Coast Guard Aviation Association

Norm Scurria STEM Scholarship

Norm Scurria was the epitome of a professional, dedicated, and highly energized Coast Guard Aeronautical Engineer. In retirement he was also a devoted supporter of Elizabeth City’s Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies (NEAAAT) STEM Charter School, volunteering as a teaching assistant and tutor in mathematics. Norm believed that these young people are our future, and that we (The Coast Guard Aviation Community at Large) have a responsibility to ensure they are aware of, and exposed to, the wonderful opportunities associated with Coast Guard Aviation. He and Ptero Stan Walz also spearheaded an annual scholarship to send eight students from NEAAAT to the National Flight Academy’s summer program. It was Norm’s vision that the Coast Guard Aeronautical Engineering Community become a sponsor of this scholarship as a means of giving back to the city that is synonymous with the Red Ragger community.

Scholarship Sponsors

National Flight Academy Scholarship Honors Norm Scurria

Norm’s influence on the Aeronautical Engineering Community can’t be overstated. He was a Program Chief during Active Duty days and in retirement never stopped providing critical capabilities to Aviation Logistics Center Elizabeth City. Chief of Aeronautical Engineering, Captain Tom MacDonald used the annual Dining In event, which Norm loved and never missed, to announce that all proceeds collected will honor Norm and the scholarship he had helped found. Fortunately for 2019’s students, the President of the Mess was forced to impose significant fines to maintain behavior befitting the service.

This past summer, NEAAAT was able send eight student to a weeklong program at the National Flight Academy, part of the Naval Flight Museum Foundation, Inc., thanks in large part to the donations of the Aeronautical Engineering Community and the Coast Guard Aviation Assn. The National Flight Academy summer programs provide kids from ages 13 to 18 with Aviation STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) experiences in a dynamic, and very fun, Naval Aviation carrier based environment. At the conclusion of their week long summer adventure they participate in realistic naval aviation scenarios and get to fly F-35 simulators supporting their team’s mission solution set. It’s world class!

The photos included from this year’s students clearly show Norm’s love of aviation has been passed on.