Luke Edwards, a junior Cyber Security major at Campbell University and a cadet in Air Force ROTC Detachment 607, has earned one of the most competitive scholarships available to ROTC cadets nationwide.
Through discipline, academic excellence and an incurable curiosity for aviation, he was selected for the You Can Certify Scholarship — a national scholarship program providing up to $20,000 to support pilot training and certification. The scholarship is designed to remove financial barriers to flight training, allowing cadets the opportunity to explore their interests and passions within the field of aviation.
For Edwards, the scholarship represents both recognition and momentum. Since his first year at Campbell, he has been a standout cadet and student. Excelling academically, physically and as a leader. He is the first Campbell cadet to receive the scholarship, and his achievement sets a precedent for future Campbell cadets pursuing similar opportunities in Air Force ROTC.
Edwards is also a recipient of the Air Force ROTC High School Scholarship, a competitive national award covering full college tuition and authorized fees. It has provided him with the opportunity to pursue his cybersecurity degree at Campbell while preparing for a career in the United States Air Force.
Edwards’ performance has not only been noted by his impressive scholarships, but also by Detachment 607 commander, Lt. Col. Linthicum, who saw it from the start. Reflecting on Edwards’ past few years, Linthicum says, “Cadet Edwards has grown a lot since we met back when he was a freshman. He was very eager to be in the program and has developed his leadership skills far more than he could have imagined. It is very easy to look at him now and see him being a new 2nd Lieutenant in a year and half.”
For Edwards, aviation has become both a passion and a professional calling. A true fanatic for all things aviation, Edwards describes how his interests have only grown since starting flight training. As he says, “I love the mechanics of planes and being up in the skies. It’s life changing and surreal. It’s a completely different world up there.”
He conducts his flight training at Harnett Regional Jetport, where he flies a Piper Cherokee 140. Since receiving the You Can Certify Scholarship, he has been able to log a total of 51 hours of flight time. His commitment to his training has allowed Edwards to hit a major milestone: earning his private pilot’s license.
The flight experience he has gained will help prepare him for the rigorous selection process and training pipeline that comes with becoming a pilot.
According to Lt. Col. Linthicum, “This scholarship will give him a great advantage in meeting his goals and dreams. The experiences that he gained during his flights will also help when he takes other tests like Test of Basic Aviation Skills, which directly impact his score to be selected as a pilot.”