Women in Aviation, International scholarships for 2015 now number 91 with the value of $510k.

“The variety of scholarships - and the variety of donors is huge,” says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. "From major aerospace corporations and airlines to WAI chapters and WAI members, we offer scholarships ranging from type ratings to initial training, for academic work, dispatcher training, maintenance training to money to finance a mid-life career change to aviation. The only universal qualification is that you must be a current WAI member to apply.”

The new scholarships for 2015 include:

• Boeing 737-NG Type Rating Certificate Scholarship: The Boeing Company will award one B737-NG type rating certificate to a qualified recipient.

• Disabled Pilot International Scholarship: This scholarship is sponsored by a team including disabled pilots and is open to a deserving person, female or male, aged 18 or older wanting to obtain a Sport Pilot or Private Pilot Certificate.

• Europe-American Aviation Garmin G1000 Transition Course: Europe-American Aviation is awarding a scholarship for a Garmin G1000 transition course in a Diamond DA40XL single-engine aircraft.

• Virginia Volk Memorial Scholarship: This Scholarship is intended to celebrate Virginia Volk who dedicated 30 years of faithful service to the Federal Aviation Administration as an Air Traffic Controller. She championed the professional growth and presence of women in the federal aviation workforce and supported women in all aspects of aviation.

In order to qualify for any WAI scholarship, the person must be an active WAI member as of November 1, 2014. All scholarship applications must be postmarked by November 17, 2014. Complete details on all scholarships as well as an application form and advice are available at www.wai.org.

"Our scholarships are for any WAI member, not just for students. These scholarships change lives, open doors, and accelerate careers,” adds Dr. Chabrian. "Opportunities for a wide range of members are possible through these scholarships.”

WAI significantly expands its youth outreach

In further news, Women in Aviation, International has announced that the association’s successful 'Bring Your Daughter to the Conference Day' held for the past three years during WAI’s annual conference has been expanded and rebranded to include an international day to attract girls to aviation planned for September 26, 2015.

Now called 'Girls in Aviation Day', the program will occur both during WAI’s annual Conference in March as well as a full day where WAI chapters each commit to a local program for the girls in their area in September.

For the past three years, WAI has devoted the Saturday during its annual Conference as an outreach among its members and girls in the local area. The day of activities introduces girls from ages 8 to 16 years to the possibilities of aviation as a career or avocation.

“We knew even after the first year that this was a winning program,” says Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “Of course, we will continue the activities on the Saturday of the conference, but we will also spearhead an international effort to attract girls to the aviation community on September 26, 2015.”

To differentiate the two initiatives, the Conference Girls in Aviation Day will be named after the city in which the Conference is being held. For 2015, that means Dallas-Girls in Aviation Day. Local Girl Scouts and other groups will be invited to participate. As in past years, it’s estimated that 250 girls will take part in this day – flying simulators, learning to read a sectional chart, and building an airport along with a career and college fair for the older girls.

“Our membership includes literally thousands of role models for girls - from airline pilots to aeronautical engineers and air traffic controllers, from recreational pilots to those who earn their living in the aviation industry,” added Chabrian. “WAI members enthusiastically support Girls in Aviation Day and the opportunity to expand the presence of women in the aviation community."

WAI chapters will be given a Girls in Aviation Day kit to assist them in publicizing and hosting a local event. Since chapters have different resources, each chapter’s Girls in Aviation Day will be slightly different, but all with the same goal of showing girls that aviation is a career and life choice they can make. Thousands of girls will be reached all around the world.

WAI’s 26th Annual International Conference will be held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas, from March 5-7, 2015.