Rayhan reaches for the sky

British-Bangladeshi Rayhan Kareem has been awarded a gliding scholarship by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots. Rayhan was delighted to receive the scholarship saying “it was the best day of my life”. He was one of five lucky recipients of the annual award out of hundreds of applicants. The gliding training will take place in the Portsmouth Naval Gliding Centre during August where he will learn to fly solo. Rayhan’s tutors at Morpeth School where instrumental in him applying for the scholarship and were very supportive of the process.

Rayhan’s Mother Shahanara Begum said: “We are incredibly proud that Rayhan has been accepted on to the Air Pilots London Schools Gliding Scholarship programme. Rayhan understands that it is a privilege to be accepted and we are all grateful for the incredible support and encouragement given to him by the teachers and staff at Morpeth School, in particular Miss O’Connor. I am very proud that Rayhan is now considered a role model for younger students by teachers at Morpeth School. Rayhan has been interested in aeroplanes since he was a child and spends much of his leisure time in related activities. I hope that this scholarship will help him towards his dreams of becoming a pilot, his determination to achieve his goal inspires us all.”

Rayhan is passionate about aeroplanes and is currently a Senior Cadet at Air Cadets, he feels the skills he gained there made his scholarship application much stronger. He was one of four Cadets from the 31st  Squadron to be invited to Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday celebrations at Buckingham Palace this month and saluted Her Majesty and other important dignitaries from the front line. Rayhan would like to continue his training at the Air Cadets and further develop his skills of navigation and flying planes. Rayhan hopes to apply for more flying scholarships in future as a stepping stone to help him in his dream of becoming a pilot.