DRIVEN by a passion for aviation and a love for tackling complex processes, JN scholar Khalil Mair sees his recent academic success as a launching pad to his dream of one day having a high-flying military career.

The 2024 JN Foundation Primary Exit Profile (PEP) scholar for St Andrew said he is looking to become a military pilot, a profession that requires a blend of both intellect and adeptness while on the front line of defence and national security.

“I’ve been fascinated with planes and flying from I was very young — around age five,” the Dunrobin Primary past student shared.

Khalil, now a first former at Campion College in St Andrew, said he has started attending meetings of the aeronautics club at his new school to broaden his knowledge of aviation and connect with others who share a common interest.

“So far we’ve only had one meeting, and it was really interesting because I learned things that I never knew before and that information will also help me when I get to third form and start doing subjects like physics,” he said.

The Campionite said he enjoys mathematics, the sciences, and French. He also enjoys running.

“In primary school, during grade five, our coach decided to start a track team because there wasn’t one there, and I was really interested, so I joined and trained for a while. It was really challenging and hard, but it was something that I really liked, and I think I can excel in it and be good in it if I practice more. I have already started the track programme at Campion,” he said.

Khalil was among 37 scholarship recipients who were recognised for their PEP achievements at the JN Foundation PEP Scholarship awards reception held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston on October 6. His outstanding performance in PEP led to his selection as the JN scholar for St Andrew, and he was awarded a five-year scholarship.

“I was very excited, and I felt very proud of myself that I was able to get it and also that I was the one who got the highest score out of all the scholars in the room. The scholarship will really help my father and my mother with my educational expenses,” he shared.

Courtney Mair, Khalil’s father, said both he and Khalil’s mother are grateful to the JN Foundation for providing the scholarship, which will also serve as a start for their son’s college fund.

Mair, who is an entrepreneur and Kingston College old boy, said his son, the youngest of his three children, has always been doing well, earning the top boy spot in every grade at Dunrobin Primary. He also has two daughters, who he said adores their little brother.

“He just keeps on excelling, and when I saw he passed for Campion, I cried, because I know what it takes to go to Campion. I’ve heard stories, so I knew he did exceptionally well,” Mair said, adding that “he loves school and even when it rains or he’s sick, he wants to go, and I don’t think it’s to play.”

He said going forward he will be encouraging his son to read more and give less attention to his phone. As for Khalil’s career goal to be a fighter pilot, Mair said he supports it.

“I really encourage him to go after what he wants and if he changes his mind, so be it, because we know things can change after a while. But that’s what he wants and whatever support we can provide him, we will do whatever it takes to get it to him,” he said.