with her. I'm her instructor here at the Birmingham Flight Center," says Jillian Burch.
Burch is training her inside the cockpit, as she learns the wings and ways at the Birmingham Flight Center.
And just like that, seniors like Yandiely have gotten a jump start on their future plans.