A black teenager from Staten Island is soaring to new heights.
Kamora Freeland made history as the youngest African-American female to earn a private pilot’s license last year. Now, she continues to break barriers by starting her sophomore year at Spelman College, an HBCU in Atlanta, skipping freshman year after earning college credits in high school.
As the New York Post reports, Freeland dreamed of exploring the ocean as a marine biologist as a little kid. Fast forward years later, the 17-year-old is now cruising the clouds at over 5,500 feet.
“I earned my pilot license before I got a driver’s license,” Kamora told The Post with a laugh.
Last year, Kamora made headlines after acing her check ride at Republic Airport in Long Island, earning her private pilot’s license at just 17. She said, “I love flying, and I have a passion for it. Plus, pilots can make up to $700,000, so that caught my attention, too. The next step is to become a commercial airline pilot.”
“Bittersweet moment”
Freeland’s hard work earned her the Presidential Scholarship at Spelman and a spot in the Ethel Waddell Githii Honors Program.
“Starting college as a sophomore has been a whirlwind of emotions—exciting, overwhelming, and liberating all at once,” Freeland told the Advance/SILive.com about attending the HBCU. “It’s like stepping into a whole new world where you’re figuring out who you are, balancing independence, and navigating friendships, academics, and late-night study sessions.”
Although Kamora was once focused on becoming a commercial pilot and even received an internship offer from NASA, she is now majoring in finance with a minor in entrepreneurship.
For Kamora’s mother, Lakema Freeland, seeing her daughter start college as a sophomore is a proud but “bittersweet moment.” She said, “I’m so proud of her for taking that big step, but my heart aches knowing the house is a little quieter without her laughter. It’s a mix of excitement for her future and the longing to hold on to the moments we’ve shared.”