By AOPA ePublishing staff
AOPA is accepting applications for three $5,000 flight training scholarships to be awarded in the spring at the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo.
Student pilots working toward a sport, recreational, or private pilot certificate may apply online for the AOPA Flight Training Scholarship, Erral Lea Plymate Memorial Scholarship, and Jeppesen Flight Training Scholarship through Feb. 10.
AOPA began offering the scholarships in 2011 as part of its Flight Training Student Retention Initiative, designed to improve the flight training experience and help more student pilots succeed in earning a pilot certificate. The first round of scholarships was awarded at AOPA Aviation Summit in September.
Scholarship recipients will be chosen on merit, including previous accomplishments, ability to set goals, and demonstrated commitment to flight training. To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must be a U.S. citizen at least 16 years old, and hold a student pilot certificate but not yet have passed the practical test. Complete eligibility requirements are available online.
Applicants only need to fill out the form once to be considered for all three scholarships; all applications must be submitted online, along with two recommendations, by the Feb. 10 deadline. The scholarships will be awarded at Sun ’n Fun International Fly-In and Expo, March 27 through April 1. The winners will be notified prior to Sun ’n Fun, but do not need to be present to accept the award.
New WAI Scholarships – Apply Now
Despite the deadline to apply for a WAI scholarship having come and gone, two new scholarships are now available for 2012. These new scholarships bring the total to 73 individual scholarships valued at $520,900 to be awarded to WAI members.
“These generous scholarship sponsors don’t want to wait a year to award their funds,” says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “So we’ve re-opened the application process on these new scholarships until January 20, 2012, to find worthy recipients for them.”
The new scholarships for 2012 include:
The Joseph Finelli Memorial Aviation Scholarship is awarded in memory of the president of Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA) by his wife, Nancy. Two $2000 scholarships for academic study for either an undergraduate or graduate degree in some aspect of aviation will be awarded.
The Boeing Company will award one 737-NG Type Rating Certificate Scholarship, valued at $35,000. Candidates must possess Commercial, Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings with a minimum of 1,500 hours fixed wing total time, instrument currency and possess a First Class Medical with no waivers.
The Bunny Connors Memorial Scholarship has been in existence since 1995, but the administration of the scholarship has now been turned over to Women in Aviation, International. This scholarship provides $1000 a year for academic study in any area of aviation. Bunny Connors was a flight instructor and commercial pilot who decided to pursue her love of aviation after a career as a respiratory therapist. This scholarship will be awarded for the first time by WAI in 2013 in Nashville.
An addition new scholarship for 2013 is the Ted Mallory III Memorial Scholarship, honoring a WAI Board Member who passed away in 2011. A gift of $25,000 has been received by WAI, and the scholarship will be paid from the interest of that donation as an endowed scholarship. The first recipient of the Ted Mallory III Memorial Scholarship will be announced in 2013. More details of this scholarship will be announced during the WAI Conference in Dallas.
All scholarships will be awarded when Women in Aviation returns to Dallas, Texas, for its 23rd Annual International Women in Aviation Conference scheduled at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas from March 8-10, 2012. For more information, visitwai.org/12conference/index.cfm.
Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information, contact WAI at 3647 State Route 503 South, West Alexandria, OH 45381, Phone (937) 839-4647; Fax (937) 839-4645 or through www.wai.org.