Pierpont Aviation Maintenance Technology Program Receives $5,000 Donation to Establish Angelo Koukoulis Memorial Scholarship

Fairmont, WV – The Pierpont Community and Technical College Foundation has announced the establishment of the Angelo Koukoulis Memorial Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship was generously donated by the family of Angelo Koukoulis, an aviation pioneer in the Mountain State, to support students within Pierpont’s aviation maintenance technology program.

Who was Angelo Koukoulis?

Koukoulis’ extensive journey in aviation began in 1943 after graduating from high school when he enrolled at the General Airmotive Technical School and received his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Shortly thereafter, Koukoulis was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps as a P47 fighter mechanic, where he served until 1945. After his tenure in the Army, he attended West Virginia University and worked there supervising aircraft maintenance operations.

Several years later, Koukoulis was invited by the Harrison County Commission to conduct a fixed base operation at Benedum Airport, now known as the North Central West Virginia Airport. His company, AeroMech, Inc., was the first FAA radio repair station in the Mountain State. Koukoulis is also credited with introducing the “buddy concept” to flight training, a practice adopted nationwide. In 1980, he founded West Virginia’s first fully certified passenger airline, AeroMech Airlines, serving 23 cities in seven states. Koukoulis remained active in the community, serving as founder and first treasurer of the Regional Airline Association of America and airport manager of Benedum Airport for 22 years. In 1998, he received the prestigious Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and in 2015, Koukoulis was inducted into the West Virginia Aviation Hall of Fame.

KCI Aviation

Today, Koukoulis’ legacy and vision live on through KCI Enterprises, Inc., also known as KCI Aviation, where his son, Charles “Chuck,” serves as president and CEO.

“I grew up here in this airport,” says Chuck Koukoulis. “This was my playground. My father taught me everything; I flew airplanes before I could see over the glare shield. Today we honor his legacy and contribute to the well-being of the Pierpont Foundation by providing resources to students pursuing the Aviation Maintenance Technology program. We can’t have enough of it (mechanics), and we are so fortunate to have this program here.

Aviation Maintenance Technology Scholarship

The scholarship fund will support students within Pierpont’s aviation maintenance technology program who complete required certification testing through the FAA, an expense that can be burdensome for many.

“This support really helps motivate our students,” said Dr. Brad Gilbert, director of Pierpont’s aviation maintenance technology program. “Many have full-time or part-time jobs while completing their studies. Some also support families. They must be diligent at the end of their studies to pass the FAA certification exams, and generous gifts like these can go a long way toward supporting that. I am so grateful to the Koukoulis family for their contributions to our program and aviation in West Virginia and beyond.”

Students in Pierpont’s two-year aviation maintenance technology program engage in hands-on learning in the classroom and in the shop, preparing them for dynamic careers as airframe maintenance technicians, avionics technicians and more. One-year certificates are also available for airframe technology and avionics. For more information about the program, click here.

For more information about the Angelo Koukoulis Memorial Scholarship, email (email protected).