MILWAUKEE — Aaron Calvert spent his childhood recognizing airplanes by the sound of their engines as he rode past Mitchell International Airport with his grandmother. But the cost of learning to fly threatened to ground that ambition before it could take off. At Wisconsin Aviation flight school, training costs $200 to $300 per hour, Calvert said. With his family struggling to cover bills and college ahead, he worried he could not afford both a degree and the tens of thousands of dollars required for flight training. A $25,000 scholarship from Panda Cares, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, has helped change that. Calvert, now studying business at Marquette University, was one of 15 Boys & Girls Club members nationwide to receive the award, selected from more than 500 applicants. Unlike many scholarships, it could pay for professional certification, including flight instruction. Calvert learned about the opportunity through the Ready Center, a teen and college hub at the Mary Ryan Boys & Girls Club in Sherman Park. He joined the center after a high school staff member recommended it, and later received individualized guidance through the club’s Graduation Plus program. Andre Douglas, the club’s assistant vice president of Graduation Plus, said Calvert initially was so quiet that Douglas asked staff whether he spoke. Douglas encouraged him to try public speaking and youth leadership activities, helping him build confidence and connect with opportunities. As a high school junior, Calvert began pilot lessons through New Beginnings Aerospace Ministry, a Wisconsin nonprofit that introduces young students of color to aviation and STEM. Its founder, retired Air Force pilot Charles Allen, paid for Calvert’s initial flight hours toward a private pilot’s license. When that support ended, Calvert paid for lessons himself for a few weeks. He said the bills were difficult to manage. He has since logged about 60 hours in the air, including 20 to 30 hours flying solo, and expected to earn his private pilot’s license within one or two months at the time of reporting. Calvert said Black pilots make up about 3% to 4% of U.S. pilots. Allen founded New Beginnings Aerospace Ministry to help bring more Milwaukee students of color into aviation. The Panda Cares award was not an obvious option to Calvert at first. He hesitated to apply because he thought his university might reclaim money beyond his tuition costs. Douglas helped him understand that the scholarship could instead go toward flight training. “If it wasn’t for the Grad Plus program, Aaron wouldn’t have known to apply,” said his mother, Dawn Kaminski. Calvert said he had passed the Boys & Girls Club for years without knowing what it offered. He hopes other students learn about similar resources and put in the effort to pursue them. While working toward his pilot’s license, Calvert is continuing his business degree at Marquette. He chose the field partly to keep other career options open if a medical condition or another obstacle prevents him from flying professionally.