September 21, 2015 - As September 26 approaches, 49 of Women in Aviation’s chapters are putting the finishing touches on their local Girls in Aviation Day events. As WAI’s largest youth outreach to date, Girls in Aviation Day will involve girls ages 8 to 16 in aviation activities, tours, speakers and fun, all designed with the purpose of attracting girls to the variety of aviation careers available to them.
“We realized that girls weren’t rejecting aviation as a career choice. Rather, they were never aware of the exciting and diverse jobs the aviation community can provide,” says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian. “Girls in Aviation Day is a way to show girls all the aviation career paths open to them while providing information in a personal, engaging and relaxed environment.”
Because each chapter has its own local aviation venues and resources, WAI chapters around the world will host their own unique event. Girls in Aviation Day activities will take place throughout the United States and in six other countries.
Women in Aviation International requested all 50 state governors to proclaim September 26, 2015, as Girls in Aviation Day in their states. To date, 26 states have made such a proclamation including: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin. Some cities, such as New York, New York and Houston, Texas, have also proclaimed September 26, 2015, as Girls in Aviation Day.
In addition to the local event, Girls in Aviation Day participants will receive a Girls in Aviation Day backpack, educational materials and a copy of WAI’s new magazine Aviation for Girls.
“We hope to send these girls home chock full of ideas and with a passion to pursue aviation as a fantastic career choice – excitement, technology, travel, respect – what more could you want in a career?” added Dr. Chabrian.
More information on Girls in Aviation Day may be found at www.wai.org/events/giad_2015.cfm.
Women in Aviation International is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to providing networking, mentoring and scholarship opportunities for women and men who are striving for challenging and fulfilling careers in the aviation and aerospace industries. For more information about WAI scholarships, please contact WAI at (937) 839-4647 or online at wai.org.
