Rachelle Spector received a scholarship to learn to fly in 2010. After earning her private pilot certificate and adding multiple ratings, she decided to pay it forward to other women interested in learning to fly.
Spector established the I Hart Flying Foundation in 2017 and at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in July, she announced that in celebration of the organization's five-year anniversary, it would award its largest scholarship to four women, totaling $30,000.
“While our scholarships are fully based on merit and it's an intensive application process, it is well worth it in the end for our scholarship recipients,” Spector said. “Each scholar is provided more than $3,000 worth of flight training supplies, training aids, packages, and travel support from across our industry partnerships, in addition to funds awarded toward their flight training.”
The nonprofit organization partners with Immaculate Flight, Paragon Aviation Group, AEG Fuels, and Dassault Aviation. In-kind donations have been contributed by King Schools, Bose Aviation, AOPA, ATP Flight School, Airbus, and Phillips 66.