Sevgin and Elizabeth Oktay Aviation Scholarship

Elizabeth Oktay and her family have created a scholarship in memory of her beloved husband, Sevgin. This scholarship is established to recognize and memorialize Sevgin and his love for aviation. Sevgin first fell in love with flying as a young boy watching airshows in his hometown of Safranbolu, Turkey. After immigrating to the U.S. for college, he began taking flying lessons in 1963 during his lunch breaks while working as an engineer at IBM. He earned his private pilot's certificate in 1968, later adding commercial, instrument, and seaplane ratings. Together with Elizabeth, he flew a Cessna 182 to the far reaches of North America, including Alaska, the Bahamas, and Nova Scotia. They traced all of their trips on a map proudly hung in their home. He also introduced countless friends and family members to the joys of flight, taking them on local flights whenever the opportunity arose. In 2020 he invited his two grandchildren (pictured above) to take lessons and they both learned to fly. His family would now like to pass along the gift of flying to those who share his passion. He would be happy knowing he's helping that dream come true for DCC students.

This scholarship will be awarded to an incoming aviation student who attends DCC and is enrolled in the Aviation program. 

If you would like to make a donation by check, please make check payable to Dutchess Community College Foundation and include Sevgin and Elizabeth Oktay Aviation Scholarship in the memo of your check and mail to Dutchess Community College Foundation, 53 Pendell Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

For more information, including other ways to give contact Diana Pollard at (845) 431-8403.