Aviation has profoundly shaped my life, fueling my passion for leadership, mentorship, and breaking barriers within this remarkable industry. My journey began in middle school when my uncle, an airline check airman, introduced me to flying. The moment my first flight took off, I knew I had found my calling. Driven by this passion, I earned my private pilot certificate in high school, often being one of the few female pilots at my local airport. This experience strengthened my resolve to inspire and mentor aspiring aviators, particularly young girls who may not see themselves represented in this field.
Currently, I am pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight at Auburn University and working towards my commercial multi-engine certification. This summer, I will continue to develop my skills through a Delta Air Lines internship, which will provide invaluable industry experience, expand my professional network, and enhance my operational knowledge. Upon returning in the fall, I plan to obtain my Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (CFII) certificates and begin flight instructing to gain experience.
Beyond my flight training, I am deeply committed to making a lasting impact in the aviation industry and my community. As President of the Ninety-Nines Auburn Wing, I have led efforts to create a close-knit and empowering environment for female aviators by organizing mentorship programs, study sessions, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities. Additionally, as Outreach Chair for the Women in Aviation War Eagle Chapter, I have played a vital role in planning Girls in Aviation Day, securing sponsorships, and ensuring that young students gain hands-on exposure to aviation careers.
One of the most rewarding experiences I have had was attending the Women in Aviation International Conference, where I had the opportunity to recruit for Auburn Aviation and share my journey with prospective students. While there, I was able to reconnect with some of my mentors who have significantly influenced my aviation career, as well as meet inspiring women from across the industry. A particularly special moment occurred when I met a young woman I had first spoken to at Charlotte’s Girls in Aviation Day in 2022. She approached our booth and shared that she was now pursuing her instrument rating. It was super fulfilling to know that I had played even a small part in her journey, and reaffirmed my desire to one day take on a recruitment role at an airline.
My passion for mentorship and outreach extends beyond aviation. I have organized and led three annual holiday toy drives, benefiting children’s hospitals and foster children across three states. Over the years, I have collected and personally delivered more than 1,500 toys, ensuring that children in need experience the joy of the holiday season. Through these efforts, I have realized the power of giving back and the importance of using my platform to uplift others.
As I continue my journey, I plan to advocate for greater accessibility in aviation and support future generations of pilots. My long-term goal is to become an airline pilot and recruiter, helping others navigate the complexities of the industry. Many of my greatest mentors are current or retired airline pilots who have profoundly impacted my career, and I hope to honor their legacy by guiding others on their paths.
ESSAY - LEGACY OF FLIGHT
I was born to pilot parents, and during my childhood I watched my dad save hundreds of lives through his volunteer med-evac flights while we lived in Central America. I vowed to be just like him when I grew up. This admiration led me into my Private Pilot training and through my checkride at age 17, before I even had my driver’s license.
Volunteerism is in my blood - both parents have volunteered part- and full-time for my entire life. Naturally, while university tore me away from aviation temporarily, I continued to enhance my school and town communities through my own small efforts, such as donating graphic design services to nonprofit organizations and organizing university-wide events to promote wellness and cultural awareness. Now, I’m involved in the local EAA and Ninety-Nines chapters, and I volunteer in the Ninety-Nines board. In the future, I aspire to be a mentor in WAI’s amazing mentorship program, from which I have benefitted greatly.
As I went into university, I wasn’t thinking about using aviation in my career, but gradually, I noticed the skill set that kept me alive in the air helping me excel in my studies. Where my peers floundered with time management and keeping track of multiple assignments, I was naturally incorporating aviation skills into my everyday life and rising above. In turn, this forced me to acknowledge that I needed work that pushes me to maintain that same attention and precision.
I immediately began reevaluating my plans. I reached out to professionals in a wide variety of industries, interviewing almost 150 individuals in healthcare, construction, finance, academia, and yes, aviation. Over and over, the conversations I’ve had with people have pushed me in the direction of aviation. Not only would I find the constant challenge I need, but I would also be able to directly incorporate my dad’s legacy into my own life and pay it forward to the next generation.
