Ellie Cheek is an Aviation Technology/Professional Pilot student at Utah State University (USU). A resident of Eagle, ID, Ellie graduated from Bishop Kelly High School in 2024. Taking her first discovery flight out of Nampa, ID in 2023, Ellie set her sights on finding a university program where she could train to become a professional pilot.

At Utah State, Ellie has completed her Private Pilot training, including her solo from Logan, UT to Pocatello, ID, and is waiting to complete her checkride. She will continue her training over the summer to complete the cross country ground and flight courses in order to move on to instrument training in the fall. Ellie plans to become a Certified Flight Instructor for USU in the future.

Ellie maintains a 4.0 GPA and is an active member of the school community. She is a member of Women in Aviation International and represented USU at their 2025 international conference in Denver, CO. She is also a member of the USU Student Alumni Association and sings soprano in the university choir.

While living in Eagle, ID, Ellie worked as a horse guide and farm hand at Twin Oaks Farms for several seasons. She also worked at Eagle Island State park in the shave ice shack and volunteered countless hours to her local church choir. Ellie is looking forward to the day when she can fly over the beautiful state she calls home.

“I am honored and incredibly grateful to be selected as the recipient of the Larson-Miller Flight Scholarship. This generous award will significantly support my flight training and I appreciate the confidence you have in me as an aviation student. I am excited about the opportunities this scholarship will provide, and I look forward to making the most of it as I continue working toward my aviation goals.
I take my studies and aviation training seriously and look forward to being a good steward of your funding and hope to repay the Idaho Aviation Association and support aviation students in the future.”