Written by AMA staff (02/2010); Transcribed by JS (05/2010)
Wesley Rieth of Three Oaks, Michigan, received a $5,900 Charles Hampson Grant scholarship. He is enrolled in Hope College in Holland, Michigan and plans to pursue a degree in engineering.
A graduate of River Valley High School, Wesley was active in band and choir, as well as theater. He participated in his high school marching band and concert band for four years and was section leader of the drum line. Wesley was chosen to participate in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association’s District All-Star Band, and also performed with the Albian College High School Honors Band and the Hope College High School Honors Band.
Wesley was a vocalist in his high school Chamber Choir, and participated in a number of solo and ensemble events. He was chosen twice to be a member of the Southwest Michigan Vocal Festival Honors Choir. In 2008, Wesley was the recipient of the prestigious Arion Award for his outstanding participation in band and choir.
He was a member, and later president, of his National Honor Society and was elected to be a representative of his high school student congress. Wesley also played baseball and soccer, and was active in the school’s drama club.
Wesley assisted with his church’s afterschool daycare program and worked as the church’s audio-visual technician. He also served on the Harbert Community Church Worship and Arts Committee. Wesley coached youth soccer and participated in the Berrien County Youth Fair, the largest youth fair in the Midwest, for a number of years, exhibiting poultry, plants, and art. He was chosen Youth Fair King in 2008.
Wesley’s aeromodeling interests began when he was in elementary school and could see models flying from the school. He attended the local club’s open houses and was determined to learn more about aeromodeling.
A member of the club who attended Wesley’s church gave him a .40 trainer and began teaching him to fly. Wesley joined AMA and the Whirlwinds of Southwest Michigan and soloed the following summer. He has since built and flown a Hangar 9 Pulse XT40, a Hangar 9 Funtana X100, and a Treneff RC Battle Axe SSC kit.
Wesley has helped the club with field maintenance, open houses, fly-ins, and mall shows. He wrote, “My experiences I have gained through being a part of the Whirlwinds of Southwest Michigan will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Although I didn’t realize it at the time, my love of flying model airplanes wasn’t the reason I spent money on them. It was the camaraderie, endless tinkering, and the sharing of helpful ideas – not the actual flying – that has kept me in the hobby for so long and the reason I still participate in it today.”
Good luck and congratulations on your successes, Wesley!
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