Wings Over the Branch 2026: Awards Program & Youth Aviation Takeover
Wings Over the Branch 2026 Awards Program
Celebrating Excellence, Legacy, and the Future of Aviation
Cecil Hoyer — Trailblazer Award
Honoring a pioneer who breaks barriers, challenges limitations, and opens doors to new possibilities. This award celebrates Cecil Hoyer’s contributions to air traffic control and his role in helping pave the way for greater opportunity, representation, and excellence in aviation.
Shirley Blache — Wind Beneath Our Wings Award
Recognizing a passionate advocate whose encouragement, dedication, and mentorship empower young people to reach beyond what they believe possible. This award celebrates Shirley Blache’s commitment to inspiring the next generation—especially young women—to discover their potential in aviation, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Jeff Holmes — Unsung Legacy Award
Celebrating the quiet force behind lasting achievement: the mentor who shares knowledge, the educator who nurtures talent, and the dedicated professional who helps others soar. This award recognizes Jeff Holmes for his commitment to educating, guiding, and preparing future generations of aviation professionals.
Billy Shannon — Special Legacy Recognition
A tribute to a lifetime defined by aviation excellence, steadfast service, and the power of mentorship. From his contributions to the Memphis Blackhawks to his connection with FedEx, Billy Shannon’s legacy reflects the dedication, leadership, and pioneering spirit that strengthen the aviation community and inspire those who follow in his footsteps.
Honoring the Past. Inspiring the Future.
The Wings Over the Branch 2026 Awards Program celebrates the individuals whose courage opens doors, whose mentorship lifts others, and whose legacies continue to shape the skies ahead. Their stories remind us that aviation is more than flight—it is a tradition of service, opportunity, achievement, and inspiration passed from one generation to the next.
Youth Takeover
Wings Over the Branch 2026 was a youth aviation event presented by Team Memphis in partnership with the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP). Held on September 26, 2026, at Luke Weathers Jr. Flight Academy in Olive Branch, Mississippi,
The event was designed to introduce young people ages 12–18 to the exciting world of aviation and inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.
Under the theme “Forecasting the Future of Flight,” the event offered registered participants an opportunity to explore aviation through free discovery flights and educational experiences.
A featured presentation on aviation meteorology, presented by FedEx, highlighted the important relationship between weather forecasting and flight operations, helping students understand how weather conditions influence flight planning, safety, and decision-making.
from my perspective…. Click Images to access Gallery
Wings Over the Branch encouraged young people to look beyond the horizon and discover career possibilities in aviation, including piloting, aviation meteorology, and other aerospace-related professions. By connecting students with aviation education and hands-on discovery opportunities.
The event supported the development of future aviators and helped make aviation more accessible to the next generation.
Presented by Team Memphis, an organization committed to promoting aviation, Wings Over the Branch 2026 represented an investment in youth education, career exploration, and the future of flight.
Its mission was to spark curiosity, expand awareness of aviation careers, and empower young people to envision themselves as the pilots, professionals, and innovators who will shape tomorrow's aerospace industry.
notebook….
All images were created from a single setup: a Nikon Z5 with my Tamron f/2.8 24-70mm Lens.
Due to constantly changing shooting environments, settings were constantly being manipulated. I shot manually, constantly adjusting exposure, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
