Whirly-Girl Scholarships

Photo by Mariano Rosales

Scholarship Application -- Last edited 31 July 2010

Click here for the 2011 Whirly Girl Scholarship application in MS Word format (680 kb).

History

Initiated in 1968 in memory of Doris Mullen (WG #84), a dedicated and professional pilot who lost her life in a fixed-wing aircraft accident, the scholarship program has grown from a single $500 scholarship to several different scholarships valued in excess of $45,000.

The Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund, Inc ("WGSF") was incorporated in 1974 to oversee and administer the scholarship funds raised by the Whirly-Girls and their Auxiliaries, and is a federally tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity.

The Scholarship Fund is replenished through the efforts of the Whirly-Girls Auxiliary and the HELI-EXPO merchandise booth. In the past several years, many helicopter manufacturers and commercial operators have also made significant contributions to the Scholarship Fund.

Many of our Scholarships are awarded based on the independent and objective judging of Dr. Donna Forsyth Wilt and Dr. Quay Snyder. 

Dr. Wilt is an associate professor Hampton University in Hampton, VA. She has 27 years of experience in the general aviation industry. She holds the designation of Master Certified Flight Instructor by the National Association of Flight Instructors, has served as an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, is an AOPA Airport Support Network volunteer, and has consulted as a subject matter expert in general aviation for NASA. The Whirly-Girls are grateful for this gift of her professional time and efforts. Dr. Wilt judges each application for each scholarship based on the strict criteria set by the sponsors and the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Board.

Quay Snyder, MD, MSPH, President/CEO of Virtual Flight Surgeons is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and Duke University School of Medicine. He spent 17 years in the US Air Force and five years in the Colorado Air National Guard as a flight surgeon and Colorado State Air Surgeon. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in the in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics and at the University of Colorado Medical School in the Department of Occupational Medicine.

Dr. Snyder is the author of more than 40 scientific papers and articles on aviation medical issues in various professional pilot journals. He is a rated commercial pilot, FAA certified flight instructor and Designated Pilot Examiner. He holds Gold Seal Flight Instructor and Advanced Ground Instructor ratings as well. Dr. Snyder has 2400+ flying hours in 48 types of aircraft from gliders to F-16's. He was attached as a glider instructor pilot and spin instructor at the US Air Force Academy's 94th Flying Training Squadron. He is the recipient of the US Air Force Academy's award for the 94 FTS Attached Instructor Pilot of the Year, 2000. Dr. Snyder serves as an Aviation Safety Counselor for the Denver FSDO and has been a National Association of Flight Instructors Master CFI. As Associate Aeromedical Advisor for Aviation Medicine Advisory Service, he is a certified Medical Review Officer for DOT drug and alcohol testing procedures.

Once the sponsors and judge have rated the applicant, the Whirly-Girls Scholarship Board again reviews each application. They take into consideration the applicant’s scholarship request, the sponsor’s and judge’s ratings, and make the final decision on which applicants to award each scholarship.

Scholarships are awarded at an annual banquet during the Helicopter Association International HELI-EXPO and must be used by the recipient in the year awarded. Members may apply for up to five scholarships, but each applicant will be awarded at most one scholarship per year.

American Eurocopter Flight Training Scholarship

Sponsored by American Eurocopter, this scholarship will give a Whirly-Girl the opportunity to attend an AS350 Turbine Transition Course at the American Eurocopter Factory School in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

Robinson Helicopter R22/R44Safety Course and R44 Scholarship

This scholarship, sponsored by Robinson Helicopter, provides a Whirly-Girl currently flying Robinsons the opportunity to attend the Safety Course and build R44 time. Robinson provides this 3-1/2 day course in Torrance, CA, USA, including 5 hours of R44 flight time. The course includes 2-1/2 days of classroom instruction, awareness training, SFAR 73, in the R22 and R44 helicopter systems. One day is devoted to maintenance, pre-flight inspections, and flying with an experienced RHC pilot. The course is open to any rated helicopter pilot who has at least 3 hours in the R22 or R44 helicopter. This course is required by most insurance companies and serves as a CFI refresher. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

New for 2011: Flight Safety International Bell 206 Initial Pilot Scholarship

Sponsored by Flight Safety International, this scholarship is awarded to a Whirly-Girl who possesses at least a Private Pilot Helicopter license and has landing currency in a helicopter. (Note: the applicant need not have landing currency in a Bell 206.) This newly created training program includes initial type training, recurrent training, and inadvertent IMC training using the world’s first Bell 206 FAA Level 7 qualified Flight Training Device. This five-day course consists of academic training and six hours in the FTD.  Training will be available at Flight Safety’s Helicopter Learning Center of Excellence in Lafayette, LA, USA. Course value $10,000. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

Advanced Mountain Flight Training Scholarship 

This scholarship is provided in memory of Keiko Minakata, WG# 1339.  This scholarship gives a deserving Whirly Girl the skills to cope with turbulence, rugged terrain, landing zone selection, in mountainous and canyon areas, with special emphasis placed on decision making.  It also provides the skill needed to fly all sorts of private and commercial helicopter missions that require off-airport landings anywhere in the country, regardless of altitude or terrain.  It's a real confidence-builder, especially if the pilot has very little experience in off-road operations. It includes ½ day extensive ground school with 5 hours of flight time. The pilot taking this course should preferably have 500 Rotorcraft hours and be current in the MD500 series or the Schweitzer/Hughes 300 series, but this is not mandatory. Training will be at Western Helicopters Inc., Rialto, Calif.

Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

Aviation Specialties Unlimited Scholarship

Sponsored by Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU), this new Night Vision Goggle (NVG) scholarship will be awarded to a career minded Whirly-Girl who needs an initial or a recurrent Night Vision Goggle (NVG) endorsement for a flight position, such as airborne law enforcement and airborne EMS to a variety of government agencies. The NVG course will go to a Whirly-Girl that possesses the following prerequisites: Commercial Rotorcraft Rating and Instrument Rotorcraft Rating, Current Class II Medical, 500 PIC flight hours in Rotorcraft or more, Turbine transition (preferable BH-206). The selected applicant will receive 8 hours of academic training and 5 hours of turbine instruction. The value of this scholarship opportunity is $7,000. Training will be conducted at Gowen Field Airport, Boise, Idaho, USA. The scholarship will be provided to a member in good standing who has been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

Whirly-Girls Memorial Flight Training Scholarship

This new scholarship is provided by the WGSF, Inc., and now combines the Phelan International and Doris Mullen Flight Training Scholarships. This scholarship provides $6,000 and is given in memory of our founder, Jean, and her husband Jim Phelan, along with the memory of Doris Mullen who lost her life in a fixed wing accident in 1968. This scholarship provides ANY Whirly-Girl a chance to UPGRADE her current rating. (It is typically applied toward Commercial, Instrument, Instructor, ATP, Long Line or Turbine Transition Training.) Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

This scholarship is sponsored by Nancy Graham and provides up to $5,000 for a Whirly Girl who is already an FAA Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) in helicopters to obtain her add-on Instrument or Instrument Instructor (CFI-I) rating. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

This scholarship is provided by Survival Systems USA and provides a deserving Whirly-Girl the knowledge and skills necessary to react to an aircraft-ditching emergency, care for herself in a sea survival situation, and to participate to the maximum extent in her rescue. The pilot taking this course should have at least a private pilot license and is required to have no physical limitations that would prevent her from participating in strenuous physical training. Training will be at Survival Systems USA in Groton, Connecticut. Requirements: The applicant must be a member in good standing and must have been a member for no less than one year by the time she is awarded the scholarship (March 2011).

Whirly-Girls Helicopter Add-on Fight Training Scholarship

FOR FEMALE PILOTS RATED IN AIRCRAFT OTHER THAN HELICOPTERS. This scholarship, funded by the WGSF, is provided this year in memory of Bob Vetter, WG Auxiliary member and husband of Bev WG#459.  It provides $6,000 to assist a certificated female pilot, does not currently have a helicopter rating, in earning her add-on  helicopter rating. Applicant will be evaluated for evidence of intent to work in the helicopter industry.

Scholarships Application Rules:

• You can download the application by clicking on one of the links at the end of these instructions. If you use the Word version, please reposition lines so it is readable when you print it out.
• For some scholarships, Applicants must be a Whirly-Girl in good standing for one year prior to receiving the award in March 2011.
• Application must be TYPED. All the questions on the form must be answered.
• A single payment of $45 allows you to apply for up to FIVE scholarships.
• The Application Questionnaire must be answered completely.
• The deadline for submission is October 1, 2010.
• Winners must agree to abide by all Scholarship rules.
• Scholarships must be used within one year of receipt of scholarship, in accordance with the terms under which they were awarded.

Applications must include all of the following:
A clear COPY of your PILOT'S LICENSE.

• A clear COPY of your PILOT'S LICENSE
• A clear COPY of your CURRENT MEDICAL
• A recent photo to be used in publications must be included
• A fully completed application form for each scholarship
• A single non-refundable application fee of US $45.00 for up to five scholarship applications (check, money order, Visa, MasterCard)
• THREE CURRENT LETTERS of recommendation from individuals such as employers, friends, flight instructors, or Whirly-Girls that can attest to your experience, qualifications, work history, work ethic, and/or financial need.
• A detailed budget outlining how the applicant will meet the financial requirements not covered by the scholarship (travel, accomodations, supplies, meals, ground school, etc.) for each scholarship.

Congratulations to the 2010 Whirly-Girls Scholarships Winners:

2010 Whirly-Girls Helicopter Add-On Flight Training Scholarship
Nikolina Guldager

2010 Whirly-Girls Memorial Helicopter Flight Training Scholarship
Janie Foster

2010 American Eurocopter Flight Training Scholarship
Kristie Ellis

2010 Robinson Safety Course Scholarship
Sandra Steffensen

2010 Advanced Mountain Flying Scholarship in memory of Keiko Minakata
Margaret West

2010 Flight Safety International Instrument Refresher Course Scholarship

Stacia Rienhardt

2010 Aviation Specialities Unlimited Scholarship

Ioanna Metaxenia Athanasiou