The Institute for Women of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW) announced $14,000 in scholarships, trophies, and prizes will be part of the group’s annual celebration of women and aviation. According to a Dec. 4 news release, women who take a discovery flight during the 2017 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week March 6 through 12, 2017, and continue their flight training to “become the first to solo” will win iWOAW’s First to Solo Challenge scholarship.
According to the institute’s website, additional scholarships may be awarded to female pilots “in the order in which candidates solo,” with a maximum individual value of $2,632 each ($3,500 Canadian).
The week of aviation activity corresponds with the March 8, 1910, anniversary of the world’s first pilot certificate issued to a woman. The certificate was acquired by Baroness Raymonde de la Roche of France. The theme for the 2017 week of worldwide activities revolves around rotorcraft and celebrates “80 years of female helicopter pilots.”
In 2016 the women’s aviation institute spearheaded a worldwide drive to build a record number of pink paper airplanes in 15 minutes. The paper airplane event brought attention to women in the aviation industry and spotlighted opportunities available to women of all ages.
“The most powerful incentive we offer as part of Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week,” wrote Mireille Goyer, iWOAW’s founder and president, “is the opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements while creating a future for women in our industry at a meaningful time of the year.