Women in Aviation International Has Opened Their 2025 Scholarship Programs
USA – Women in Aviation International (WIA) has a presence in 120 countries. They are a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping women enter and grow their careers in aviation and aerospace. The organization was started in 1990 and officially became a nonprofit in 1994. It currently boasts a membership of more than 20,000 people, and each year, Women in Aviation makes available several scholarships. The 2025 scholarships are now accepting applications from women who are thinking about an aerospace career or for those who wish to advance their careers.
Who is Women in Aviation International, and Why Is It Important?
Women in Aviation International has been steadily growing since the 1990s. Their goal is to help more women enter, advance, and succeed in the aviation industry. After all, only 8.4 percent of pilots are women, only 2.6 percent of airplane mechanics are women, and only 20 percent of dispatchers are women. However, almost 80 percent of flight attendants are women.
With those statistics, it’s obvious to see that we need more women in aviation. That’s why the WIA issues scholarships each year.
The 2025 Women in Aviation International’s Scholarships Are Ready for Applicants.
If you’re female and want financial help to get into the aviation industry or advance in the industry, the 2025 scholarships have been released and are accepting applications.
It’s important to understand that WIA only accepts applications from current members. For the 2025 scholarship application season, the applicants must be WIA members prior to October 1, 2024, and that membership cannot expire before March 2025 because that’s when the winners will be officially announced. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is October 11, 2024, and each member can apply for up to three of the scholarships.
2025 WIA Scholarships
The WIA scholarships are not limited to students or those getting ready to enter college or start flight training. Instead, they are available for any WIA member in any part of their career path.
The available scholarships fall under several categories, including:
- Career Pilots – Career pilots can choose between six different scholarships, including the Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air Pilot Scholarship, the Delta Air Lines Propel Pilot Scholarship, and the ISA+21 Financial Scholarship 2025, among others.
- Private Pilots – Private pilots can choose from more than 15 scholarships, including The Dorothy Thompson/Tampa Bay Aviation Scholarship, the Keep Flying International Scholarship, and the Wings Over 35 Scholarship, among many others.
- Advanced Ratings – Pilots looking to pay for an advanced rating can apply for the CAE 2025 Citation Bravo Type Rating Scholarship, the Dare to Dream Scholarship, and the ISA+21 Airline Type Rating Scholarship.
- Dispatchers – There are three dispatcher scholarships available for the upcoming year, including the ADF/North American Flight Control Dispatch Certificate Scholarship, the Boeing Jeppesen FAA Dispatcher Certification Course Scholarship, and the Universal Weather & Aviation FAA-Certified Dispatcher Training Course Scholarship.
- Aerospace Engineering – Those entering or already in aerospace engineering have the option of applying for the Delta Air Lines Engineering Scholarship, the Al Worden “Endeavour” Scholarship, and the NKL Aerospace Engineering Scholarship, plus one more.
- Aviation Maintenance – There are also several aviation maintenance scholarships available, including the Amazon Maintenance Technician Scholarship, the CAE 2025 Bombardier Learjet Maintenance Initial Scholarship, and the Delta Air Lines Aircraft Maintenance Technology Scholarship, among others.
- Career Advancement – There are seven scholarships available for women who wish to advance their careers. A few of those scholarships include the General Chuck Yeager’s Legacy Foundation Scholarship, the Janet Clark Memorial Scholarship, and the Mary Ann Eiff Memorial Outreach Award.
Of course, these are just a few of the scholarships available in the WIA portal. To view the full list and to apply, you should become a member and view the requirements.
How to Apply for the Scholarships
Women, who wish to apply for the scholarships, will need to apply via the WIA scholarship portal. Applicants will need two letters of recommendation from two different professional people in their lives. It’s important to note that recommendations from family members are not allowed. The applicant will also need to write a 500-word essay on why winning the scholarship money would benefit them and their professional aerospace quest. Then, they must provide a resume of no more than two pages.
If the individual is applying for a scholarship for flight training, the individual should include copies of any applicable pilot certifications, their medical, and the last three pages of their logbook. Additionally, the specific scholarship that the individual is applying for may have its own requirements that must be included.
It’s important to note that the application portal will only be open until October 11. The winners of the scholarships should be notified by the end of 2024, and they will be officially announced in March 2025.
Where Will the Winners Be Announced?
The winners for the 2025 WIA scholarships will be announced at the WIA International conference in Denver at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center from March 27 through 29, 2025. The conference will host several keynote speakers, sponsors, and presenters.
The WIA is headquartered in Germantown, OH, but has chapters in more than 120 countries. If you’re a woman in aviation or who is thinking about entering the aerospace industry, a WIA membership and the opportunity to apply for up to three scholarships may appeal to you. Of course, if you miss this year, you can always wait and apply for the 2026 scholarships.