Military Scholarship
Fred served in the US Army as a helicopter pilot during Vietnam. During his tour he earned a Purple Heart as well as a Bronze Star with valor. The spirit of the award will be to honor and recognize families that have sacrificed or support youth that are making the commitment to serve their country.
Trade School Scholarship
Fred never attended college, but worked in his father’s print shop. Eventually he took over and grew the company into a successful business. Though he had the opportunity to attend a trade school, he was also working in his fathers’ print shop and was told he already knew more than what they would teach. The spirit of this scholarship is to assist those students that will work with their hands and/or with the public.
Remote Pilot Certificate Scholarship
This scholarship is for students that desire to obtain their Remote Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will allow them to fly a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) commercially. The scholarship covers the cost of a self-paced online Ground School, as well as the FAA exam. This scholarship also assists students enrolled in the Warren Community College Drone Program.
About Fred Grotenhuis
Thomas Parnell wrote a poem many years ago that makes one think of Fred:
My days have been so wondrous free,
The little birds that fly
With careless ease from tree to tree,
were but as bless’d as I.
Fred Grotenhuis was more than a skilled aviator. He truly loved flying, anything! And it may be there were birds that really were jealous of him.
For those that knew Fred, they admired his way of living life. God. County. Fun. In that order. Fred's father was a minister and it was the great faith that was instilled in him growing up that got him through Vietnam, ups and downs in his businesses, and even Parkinsons.
Fred’s flying days began during the Vietnam War, as a helicopter pilot. Though decorated with a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, he was not one to boast about his personal sacrifices.
Not only was Fred a great pilot, he was a tireless enthusiast of life itself! He thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills. Whether it was sailing or goose hunting, he would read as much as he could about a topic that interested him. Because of this, he was able to understand how things worked and as result, experience greater enjoyment, and less frustration, when engaged in the activity.
In this way, Fred was very similar to another great aviator: Wilbur Wright. Long before they achieved success at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Wilbur and his brother Orville were known for their ingenuity and inquisitiveness. Years before they started building their airplane, Wilbur once wrote a letter to the Smithsonian asking for everything there was to read about flight. He and his brother became self-taught aeronautical engineers, without ever going to college.
Incidentally, even before designing, building, selling, and repairing bicycles, the Wright Brothers were also successful printers. Always fascinated with machinery, they built a print shop using old car parts and a spare grave stone. In fact, they regularly published a local newspaper from their small shop. Not surprisingly, Fred Grotenhuis shared similar traits as the Wright Brothers. He had superb analytical skills. For years beforehand, he was a successful printer too, owning and operating Harmony Press.
Fred was always ready to share his life with others. He especially loved being around kids. Some would say it was because Fred was just a big kid himself. If he was here now, he would proud to have his name attached to these scholarships.
To quote David McCullough from his book on the Wright Brothers, “it began … with a toy…, a small helicopter brought home by their father Bishop Milton Wright, a great believer in the educational value of toys.”
Fred would agree with Milton. The trade and remote pilot scholarships, in Fred’s name, advances this principle superbly.
Even later in life, despite his physical challenges, Fred lived the words of King David in one of the Psalms: “He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.” (Ps. 18:10).
About the Scholarships
Fred Grotenhuis passed away on March 9, 2015. Everyone that knew him loved him. He impacted so many around him and he will not be foregotten. Shortly after that the military and trade school scholarships were started in his name. More recently the Remote Pilot Certificate program was started. All three of these scholarships reflect some aspect of what made Fred special to so many.
Fred was a life long resident of Harmony Township in Warren County, other than time he spent overseas serving in the US Army.
Special thanks are in order for those that have helped us fundraise so far. There have been contribututions from several pilots and friends. A major source of fundraising is the Warren County Farmers' Fair through the participants of the Bicycle Balloon Race and the tethers offered by Unity Bank. Funds were also generated in the past, from parking donations at the Last Fling Pumpkin Sling. More recently, funds are raised through newly established Warren County Hot Air Balloon Festivals at the Warren County Community College.
The scholarships are available for all Warren County students, in addition, to the Remote Pilot Certificate/UAS Education scholarship is availalbe for students that are connected in some way through the Warren County Farmers' Fair and/or Pumpkin Sling at Picatinny.
Fred Grotenhuis Scholarships is a 501c3 and contributions are tax deductable.
