E. A. "Tony" DaRosa Memorial Scholarship

The E. A. “Tony” DaRosa Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Edmund Anthony “Tony” DaRosa. Mr. “D” as he was fondly referred to by his students was the founding Chairman of the Aviation Technology Department at SIU in 1964. He was the driving force that led to the donation of some $2.7 million in equipment to permit the new department to meet the stringent accreditation standards imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for aviation mechanic schools. He wrote the official Accreditation Manual which led to approval of the Aviation Technology Department’s certification under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 147, “Aviation Maintenance Technician School” which forms the basis for the school’s accreditation documents still in use today.

Mr. DaRosa’s philosophy of education was to immerse the students in an intense program of theoretical education supported by “hands-on” training to solidify and put into practice those theoretical concepts. He selected equipment that had practical application in the aviation industry as he felt that the students should be trained using the actual equipment and tools they would use following their graduation from the program and subsequent licensure as Airframe and Powerplant mechanics. To accomplish this goal, he surrounded himself with a staff of aviation professionals who were experienced in all aspects of the A&P mechanic trade.

Mr. “D” would always take time from his busy schedule to visit with his students, answer their questions about their chosen profession or life in general. His example of sacrifice, dedication and service will long be remembered by his students and others whose lives he touched.

• Scholarship for an Aviation Technologies major with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Recipient also must be a member of at least one student organization and must provide a 250-300 word personal statement that addresses their career ambitions.