NEWS RELEASE
April 1, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Saddler Thomas
Phone: (740) 452-6462
Fax: (740) 453-3758
E-mail jthomas@y-city.net

Scholarships Totaling $380,000 Awarded at International Women in Aviation Conference

Women in Aviation, International announced scholarship winners at the annual International Women in Aviation Conference held recently in Orlando. Scholarships totaled $380,000, a 33% increase from the 1998 Conference, and were awarded to 38 women. In addition, interviews for a major airline were also awarded.

Scholarships are awarded each year at the Conference. Selection factors include: achievements, attitude toward self and others, commitment to success, dedication to career, financial need, motivation, reliability, responsibility and teamwork. Each year, WAI strives to offer additional scholarships to suit the needs of the organization’s diverse membership. The 1999 scholarships were awarded in the following areas: flight training (private pilot, flight instructor, type ratings), maintenance and aviation management.

According to WAI Scholarship Committee Chair Mary Ann Eiff, "We are thrilled to be able to offer scholarships for these deserving women and grateful to all of the aviation organizations who support our effort to encourage women to consider a career in aviation." Eiff added that many companies, including Northwest Airlines and American Airlines, awarded additional type ratings at the Conference because they found several of the candidates to be equally qualified and deserving.

The following companies awarded scholarships to the individuals listed below:

Airbus

Brenda Wilmont Leadership Award

Denise Kitson A-320 type rating

Vickey McLendon A-320 type rating

Aircraft Electronics Association

Melanie Meagher Cash for avionics training

Aircraft Technical Publishers

Cathryn L. Harris Maintenance Technician of the Year Award

Amelia Earhart Society and The Boeing Company

Melinda Pickering Cash award from Boeing

Judy Rice Cash award from Amelia Earhart Society

American Airlines

Thaura Bell Type rating

Lindsey Wild Type rating

Offered interview dates: Nicole Anderson, Wilma Loraine Anderson, Laura Babar, Densie Marie Connell, Stephanie Guiang, Lea Ann Montgomery, Mary K. Plevnia, Megan J. Powers, Donna Putrimas and Adrienne Woolet

Offered class dates: Renee Burger Bowman, Marie-Louise Manser, Bambi Greene and Mary Berner

Bombardier Aerospace

Wendy Jean Boyes Maintenance training

Cessna

Cindy Martin Private pilot training

Colleen Barrett Aviation Management

Julia Ballard Cash award

FlightSafety International

Heidi M. Hopkins Certified flight instructor training

Brooke Miller type rating

Larissa Ann Laraway MX training

Flight Training magazine

Sarah O’Brien Trip to conference, all expenses paid

Lori Ann Puckett Trip to conference, all expenses paid

Paul Irvin Memorial Scholarship

Kelliey McNamara Cash award

 

Jeppesen

Ang Yu Private pilot training

Laura Elizabeth Vollertsen Private pilot training

Northwest Airlines

Trina Sprecher Type rating

Jessica Wheeler Type rating

Lea Ann Montgomery Type rating

Mary K. Plevnia Type rating

Simuflite Training International

Wendy Jean Boyes MX training

Beverly Jane Christensen Citation type rating

United Airlines

Denise Marie Connell Type rating

Linda Sollars Type rating

Kelliey McNamara Airline maintenance training

Marcia McNulty Airline maintenance training

Tigiset Hailu Airline maintenance training

Pamela Lindsey Airline maintenance training

WAI Achievement Award

Vivian Magaly DeCuba Cash award

Suzan L. Porter Cash award

Jill Noelle Schmidt Cash award

Women in Corporate Aviation

Laurie Ann Puckett Cash award

Amy Michelle Wheeler Cash award

Scholarships will be awarded at the 11th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference, March 9-11, 2000, in Memphis, Tennessee. Scholarship opportunities will be listed in the September/October issue of Aviation for Women and on WAI’s Web site. The application deadline is December 10, 1999.

Women in Aviation, International is a non-profit organization with more than 3,500 members, based near Dayton, Ohio. WAI is dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation careers and interests. The organization provides numerous benefits including scholarships, Aviation for Women, a bi-monthly magazine, and discounts to the annual conference. For more information contact Women in Aviation, International at 3647 S.R. 503 S, West Alexandria, OH USA 45381; Phone (937) 839-4647; Fax (937) 839-4645; E-mail wai@infinet.com; Web www.wiai.org.

 

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