The Place to Find Encouragement and Aviation Dollars

By ANN Correspondent Rose Dorcey

Looking for a way to jumpstart or advance your aviation training? There's no better place to begin than with Women in Aviation, International (WAI). Over half-a-million dollars in scholarships was given to over 50 WAI members at the 16th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference last week in Dallas.

The WAI scholarship program is a significant reason for both men and women to join the organization. Amy Laboda, editor of the organization's Aviation for Women magazine, said that in many cases, scholarships are available to both men and women. "Many of our scholarships are not necessarily gender-specific," she said. "All that's required in many cases is to be a member of Women in Aviation, International."

While at the conference, the Women in Aviation International Scholarship Endowment Fund received a windfall from three of the organization's corporate members. American Airlines/American Eagle contributed $5,000; the Chuck Yeager Foundation $20,000; and United Parcel Service gave $25,000. Those contributions brought the endowment fund total to more than $370,000.

Over 2,600 women, and men, were present at the three-day event. In attendance were over 300 Boeing employees, 200+ military personnel, speakers such as Congressman John Mica, Colleen Barrett from Southwest Airlines and Gretchen Jahn from Mooney Airplane Company. There were students, aviation educators, airline professionals, and women engaged in aviation maintenance. There were hundreds of women finding networking and mentoring opportunities and ways to advance in aviation/aerospace careers.

Make plans to attend next year's conference in Nashville (TN) at the Opryland Hotel, March 23 -25.

FMI:  www.wai.org