Flying High with SKYCTC: Mary Schalk Blends Business and Aviation on Her Own Terms

Mary Schalk isn’t your average college graduate. At just 20 years old, she’s already a licensed commercial pilot, a marketing director for multiple small businesses, and a soon-to-be SKYCTC graduate with an associate degree and four certificates—all while working and flying throughout Western Kentucky.

“Originally, I thought I’d just be a pilot,” Mary said. “But I found myself really enjoying marketing—especially posting about my flying experiences on social media. I realized I could do both: fly and run marketing remotely.”

Mary's journey began with dual credit classes at Barren County High School, which gave her a head start toward her associate degree in Business Management. She chose SKYCTC because of its flexibility, affordability, and online learning options, which allowed her to stay closer to home and keep up her flying schedule.

While at SKYCTC, Mary earned her degrees tuition-free, thanks to a combination of scholarships including the SKYCTC Merit and Work Ready Kentucky scholarships. “I didn’t pay out-of-pocket for any semester,” she said. “I got paid to go to college.”

In addition to her academic achievements, Mary is already putting her skills to work as the marketing director for MCS Lawn Care, Grey Rock Construction, and she also flies banners for Master Wings Aviation.

Her flying career started early. “I flew solo for the first time at 16, but I’d been training since I was 14,” she said. “My dad and uncle are both private pilots, so flying runs in the family.”

Mary recently passed her last two certification exams for commercial flying and is now building hours to qualify for her next big goal: flying jets for a charter company. “I’m hoping in the next year or so to land a jet job,” she said. “But I want to keep doing marketing, too. It keeps things interesting.”

Looking back, Mary said the hardest part of college was simply getting started. “At first, I didn’t know if this path was for me. I just thought, ‘I’m going to be a pilot, that’s it.’ But once I started, I realized how much I loved it. The professors made it a really enjoyable experience.”

She credits instructors Ms. Harris and Ms. Dent in particular for their ongoing encouragement and support. “They were always watching out for me,” she said. She also appreciated the way advisors and instructors stayed connected throughout the semester—and even when she got behind in one of her classes, they helped her get back on track.

For students considering SKYCTC, Mary has one clear message: “Put SKY at the top of your list. SKYCTC is such a flexible, supportive place to start. The class sizes are small, the teachers are personable, and you can get a great education without any debt.”