Музей базы Пэррин впервые вручил стипендии Билла и Пегги Байерс военнослужащим

Perrin Air Force Base Museum awards first Bill and Peggy Byers Scholarships DENISON, Texas (KXII) - The Perrin Air Force Base Museum in Denison awarded the Bill and Peggy Byers Scholarship to two military service members for the first time. One recipient is Hannah Gorman, an airman first class in the Air Force National Guard and a senior at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Gorman said the scholarship comes at the perfect time as she finishes her degree. “This museum is amazing, and it’s awesome to see the history and people who are still very connected to the military. I think it’s great that it’s going to help me with my career,” Gorman said. Gorman joined the Guard her sophomore year of college. She said her job focuses on aviation on the ground, which she thought would be an interesting way to see a different side of the field. She said she had always considered military service and decided to pursue it. “My goal right now is to finish this year, hopefully instruct for a little bit, and then commission as a pilot in the Air Force,” Gorman said. Gorman said her long-term goal is to serve in the National Guard as a military pilot while also serving as a pilot in the airlines. Gorman said she did not know much about the museum before applying for the scholarship. “I think definitely it’s really important to put yourself out there and always apply for those scholarships. I mean, you’re definitely going up against a lot of different people, but it’s a great way to get out there and really know the community. I didn’t really know much about this museum before I applied for the scholarship, and I’m really happy that I kind of got to know a lot more people out here,” Gorman said. Second recipient served with 82nd Airborne The museum’s other recipient is Michael Hoyt, a staff sergeant in the Oklahoma National Guard and fellow Southeastern Oklahoma State University student. Hoyt is in Oklahoma for school and lives in Durant. He joined the military in 2017 and went into the 82nd Airborne. He left active duty around 2021 and joined the Oklahoma National Guard, then applied to Southeastern and was accepted. “It means so much to me that I’m able to further my career a little bit with assistance. And it means so much to me that people that have served and are from the military community to help a veteran, and with us, current service members, with the National Guard and Air Guard to continue our flight career,” Hoyt said. Hoyt said he is open to commissioning into the Army, Air Force or another service, or going into the airlines or another aviation career. “I just want something to do with flying. I don’t know exactly. I know that I’m still open to maybe commissioning into either the Army or the Air Force, but or any of the services I’m not going to say specifically one, but that or just going to the airlines or something to do with aviation. Ever since I was a paratrooper, I would love anything to do with aviation,” Hoyt said. Organizers said it’s the first time they’ve awarded the Bill and Peggy Byers Scholarship to service members. Copyright 2026 KXII. All rights reserved.