Military Scholarship
The intent of this scholarship is to give aid to a student that:
• Has a parent, grandparent or close family member that served in the military
• Enlists or is accepted in an ROTC program and all expenses are not covered.
• Enlists in the armed forces from high school and then continues their education within two years of ending service, and all expenses are not covered.
The spirit of the award will be to honor and recognize families that have sacrificed or support youth that are making the commitment to serve their country.
Requirements
• Must be a resident of Warren County, New Jersey
• Must have attended a High School in Warren County, New Jersey or reside in Warren County and completed Homeschooling requirements.
• Must already be enrolled in a college or technical school or be enrolling for the upcoming fall semester within 2 years of graduating High School.
• Must have a grandparent, parent or close family member that served in the military, or plan on enrolling in an ROTC program or any other service related program.
• Must be applied to tuition fees and/or book and other school expenses.
The scholarship commitment will be $600. Proof of acceptance to a school is necessary prior to receipt of check, and proof of attendance must be supplied, or award must be returned.
Download the Application (Deadline June 1st of each year.)
Feel free to scan and email the application to fredgscholarships@gmail.com. Letters of reference should be mailed or emailed by the person making recommendation.
Trade School/Service Scholarship
The focus of this scholarship is to a student that:
• Is attending a trade school included but not limited to printing or textile industry, electrician, welding etc.
• Is attending a college or university with a focus including but not limited to agriculture or horticulture.
• Is attending a college or university with a focus on a career working with the public, including but not limited to in nursing, social work or special education.
Fred never attended college, but worked in his father’s print shop. Eventually he took over and grew the company into a successful business. Though he had the opportunity to attend a trade school, he was also working in his fathers’ print shop and was told he already knew more than what they would teach. The spirit of this scholarship is to assist those students that will work with their hands and/or with the public.
Requirements
• Must be a resident of Warren County, New Jersey
• Must have attended a High School in Warren County, New Jersey or reside in Warren County and completed Homeschooling requirements.
• Must already be enrolled in a college or technical school or be enrolling for the upcoming fall semester within 2 years of graduating High School.
• Must be applied to tuition fees and/or book and other school expenses.
The scholarship commitment will be $600. Proof of acceptance to a school is necessary prior to receipt of check, and proof of attendance must be supplied, or award must be returned.
Download the Application (Deadline June 1st of each year.)
Feel free to scan and email the application to fredgscholarships@gmail.com. Letters of reference should be mailed or emailed by the person making recommendation.
Remote Pilot Certificate/UAS Education Scholarship
Click here for an overview of options.
For students that desire to obtain their Remote Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which will allow them to fly a small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (sUAV) commercially.
The scholarship will cover the cost of studying for and passing the test for the newly required Airman Knowledge Test administered by the FAA. A certificate is not necessary for recreational flight of a drone. It is required if the drone is used in any type of commercial application, including scouting crops on your own farm for crop damage or crop health.
Additionally, the scholarship can help cover costs of UAV courses at Warren Community College.
Youth must be 16 years of age or older at the time they take their exam.
Youth must be US citizens.
Youth must have a general idea of a career they wish to pursue and be able to articulate how this knowledge will assist them in their pursuit.
Financial need will be a determining factor.
Priority is given to youth that are:
- Warren County, New Jersey residents
- Connected in some way to the Warren County Farmers’ Fair where Fred established the Hot Air Balloon Festival, which has been instrumental in raising funds.
- Participating in the Pumpkin Sling event, a STEM project which Fred helped to establish.
Test Preparation
Students may go through an online course, with a recommended study time of 15-20 hours. It is preferred that students be able to get through the course in 8 weeks, which averages 2.5 hours of study a week. Students should be in a position to dedicate this minimum amount of study time prior to submitting their application. The test will need to be taken in person at a FAA-approved knowledge testing center.
Locations may be found here: https://faa.psiexams.com/faa/login
Students may also attend Warren Community College for test preparation.
Download the Application (Accepted on a rolling basis and awarded as funds allow.)
Feel free to scan and email the application to fredgscholarships@gmail.com. Letters of reference should be mailed or emailed by the person making recommendation.
For adults that are interested in taking the online course and pursuing your own Remote Pilot Certificate, you can enroll through this link. Signing up through this link will send a referral fee back to the Scholarship Fund.