February 12, 2026

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 Dreams Take Flight scholarships, which support Greater Lansing-area high school juniors and seniors by helping make flight time more accessible and affordable for students pursuing an aviation career.

The 2026 recipients are Ethan Charlot, a senior at Mason High School, and Brayden Thorne, a senior at Grand Ledge High School. The program provides each student with a $5,000 scholarship.

“The Dreams Take Flight Scholarship significantly helped me obtain my private pilot license and beyond, enabling my passion to reach the sky,” said Charlot.

Recipients of the Dreams Take Flight scholarships Brayden Thorne (left), senior at Grand Ledge High School, and Ethan Charlot (right), senior at Mason High School. Each received $5,000 to help make flight time more accessible and affordable as they pursue aviation careers.

“The Dreams Take Flight Scholarship has had a meaningful impact on my future in aviation,” said Thorne. “This support represents more than financial assistance; it is a vote of confidence in my ability to contribute to and shape the future of the aviation industry.”

The scholarship is provided in partnership with the Eaton Regional Education Service Agency and the Capital Region International Airport. High school juniors and seniors who plan to attend or are currently attending the Aviation Careers Institute, Crosswinds Aviation, or another flight school partner to pursue their pilot’s license were eligible to apply.

“With pilot demand at a near-record level, this scholarship lessens the steep cost of entry, clearing a path for the next generation of aviation talent to take flight,” said Rebecca Surian, Executive Director of the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

For more details on the program, or to make a tax-deductible contribution to the scholarship fund, visit deskdrawerfoundation.org/dreamstakeflight.

###

ABOUT THE MSUFCU DESK DRAWER FOUNDATION

The MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation was established in 2019 to partner with donors to empower transformational change to make a sustainable difference in our communities. The Foundation provides meaningful grants to nonprofits whose work impacts their clients and patrons within five philanthropic pillars ― The Arts, Entrepreneurship, Financial Education, Stable Housing, and Youth Empowerment. To date, nearly $3.5 million has been granted. Among other sources, income is generated through employee and member contributions, organized fundraisers, new/existing credit union members, and the quarterly DDF Raffle. For more information, visit deskdrawerfoundation.org.

ABOUT MSUFCU

MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) was established in 1937 to provide a secure place for members to save and borrow. Guided by its mission to help members achieve financial security, reach their goals, and realize their dreams, MSUFCU supports members through key milestones in life while helping them plan for the future. Recognized as a leader in innovation and as a great place to work, MSUFCU continually seeks new ways to enhance the member experience and strengthen the communities it serves. Today, the Credit Union proudly serves nearly 400,000 members through 35 branches, with over $8.2 billion in assets and more than 1,200 employees. MSUFCU is headquartered in East Lansing, Michigan. For additional information, please visit msufcu.org.