(Royce Greiner | Photo courtesy of COCC)
Aviation Training at COCC Takes Off with the Help of Foundation Scholarships
As a U.S. Navy aircraft mechanic, Royce Greiner spent much of his four-year service on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered USS John C. Stennis, “launching and recovering” the vessel’s fleet of F/A-18E Super Hornets. He was always focused on keeping others airborne. Still, amid the F-18s constantly roaring off and touching down, a budding instinct for flight began to seep in.
After his service, and while working as a ranch hand near Yosemite National Park,
a chance encounter with a helicopter pilot — along with the pilot’s tales of search and rescue missions and wildland fire operations — got Greiner’s attention.
The pilot, also a veteran, encouraged him to use the GI Bill for training. Before long, Greiner moved to Bend. “I had never been to college before, and I didn’t know how to apply to school. I must’ve sent 100 emails back and forth in an attempt to get all my ducks in a row,” he shares.
Using the GI Bill helped him take a major step toward his private pilot’s license, but that funding ran out near the end of his credential attainments and a scholarship from the COCC Foundation was crucial to pass a series of evaluations from an FAA examiner. “The money from the Foundation scholarship went to paying for those several additional flights necessary to continue on and finish. I am so thankful to have been granted it.”
Each year, the COCC Foundation offers nearly 400 scholarships of $5,000 (enough to cover a full year of credits), totaling $2 million. Sixteen COCC aviation students received a Foundation scholarship for the 2022-23 year.
A scholarship is easy to apply for, and if awarded, can be renewed for two additional years. The next cycle opens on February 1, 2024; COCC’s winter term begins January 8. Visit cocc.edu/scholarship.
At COCC, Greiner found a supportive veterans club, making him feel welcome from the start. His helicopter schooling soon confirmed his fascination with flight. “One of the highlights of my training was flying solo for the first time,” he recalls. “On that crisp morning, I had full control of the aircraft for the first time, an experience I will never forget.” Helicopter students train in Robinson R22, Robinson R44 and Bell 206 series aircraft.
Flight simulators and a full range of aircraft at the Bend Airport help students progress quickly, while industry partnerships connect certified pilots with well-paying careers.
Greiner’s future goal is to earn all his pilot ratings and become a professional helicopter pilot. “Moving the controls is key to flying an aircraft, but knowledge is key to being a pilot,” he says. “COCC’s aviation program is excellent in the way that it teaches us not only how to fly, but be safe while doing so.”
Interested in supporting scholarships and changing lives at COCC? To make a tax-deductible year-end gift, or learn more about the COCC Foundation, visit cocc.edu/give.
