{"id":28469,"date":"2024-04-22T23:21:01","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T23:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saj.pachecostudios.com?p=28469"},"modified":"2024-04-22T23:21:58","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T23:21:58","slug":"siu-aviation-students-receive-scholarships-from-the-boeing-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateaviationjournal.com\/index.php\/state-news\/illinois\/siu-aviation-students-receive-scholarships-from-the-boeing-company\/%20","title":{"rendered":"SIU Aviation Students Receive Scholarships from The Boeing Company"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo above – SIU Aviation students celebrate receiving scholarships as part of a grant program funded by The Boeing Company. From left are Doug Carr, Faith Ortega, SIU Aviation students Sami Liller, Melissa Pfaff, Fawne Maguire and Grace Gray, Harry Barrett Jr. and Dristin Rose. (Photo by Russell Bailey)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fifteen students in Southern Illinois University\nCarbondale\u2019s nationally recognized School of Aviation recently received\nscholarships from Boeing to enhance their education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the second consecutive year Boeing has provided\n$50,000 to the School of Aviation for scholarships and to fund activities of\naviation-related registered student organizations and outreach events, such as\nthe fourth annual diversity luncheon on April 12 at the Glenn Poshard\nTransportation Education Center. Five students each in aviation technologies,\naviation flight and aviation management received $2,000 scholarships and the\nremaining $20,000 is split between registered student organization (RSO) activities\nand diversity outreach programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A benefit for students <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew J. Romero, an associate professor of aviation\nmanagement, said the funds received from Boeing is a \u201cwindfall for our\nstudents.\u201d The scholarships are an obvious benefit, but there are also\nless-noticed tangible benefits for students who are able to participate in\nfield trips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe School of Aviation is home to 11 registered student\norganizations, many of which serve students with backgrounds typically\nunderrepresented in the aviation industry,\u201d Romero said. \u201cThe Boeing grant aims\nto help women, students who are racial or ethnic minorities and students with\nfinancial needs experience the aviation industry while they are students here.\u201d\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romero noted that in addition to RSOs being able to travel\nto annual national conferences, this year students planned, organized and\nvisited four aviation agencies in the Chicago area. More than 30 students\nvisited United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and the DuPage\nCounty Airport Authority, where they met with alumni and learned more about the\naviation industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe experiences our students gain while in the field are\ninvaluable to their experiences as Salukis, and Boeing directly contributes to\ntheir experiences,\u201d Romero said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promoting diversity in aviation <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s diversity luncheon was a panel discussion from\nfour aviation professionals, including three SIU Aviation alumni, about their\ncareer paths as they relate to diversity, equity and inclusion issues. The\npanelists included Doug Carr (2000), a senior vice president of safety for the\nNational Business Aviation Association and vice chair of the board of directors\nfor the National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA); Dristin Rose (2019), a first\nofficer with regional airline Envoy Air and member of the NGPA board of\ndirectors and University Aviation Association board; Faith Ortega (2019), a\nhelicopter mechanic and maintenance instructor with the St. Louis-based Air\nEvac Lifeteam, and Harry Barrett, Jr., executive director of the Palm Springs\nInternational Airport in California. Barrett is a member of the American\nAssociation of Airport Executives board of directors and chairs the\norganization\u2019s diversity committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scholarship recipients, listed by hometown, are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ILLINOIS <\/p>\n\n\n\n