Irving Innovation Award Spotlight: American Airlines Education Foundation

On September 23, Scholarship America will once again be presenting the Irving Innovation Awards, honoring organizations that have reimagined what it means to support students, providing financial assistance and creating holistic opportunities for personal and professional growth.

These awards reflect the vision of organization founder Dr. Irving Fradkin, whose pioneering work in establishing community-based scholarships has grown into a nationwide movement—and made Scholarship America the nation’s largest administrator of scholarships, with $6 billion distributed to students since our founding.

As we lead up to the Irving Innovation Awards gala in Washington, DC, we’re proud to spotlight the award winners here. Today, we’re celebrating the American Airlines Education Foundation. Through their scholarship program, the Foundation awarded $1 million in scholarships to more than 350 children and dependents of American Airlines team members in 2025.

This year, in celebration of American’s centennial, the Education Foundation is working with Scholarship America to award an additional 100 scholarships, which students can use for full-time undergraduate study at any accredited college, university or vocational program worldwide.  To learn more, we sat down with Carlos D. Martinez, Manager, Foundations at American Airlines.

What’s your role at American Airlines Education Foundation, and how do you work with the scholarship program? 

I oversee American’s Foundations including our Education Foundation. I oversee the day-to-day operations, long term strategy, and company and team member engagement.

Why does American Airlines feel it’s so important to invest in scholarships? 

American cares deeply about its team members and their families. We’re proud of our mission to take care of people on life’s journey, and that includes our team members and families. By providing over $1 million in scholarships each year, we are ensuring that we are helping make education slightly more reachable.

What led you to partner with Scholarship America for the administration of the scholarship? 

Scholarship America provided us with the opportunity to enhance our scholarship operations, improve access and connections for students and just provide an overall better experience for our team members. As a global airline, we are always looking at ways to improve, for both our customers and team members.

Are you in touch with past scholarship recipients? What have they gone on to do that’s stood out? 

One incredibly inspiring story comes from Skylar Yoder, the daughter of longtime American Airlines Technical Crew Chief Jason Yoder. She received four Education Foundation scholarships, which helped pave the way to an Ivy League degree from Cornell University, a master’s from King’s College London and a career in global cybersecurity. Her story is an incredible example of the impact that scholarships can have.

How do you see your program evolving and developing in the coming years? 

As we continue to evolve our Foundations, we will continue to examine how the Education Foundation can continue to have a meaningful impact and help us achieve our purpose of caring for people on life’s journey.

What advice would you give to applicants? 

Your education never ends. Learning is one of life’s greatest tools—it helps us grow, evolve, and make a meaningful impact on the world. Never underestimate the power of education; it can open doors to opportunities you never imagined.

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Our thanks to Carlos for his time, and congratulations to American Airlines and their fellow 2026 award winners! To learn more about the Irving Innovation Awards and find out how you can be a part of the celebration, visit the event website here.