Tucker Honored For Helping Kids

Airshow legend Sean D. Tucker is the recipient of this year's Al Ueltschi Award for Humanitarian Leadership for his work with at-risk youth in the Bob Hoover Academy. Tucker accepted the award at the opening session of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA-BACE) convention in Orlando on Tuesday. Tucker and his son Eric co-founded the program five years ago and local teens, many of them the children of the farm workers that tend the crops around Tucker's base of Salinas, California, can learn to fly in the school's Cessna 152 if they do the academics required to get through the course.

Tucker told the crowd at the morning session that the exposure to aviation has turned around the fortunes of many of the participants and several have gone on to higher training as a result of the after-school program. He said he's been inspired by the grit and determination shown by the students. "They're really tough," he said. For its part, NBAA said Tucker and his colleagues at the school are making a difference. "We are honored to recognize Sean Tucker for his humanitarian efforts to help underprivileged youth through his work with The Bob Hoover Academy," said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. "Through his many aviation and humanitarian efforts, Sean has long established himself as a proven leader whose positive attitude encourages others to pursue their passions."