To me, the Fasiang Future of Flight scholarship represents a bridge into the Part 121 world. I am incredibly fortunate that my father is my CFI and is willing to contribute to fund my intensive training schedule, but I also recognize the immense burden this commitment places on my family. I hope to use these scholarship funds toward my written exam and training fees, to ease the financial strain my training places on my family.
I’ve already plotted a course through my advanced ratings - I’ve mapped my future; all I have to do now is live it.
ONE-YEAR PLAN
June 2025 - August 2025:
- Intensive flight training in Florida to simultaneously complete IFR and CPL endorsements (currently in progress!)
- Serving in local Ninety-Nines chapter board as event planner and graphic designer
- Engage with mentorship programs like WAI’s amazing mentorship program
- Making connections and preparing to start working as a CFI after training period
September 2025:
- Specialized training to complete CFI endorsement, CFI checkride
- Continue engaging with mentorship programs and volunteering
- Continue to cultivate connections in the aviation community
October 2025 into 2026 & onward
- Building flight hours as a CFI
- Continue engaging with mentorship programs and volunteering
- Volunteering with Young Eagles to promote a love of aviation in the next generation
- Training for ATP endorsement
- Making connections and preparing to apply for regional airline/corporate positions
- Submitting applications and volunteering
- Attending aviation conferences
My first word was not "Airplane", but it might as well have been. I was fascinated by buses and airplanes as a tiny human. One of my first memories is watching and identifying planes as they flew over my head in our backyard to land in our nearby Dekalb Peachtree Airport. Plane spotting was one of my favorite pastimes then and still is to this day. In fact my top choice for family game time is a modified version of the “Guess Who?” game that is entirely about aircrafts. My whole family at this point has become quite good at identifying all sorts of aircraft.
By the time I was old enough to go to aviation summer camp and actually fly a Piper, I knew my career path. My plan is to work hard at college and become a commercial airline captain. The training process for pilots can be demanding and stressful; however, I have already learned how to balance training with studying, working, and having a great friend group. As proof, as soon as I turned 17, I achieved my private pilot’s license and ability to fly solo while still participating in marching band, taking college courses, and volunteering over 100 hours as technical lead (Techbadge) at my local auditorium.
This summer, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University accepted my early application into the Aeronautical Science program. This incredibly exciting acceptance is the critical next step in achieving my dreams. However, by going to school in person and outside Georgia I lose the ability to use the Hope and Zell Miller scholarships I worked so hard to obtain. I do have a college fund that my parents have been working hard to accumulate, but also I plan to become a flight instructor to mentor others as well and increase flight time while doing it. The Fasiang Future of Flight Scholarship would also help me realize my ultimate career goal on an accelerated path provided at Embry-Riddle by helping to make it financially feasible for me to go to Embry-Riddle and complete my Instrument rating, FA 321 Commercial Pilot ASEL, FA 323 Commercial Pilot AMEL Add-On, and FA 460 Multi-Engine Instructor rating at a part 141 flight school. Over the next year I will achieve my instrument training and obtain a paid summer internship while continuing my flight training through the summer. Using my AP and dual enrollment work I already have already met some of the general education requirements and plane to successfully complete the rest in my first year of school.
When I am financially able (and have enough flight hours) I am excited to increase my rating status so I can volunteer to do Angel Flight, an organization helping to connect people in need to their needed medical care. Pilots need a minimum of 250 hours of total logged flight time to volunteer their time (and airplane) to volunteer, so I need around 170 more hours! I first learned about Angel Flight from my grandfather who volunteered for the organization and I'm excited to follow in his footsteps doing that. Pilots have unique opportunities to have a positive impact on other from disaster relief efforts to medevac services and supporting remote communities. I plan to volunteer my skills and time for non-profit organizations so I can make a significant difference in people’s lives. Combining flying and volunteering will position me not only to be the best pilot I can be, but also to mentor and support the next generation of pilots exploring the air or stars.
