New Scholarships, Radio Show And WomenVenture

By Maxine Scheer

Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President of Women in Aviation, runs a great organization and comes to AirVenture with numerous announcements and activities throughout the week to reach out to and recognize women in aviation.

"WAI's track record is nothing short of amazing, especially in such difficult times," said Charles H. Stites, Executive Director of Able Flight.  This recognition is one of many backed up by WAI's ability to have raised over $6.5 million in scholarships since the organization was found in 1995.

WAI wants AirVenture attendees and followers to know about thirteen new scholarships valued at $92,250 that have been added to the roster to be awarded at the 22nd Annual Women in Aviation International Conference, next year in Reno, Nevada, February 24 - 26, 2011.  WAI scholarships are open to all members of WAI, with time still left to submit scholarship applications to meet the November 15th, 2010 deadline.

New scholarships are coming from the airlines, including the AirTran Airways Maintenance Scholarship, American Airlines Veteran's Initiative, and two Airbus A320 type rating scholarships from Delta Air Lines.  Also announced are new scholarships from DTC Duat, FAA's Direct User Access Terminal (DUAT) service for pilots, PilotMall CFI Scholarships, SAFE Scholarships, and two new WAI Scholarships.

Able Flight will offer a new training scholarship for a WAI member with physical disabilities. "We'd like to grow the number of scholarships significantly by working with WAI to increase awareness of this avenue for women with disabilities to become pilots," said Stites.  Five Able Flight scholarships have already been awarded.

Jim Campbell, president of Aero-News Network, is sponsoring two scholarships in memory of  U.S. Aerobatic Team Pilot and IAC President Vicki Cruise, to provide flight training for a private pilot to undertake basic aerobatic or unusual attitude flight training or to further skills in that regimen.

Campbell says, "Vicki's first aerobatic experiences opened up a whole new world of aviation to her and allowed her to seek extraordinary adventures and achievements that culminated in her becoming one of the most respected and accomplished pilots in the sport aviation community."

Recognizing women in aviation will be presented during a daily radio show hosted by Dr. Chabrian. "WomenVenture Voices" will air each morning on EAA Radio, from 1000 to 1015, and feature interviews with women aviators with a variety of backgrounds and accomplishments. EAA Radio can be heard at 1210 AM and also streams live during AirVenture.

Another program supported by WAI is WomenVenture.  Now in its third consecutive year, Women Venture expands to two days and kicks off with an evening in Theater in the Woods on Thursday, July 29th at 7:00 pm. WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian will host a panel of accomplished and inspiring women including NASA Astronaut Bonnie Dunbar and Space Station Commander Peggy Whitson.

The activities continue on Friday morning at 0800 with a breakfast for all WomenVenture participants in the EAA Nature Center. Tickets for this breakfast are available at the Women in Aviation, International booth located at Hangar B. The highlight of WomenVenture for many is the group photo of women pilots taken in AeroShell Square. Free t-shirts are distributed to all WomenVenture-registered pilots, including student pilots. The photograph will be taken following the WomenVenture breakfast on Friday, July 30 at 1030.

FMI: www.wai.org, www.airventure.org/womenventure, www.ableflight.org