Boeing Scholar Program Helps Eagle Honor Her Late Father’s Memory

Until she was actually accepted at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, it never occurred to Coral Scotland (’24) that she would follow her father’s academic journey at the world’s leading aviation and aerospace educator.

Her acceptance to Embry‑Riddle came just days before her father’s passing in 2020, and while Coral was ready to make her late father proud, the cost of college loomed large for a family that had just suffered a grievous loss.

That’s where The Boeing Company came in.

Coral was chosen as part of the 2020 cohort of Boeing Scholars, the second ever at Embry‑Riddle, and the award helped cover many of the expenses that otherwise might have stopped her education before it started.

Each fall, Boeing awards a select group of outstanding freshmen scholarships of $5,000 to $7,500 yearly for two years as they begin degree programs at Embry‑Riddle. The scholarships are supported by a $3 million endowment from the world’s largest aerospace company and leading aircraft manufacturer and include exclusive tours of Boeing facilities and networking opportunities with key company leaders.

“This significantly alleviated my out-of-pocket costs and seemed to be a direct sign from God that I needed to pursue my higher education at Embry‑Riddle,” Coral said.

As she prepares to graduate with her B.S. in Aviation Business Administration from the Daytona Beach Campus, Coral took time to reflect on her Embry‑Riddle experience, the support she got from Boeing and her quest to make her dad and mom proud.

Tell us about your background

I was born in Pembroke Pines, Florida, but I call Antigua, a very small island in the Caribbean, my home. My parents are immigrants; they grew up in poverty and worked extremely hard to build a better life here for their family.

I grew up with one older and two younger sisters, and I had an amazing childhood filled with nothing but memories of happiness. We’re a Christian family, so church has also always been a safe space for me.

How did you first get interested in aviation?

My interest is because of my father, Embry‑Riddle alumnus Robert F. J. Scotland (’92). He was a plane connoisseur who worked as a jet engine salesman, which allowed him to travel the world and talk about planes (what more could a lover of the sky ask for, right?).

My family and I lived about 20 minutes from North Perry Airport in South Florida, and my dad could tell the different types of planes just by their SOUND alone. He never ceased to amaze me with his vast knowledge of airplanes, the way they worked, the math, the physics, the engineering and even the weather.

My father would also take me on practice flights while working toward his private pilot’s license. I was giddy to get into a plane with my father as the pilot in command. He used to say he wanted his children to get pilot’s licenses more than he wanted them to get driver’s licenses.

So, in the months before my 16^th birthday, my father began preparing me for my own flight lessons. I got handed down his expensive headphones and all his flight equipment, even his slightly banged-up flight bag and fuel sump.

If I have one regret in life, it is not finishing my private pilot program. After my father’s passing in 2020, I found it nearly impossible to fly without crying or thinking of him. I always remember him talking about the day we could fly, just him and I, in a Cessna, wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted. Despite having three other daughters, I was the only one who shared his immense love for flying.

My father never got to see me fly solo, and that pains me a lot. I still hope to honor my father’s wishes one day and earn my private license because he is the reason I love aviation.

Why did you choose Embry‑Riddle for college?

My dad. I had no intention of attending university, and even though I had started several college applications to satisfy my mom, I never completed them. I remember being with my dad in his hospital room one day, and he randomly asked if I had applied to Embry‑Riddle yet.

When I said no, he made me apply on my laptop right there, and he never had a doubt that I would be accepted. Although I had done well in school, I never thought about going to college, let alone at a prestigious private aeronautical institution.

He watched over my shoulder as I filled out my application from start to finish and saw me hit “submit.” When I told him shortly before he passed away that I had been accepted, he simply nodded and said, “Good.”

How did you feel about being selected as a Boeing Scholar?

I felt undeserving at first. In my eyes, I hadn’t done anything particularly special to merit earning a scholarship from a company as renowned as Boeing.

But it was crystal clear this was all part of God’s divine plan for me. I was elated to be accepted to this prestigious university, but I knew I could not afford it.

I was proud to be one of nine Boeing Scholars for the entire university. At the time, though, I did not understand the magnitude or benefits of the award. I had no idea just how much more was to come my way from being part of this exclusive group. All in all, I was just grateful to God for being chosen.

How has being a Boeing Scholar shaped your Embry‑Riddle experience so far?

Having the title of Boeing Scholar has let me know that I am qualified to be here and that I can do this. Boeing believed in me before I even believed in myself.

Like Embry‑Riddle’s reputation precedes me, so does my title as a Boeing Scholar. It has opened doors that I didn’t even know existed, such as being invited to networking events with Boeing executives and going on field trips to Boeing facilities.

This summer, I will be starting an on-campus internship with Boeing, and I know being a Boeing Scholar gave me a foot in the door. I am part of the Engineering Developmental Program as a Supply Chain intern, and being a Boeing Scholar has also made me more confident in who I am and where I have the potential to go.