“Wings to Fly” is expected to draw 200 students to the Challenger Space Center. Professional women in aviation and aerospace will share their career and life experiences with students interested, including Gwen Kross, with All Out Aerial.
The Arizona Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics Division will be partnering with the Challenger Space Center for a series of seminars to encourage girls to pursue careers in the aviation and aerospace industries.
“Wings to Fly” is expected to draw 200 students, aged 11 to 19, to the Challenger Space Center in Peoria, Ariz., on April 21. Professional women in aviation and aerospace will share their career and life experiences with students interested in these industries.
“Prominent women aviators and engineers will be leading the workshops, including keynote speaker Dr. Aprille Ericsson, a NASA engineer,” said Carole Glenn, ADOT’s aviation education coordinator. “Stacy Howard, AOPA western regional representative, and Gwen Kross, with All Out Aerial, will also participate.”
A mentoring program will be available for students attending.
Prominent women aviators and engineers will be leading the workshops, including keynote speaker Dr. Aprille Ericsson, a NASA engineer, shown working in the MAP integration and test facility.
“We’ll also provide a seminar for parents interested in helping their children prepare for college,” Glenn said. “We’ll be providing information their kids need to know to succeed.”
Glenn said that in 2003, Women in Aviation, International provided figures that showed the need to encourage young women to pursue a career in aviation or aerospace, or to “simply follow their dreams.”
“Of the 625,581 pilots registered with the Federal Aviation Administration, 36,757 (5.88 percent) are women,” she said. “Of the 10,534 NASA scientists and engineers, 1,853 (17.59 percent) are women.
“This is a chance for the Arizona Department of Transportation, along with community partners, to take a strong lead in aviation education for Arizona,” said Glenn. “We’re setting the bar high for others to follow.”
For more information, contact Carole Glenn at 602-294-9144 or cglenn@azdot.gov.