OAA Scholarship Winner Returns for Visit with his First Airman’s Medical Examiner (AME), George Merkle M.D

Carlsbad CA— The Oceanside Airport Association (OAA) garners community support for our local airport by administering a flight scholarship for area high school students. The first of our scholarship recipients was Kevin Williams, who at the time of award was a fifteen-year-old sophomore at Oceanside High School.

After his high school graduation, Kevin “joined the Navy” and shipped off to Annapolis to attend the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated with a degree in Systems Engineering. Kevin is now a USMC officer and is in the Navy’s training pipeline to become a F-35 pilot.

Students who are awarded our scholarship must pass a physical exam conducted by OAA member and FAA designated Airman’s Medical Examiner (AME), George Merkle M.D.  Over the years George has provided these exams to our students on a pro bono basis.

This week Kevin returned home to enjoy the Thanksgiving holidays with family and friends and took a few minutes to stop by and thank George for helping launch his aviation career.