SrA Ryan McAvoy receives Merrell Lane Memorial Aviation Scholarship

Niagara Military Affairs Council Press Release & Photo

Senior Airman Ryan McAvoy was recently awarded the 2025 Merrell Lane Memorial Aviation Scholarship during a ceremony hosted by the Niagara Military Affairs Council. The award was presented by former NIMAC Chairman John Cooper Sr. and current Chairman Michael Zimmerman.

The scholarship honors the late Merrell Lane, past chairman of NIMAC, who championed the mission of protecting and strengthening the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Merrell’s legacy lives on through this scholarship, which supports emerging aviation professionals committed to service and excellence.

McAvoy, a 2022 high school graduate and member of the 914th Air Refueling Wing, earned his private pilot’s license after 14 months of hard work while balancing college, two jobs and military service. He is now pursuing his instrument rating with aspirations to become a corporate pilot and flight instructor.

“Flying has tested me in every way,” McAvoy shared. “It’s made me more focused, resilient and disciplined – qualities that extend far beyond the cockpit.”

With this scholarship, McAvoy is poised to continue his growth and inspire others, carrying forward the spirit of mentorship and dedication that Merrell so deeply believed in.

NIMAC is a nonprofit organization that works to support the growth and prosperity of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station (NFARS) and its personnel, creating a positive economic impact on the Western New York community. Founded in 1996 as a result of the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRACC), NIMAC continues to support and promote capital investment by the federal government in the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station by increasing the NFARS visibility and calling attention to its attributes among key Department of Defense, congressional and military leaders.

NIMAC is an apolitical and Hatch Act compliant organization, allowing free communication between NIMAC and military leadership. For more information, visit www.NIMAC.org.