The American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) has announced the creation of the Claudia B. Holliway Women in Aviation Scholarship, named after a respected leader and mentor in the airport industry who passed away last fall. In addition to creating the new scholarship, AAAE has named the Newcomer’s Reception at the F. Russell Hoyt National Airports Conference in her honor. At the time of her death, Holliway was Vice President and National Aviation Business Development Lead for Michael Baker International, a leading provider of engineering and consulting services.
The new Claudia B. Holliway Women in Aviation Scholarship will provide a $5,000 annual award to a qualifying female student in an accredited aviation program. This new scholarship comes in addition to four existing Women in Aviation Scholarships awarded each year by the AAAE Foundation. The Claudia B. Holliway Scholarship was made possible by the generosity of her longtime employer, Michael Baker, as well as major contributions from the AAAE Chapters and individual contributors. Since 1989, the AAAE Foundation has provided nearly $5 million in scholarships to more than 2,900 students, making the organization one of the largest supporters of higher education assistance in the entire aviation industry.
In announcing the creation of this scholarship, AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli stated, “Claudia loved mentoring students passionate about the aviation industry. It is fitting that this new scholarship will bear her name. We all miss our friend terribly. We’ll never forget her impact, her friendship, her generosity of heart and her infectious enthusiasm. Special thanks to the leadership team at Michael Baker and the AAAE Chapters for making this new scholarship possible.”
“It was clear to anyone who worked with Claudia that she embodied the ‘We Make a Difference’ spirit of our Company,” said Brian A. Lutes, Michael Baker Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to support the establishment of this Women in Aviation scholarship in Claudia’s name. Her contribution of time and expertise to the aviation industry and charitable organizations left an indelible legacy.”
Holliway was active in many aspects of AAAE over the years, including serving as one of the first corporate members of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Academic Affairs Committee, where she mentored students in the early stages of their careers in the aviation industry. She also was a proud member of the Southeast Chapter of AAAE and was involved in a number of the chapter’s conferences and events. Holliway also was an avid volunteer who participated in Habitat for Humanity charity events at the AAAE Annual Conference and Exposition for the past decade.
Holliway received a number of awards and recognitions during her career. She received the AAAE Leadership Award in 2017 and was twice named the Corporate Member of the Year by the Southeast Chapter of AAAE. In addition, Holliway received the Georgia Airports Association President’s Award in 2017 and the Society of American Engineers Regional Vice President’s Medal for meritorious service in 2002.
Donations to the Claudia B. Holliway Women in Aviation Scholarship can be made on the AAAE website. A full list of AAAE Foundation scholarships and eligibility requirements are available online. For further information about Women in Aviation Scholarships or for inquiries regarding corporate or individual contributions to the program, please visit aaae.org/foundation or contact Gwen Basaria, Vice President, Member Experience and AAAE Foundation, at (703) 797-2540.
