Award Impact

The Aviation Foundation Awards: NASA Space Camp

2023-2026

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".

Lao Tzu 2023 Kameron Locy Advanced Space Academy U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL. This experience helped Kameron to further her knowledge in STEM and space, and she is currently in her junior year at Penn State, majoring in Aerospace and Electrical Engineering. Kameron competed with Carnegie Mellon University's "Girls of Steel" robotics team at a world championship competition and is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers at PSU.

2023 Olivia Martin

Space Academy U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL Olivia was 9 years old at the time of her ﬁve-day Space Camp and blew TAF's board away with the level of enthusiasm and inspiration from the experience.

2024 Margaret Harrison

Advanced Space Academy U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL

Margaret learned leadership skills, making certain her "team" was on task, built rocket ships, made new friends, and recognized that aerospace was not in her future. This Space Camp experience was shared by her mom and sister during the drive to Huntsville, AL., from Pennsylvania.

2024 Christian Resto

Aviation Challenge Mach I U. S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL Christian detailed the ﬁve-day experience, honed his teamwork skills, and helped his team to achieve the Admiral's Cup Patch on day ﬁve! Christian will pursue aviation.

2025 Mylo Moel

Advanced Space Academy U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL Mylo now dreams of becoming an Air Force Pilot and wrote an essay and designed a Space Patch that even impressed NASA!!

2025 William Collinge Space Academy, U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL: "Tyler" was thrilled for a jam-packed five-day experience he would otherwise have been unable to afford. Tyler found the presentations, launching two rockets, the zero-gravity chair, the raging group chat camaraderie, the awesome space museum, and experiences relating to earth and space extremely memorable.

Ten-year-old Myron Collier received a model airplane for Christmas.

He put it together and it FLEW!

14-year-old Myron and his 16-year-old neighbor scraped up $200 to buy the Porterfield 40 HP Zephyr.

After taxing it on the field and then on the highway, they sold it for $200.

Myron soloed in this airplane on his 16th birthday and received his Private Pilot license on his 17th birthday. However, this photo was taken 50 years later on the anniversary of his solo flight.

The J-3 Cub was owned by a farmer who allowed Myron to fly it anytime he wished. He received his Commercial Pilot rating in it when he was 18.

Myron was hired as Chief Pilot by Empire-Beeves Steel Company in Mansfield, Ohio, (owned by Pittsburgh based Cyclops Corporation), and flew this Piper Apache for two years. It was equipped with de-icing boots as well as alcohol on the propellers. An Aero Commander 550B replaced the Piper Apache. It was one of the first Aero Commanders to be equipped with airborne radar.

The tail number on the Aero Commander went to the succeeding aircraft purchased. When he retired and the aircraft was sold, that tail number was reserved for Myron Collier!

Myron flew the King AirB-90 for twelve years until it was replaced with the Citation ll when Myron was transferred to Pittsburgh (1981)

Myron flew the Citation for twelve years until Cyclops was bought by Armco Steel. Armco already owned an airplane, so they retired Myron and sold the Citation.

TAF's September 30, 2023, Hangar Party honored Myron Collier with the distinguished local Aviation Legend Award.

In June 2025, Myron celebrated his 95th Birthday!