Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc

ARAC/TAI is a tax exempt, non-profit organization. Your gift is considered active participation in accomplishing the ARAC/TAI mission: Honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII and developing programs that inspire and motivate youth to achieve success in a chosen career field. Your gift will also enable ARAC/TAI to sustain our programs and initiatives in exciting and positive efforts to inspire youth, appreciate history, and to pursue careers in aviation, science, technology, engineering, math (STEM) and other disciplines.

Each year, the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc awards scholarships to high school graduates. The scholarships were named in honor of three original Tuskegee Airmen with ties to Arizona–the late Colonel William A. Campbell, Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Robert Ashby, and Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Asa Herring. Each recipient is awarded $1,500 as they graduated from schools in the cities of Avondale, Chandler, Tolleson, and Yuma, AZ. These stellar graduates had outstanding academic and extra-curricular records of achievements and plan to pursue college with aspirations of careers in medicine, science, and engineering.

For many years, TAI and ARAC have largely focused on the disciplines of aviation, the sciences, technical, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, approximately twenty-five percent of minority high school graduates do not go to college for several reasons. Not all students who graduate from high school are
ready for college. Some are ready for the workforce as an on-the-job apprentice and later get promoted to Journeyman, and eventually to Master Technician. Many non-STEM disciplines include nursing, construction management, real estate, dietetics & clinical nutrition services, public administration, auto mechanics, cosmetology, electrician, plumbing, photography, printing, and media production. Thus, ARAC scholarships can also assist students in preparation for training in these career fields.

All monetary and in-kind contributions, donations and sponsorships are
acknowledged through the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen,
Inc. With your support, the chapter will be able to sustain ARAC’S programs and
initiatives. In addition, we can continue to engage effectively in exciting and
positive efforts to inspire youth to appreciate history and pursue careers in aviation,
aerospace, transportation, technology, and the sciences.