The Future Thrust Awards

The Future Thrust Awards are designed to honor individuals for outstanding service to others. The focus is on those that offer a hand-up to the generations that follow them. Future Thrust Awards recognize people that demonstrate an affinity for youth programs, education and career development.

The Future Thrust Award honorees are celebrated annually and presented by the Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club, which is charted by Black Pilots of America, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. This fundraising social event supports the RTH Youth Program and the BPA “Les Morris” Summer Flight Academy.

FUTURE THRUST AWARD CATEGORIES and CRITERIA

Les Morris Award for Propelling Youth Programs. This Future Thrust Award venerates folks for creating or contributing to youth organization programming with a STEM focus. This service may manifest itself in mentoring, tutoring, the development of inspirational activities, or effective leadership of volunteers.

Leroy Roberts Award for Propelling Education. This Future Thrust Award honors persons who assist and empower youth in STEM education. This service may manifest itself in the transfer of knowledge, the provision of college funds, or the development of cutting edge curriculum.

Walt Braithwaite Award for Propelling Careers. This Future Thrust Award honors individuals who are involved in career development. This service may manifest itself in career mentoring, technical coaching, professional organization leadership, or influencing business hiring practices in STEM related industries.

Sponsor Level

Gold Wings $10,000

Silver Wings $5000

Red-Tailed Hawker $3,000

Flight Provider $1,000

Nest Builder $500

Fledging Encourager $100

Our Honorees of 2022

The Honorees are:

LaNiqua Bell, Museum of Flight - Les Morris Award for Propelling Youth Programs

Paul Petri, PhD, Washington State University - Leroy Roberts Award for Education

Or scan our QR Code

The Future Thrust Awards are designed to honor individuals for outstanding service to others. The focus is on those that offer a hand-up to the generations that follow them. Future Thrust Awards recognize people that demonstrate an affinity for youth programs, education and career development.

The Future Thrust Award honorees are celebrated annually and presented by the Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club, which is charted by Black Pilots of America, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization. This fundraising social event supports the RTH Youth Program and the BPA “Les Morris” Summer Flight Academy.

FUTURE THRUST AWARD CATEGORIES and CRITERIA

Les Morris Award for Propelling Youth Programs. This Future Thrust Award venerates folks for creating or contributing to youth organization programming with a STEM focus. This service may manifest itself in mentoring, tutoring, the development of inspirational activities, or effective leadership of volunteers.

Leroy Roberts Award for Propelling Education. This Future Thrust Award honors persons who assist and empower youth in STEM education. This service may manifest itself in the transfer of knowledge, the provision of college funds, or the development of cutting edge curriculum.

Walt Braithwaite Award for Propelling Careers. This Future Thrust Award honors individuals who are involved in career development. This service may manifest itself in career mentoring, technical coaching, professional organization leadership, or influencing business hiring practices in STEM related industries.

Sponsor Level

Gold Wings $10,000 

Silver Wings $5000

Red-Tailed Hawker $3,000

Flight Provider $1,000

Nest Builder $500

Fledging Encourager $100

Our Honoree of 2021

Dr. Terence H. Fontaine

Terence H. Fontaine is a native Houstonian and, in 1978, began a career in aviation by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps where he learned to fly and studied aircraft maintenance. Fontaine earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University and became a licensed aircraft technician through the Rice Aviation School before joining the Technical Operations Division of Continental Airlines in Houston, TX.

While at Continental Airlines, Fontaine worked in many capacities including Aircraft Maintenance Supervisor and Project Engineer. In 1994, he was promoted to Manager of Maintenance Operations.  In 1996, Fontaine transferred to the Flight Operations Division where he worked as a Pilot Instructor on the Boeing 727 and 777. After joining the training department, Fontaine continued his education by completing the Boeing 777 Captain’s training course and receiving an FAA Airline Transport Pilot’s (ATP) License. 

In January 2004, City of Houston, Mayor Bill White appointed Fontaine as a direct report in the capacity of Deputy Chief of Staff responsible for monitoring, measuring and improving the city’s day-to-day operations.  In 2008, while working for the City, Fontaine graduated from the University of Houston Bauer Business School earning an Executive MBA.

In 2009, Fontaine was appointed by the Mayor to the METRO Board of Directors.  In 2010, a new President and CEO assumed control of METRO and Fontaine was hired as a Vice President.  In 2013, Fontaine was promoted to Executive Vice President.  In 2014, Fontaine continued his education by completing a Doctorate in Education at Texas Southern University.

In 2018, Dr. Fontaine was hired as the Director of Aviation at Texas Southern University (TSU). He oversees a premier Bachelor of Science Degree Program in Aviation Science Management. The program offers concentrations in both Professional Pilot and Aviation Science Management. 

It is for his success at elevating Aviation Science Management and building a competitive Professional Pilot Program, at TSU, that he is honored with the Leroy Roberts Award for Propelling Education.

The Future Thrust Awards are designed to honor individuals for outstanding service to others.  The focus is on those that offer a hand-up to the generations that follow them.  Future Thrust Awards recognize people that demonstrate an affinity for youth programs, education and career development.  The awards committee is searching for people who are assisting youth in their development, helping them find success in school and opening doors in the job market.  The awards committee is seeking folks that empower others to mature into productive adults, go to college, and find success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) career fields.

The Future Thrust Award winners are celebrated annually at the Future Thrust Awards Banquet hosted by the Red-Tailed Hawks Flying Club, which is charted by Black Pilots of America, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization.  This fundraising social event is held in the Seattle, WA area and supports the RTH Youth Program and the BPA “Les Morris” Summer Flight Academy.

AWARD CATEGORIES and CRITERIA

Les Morris Award for Propelling Youth Programs.  This Future Thrust Award venerates folks for creating or contributing to youth organization programming with a STEM focus.  This service may manifest itself in mentoring, tutoring, the development of inspirational activities, or effective leadership of volunteers.

Leroy Roberts Award for Propelling Education.  This Future Thrust Award honors persons who assist and empower youth in STEM education.  This service may manifest itself in the transfer of knowledge, the provision of college funds, or the development of cutting edge curriculum.

Walt Braithwaite Award for Propelling Careers.  This Future Thrust Award honors individuals who are involved in career development.  This service may manifest itself in career mentoring, technical coaching, professional organization leadership, or influencing business hiring practices in STEM related industries.

ELIGIBILITY

Award nominees can be any person meeting the criteria and committed to attending the banquet held the first Saturday in December in the greater Seattle area (or sending a representative in the case of illness, injury or emergency).

Anyone can make a nomination.  Self-nominations are acceptable.

The same person may be nominated for awards in all three categories in the same year. 

An award winner may not be nominated in the same category in subsequent years.

NOMINATION PACKAGE

Nominations are due August 31st each year.

The nomination requires a typed short essay (250 words or less) describing the accomplishments of the nominee within the scope of the category criteria.  The nominee’s full name, contact information and category must clearly identified on the essay submittal.

Multiple nominations will require a separate essay to focus on each category.

Send a .doc, .rtf, or .pdf file to flywa.bpa@gmail.com or mail essay to:

Future Thrust Awards

PO Box 1403

Mukilteo, WA 98026

FINALISTS

Selected finalists will be contacted by the award committee for headshots and bios not later than September 15th.

QUESTIONS

Contact the RTH Board of Directors, flywa.bpa@gmail.com, with any questions.

Our Honorees of 2020

The Honorees are:

Captain Theresa M. Claiborne