One of the largest issues the aviation industry faces is the gender gap. Given that women comprise roughly 50% of the population, it follows that their skillsets, passions, and ingenious contributions to society would be better served in STEM fields, specifically aviation. And yet, the industry is still stereotyped as male-dominant with no evident, industry-wide initiatives to change public perception or increase female demographics. How would the academic and professional trajectory of a young girl differ if she didn’t always see pilots as exclusively male? Why aren’t there more company-sponsored educational and communal programs to engage young girls and foster their dreams with aviation and aerospace in mind? The unfortunate reality of my aviation career is that I was never told I couldn’t fly until I started. I was talked down to, overlooked and ignored, and found myself buying into notions that I wasn’t good enough based on my gender. Young girls make these same subconscious associations as we do as adults, equating aviation to an industry exclusive to men and therefore unattainable. This is a cyclic battle within STEM fields wherein girls self-select out of industries altogether on the premise that the representation, whether social, actual, or marketed, has not been geared towards cultivating a safe and encouraging space for them to explore their interests and skillsets. The most effective way to change this is by having female pilots on the flight deck, making the sight commonplace. Similarly, marketing and consumer interactions need to be approached from the basis of this same sense of equality, opportunity, and potential for women. If the public sees female employees in advertisements or as employees, they will be more likely to view the industry as having equality, opportunity and potential; if aviation is shared as a positive and engaging industry on a consumer level, the stigma around the necessary qualifications of employees will also shift into a profession that is accessible for everyone. In essence, if females can see themselves represented in a real-world example as well as through advertisement and interaction, they will be more likely to see themselves in those roles. These difficult yet crucial discussions we must address are issues I am passionate about fighting for and am actively trying to change as President of MSU Denver’s Women in Aviation chapter. I co-founded this chapter in 2019 and have devoted time, energy, and passion to my female peers. I observed the need for departmental development and promotion of camaraderie, confidence, and correlated leadership skills. I discovered I was passionate about sharing my passions and felt that kind of encouragement would be beneficial if spent on uplifting my female peers. My experiences with gender bias and sexist ideologies in the industry have become platforms for my own strength and growth, and I share those experiences openly so that other women can better prepare for the world ahead of them all the while nurturing their best selves. If we are not actively encouraging young women, we are actively discouraging them. My goal is to extend aviation into elementary and high schools as an accessible and wholly possible reality by developing educational initiatives and partnering with local aviation and aerospace organizations to bring the industry into children’s lives. I want to volunteer my time to educate and excite women, regardless of age, by sharing my story and encouraging I want to change what comes to mind when the word “pilot” is used and bring the industry to elementary and high school students, opening the skies of possibility for young women for generations to come.

I believe I am unique because of my background and path which has taken me to the point I am today. I've been homeless, a small business owner, completed my Associate Degree, have started two student-led non-profit organizations, and am currently pursuing two Bachelor's Degrees. I have gone from being passionate about photography to becoming a young professional in the aviation industry and now I'm hoping to utilize all of my experience and become a published writer. My well-rounded and driven attitude is evident in my accomplishments, and I hope to impart my wisdom, guidance, and professionalism to the growth and development of other young women. I think this makes me extremely unique in what I offer others, and I am so passionate about developing the passions of others as well. I am actively engaged in the aviation industry through my involvement in Women in Aviation (WAI) and Alpha Eta Rho – Sigma Phi fraternity (AHP). Once I’ve graduated, I hope to continue offering student services to MSU Denver as well as various flight schools in the Denver Metro area and encouraging student-led organizations as alumni and potential MSU Denver faculty members if I apply to teach ground courses with my AGI and IGI certificates. Any assistance received through this scholarship will help me to facilitate my own methods of philanthropy as a flight instructor. Specifically, this scholarship will help me obtain my CFI certificate, and once I’m instructing I want to establish my own funds and scholarship opportunities for students to pay for a discovery flight or other flight equipment, preferably for other young women hoping to get into the industry. If I have leftover funds from scholarships, I hope to use those funds for others in this way. Otherwise, once I have the means to give back to the community, I will do so then. But, without obtaining my CFI, I won’t be able to pursue the rest of my career and arrange for such an interaction with the student pilot community here in Denver. I also am aiming to complete my CFI training this year and will hopefully begin flight instructing; I want to continue instructing as permissible with my employer and chief pilot, depending on the airline I’m with. As such, I expect I will succeed not only in sharing my passion with others and helping them to earn their wings, but also offer them unique insight into the facets of the aviation industry, applicable areas of employment, and guidance for certificates and ratings sought. I feel my leadership and professional experience are going to support me well in the industry as a CFI and ground instructor, which will further strengthen my position as a pilot and professional woman for whatever employer I work with and the women I meet along the way.

I’m interested in pursuing an aviation degree and becoming a pilot because of my father, godfather, and grandmother. My godfather and father were pilots, so I grew up hearing stories of their adventures at altitude and learning about aerodynamics and the physics of flight. My grandmother shared her one regret in life with me – never pursuing flying after being unable to apply for the Women Air Force Service Pilot (WASP) program. It wasn't until she told me this story that I really gave myself the opportunity to fly, and when my godfather passed away I took the first leap. With my aviation degree, I aim to fly for the airlines, first with a regional carrier like SkyWest or Endeavor, and then with a legacy carrier like Southwest or Delta. In this process, I also aim to become a certified flight instructor and hope to continue flight instructing on the side as permissible with my employer and chief pilot, depending on the airline I’m with. I want to continue helping general aviation thrive and bring in as many young women as I can to the industry by giving back my time, passion, and knowledge. I am also pursuing a degree in English Writing, so I aim to publish books, articles, and other publications that engage with young women pursuing aviation, aerospace, or STEM industries to better prepare and encourage them. In terms of my community involvement, I am proud to be a founder of MSU Denver’s Women in Aviation chapter (WAI) as well as a founder of the re-ignited aviation fraternity on campus, Alpha Eta Rho – Sigma Phi chapter (AHP), which took a decade hiatus. I’ve given my time, energy, and enthusiasm to these organizations to facilitate student camaraderie, confidence, and community on campus, as I felt that student-based initiatives and connections were lacking in the department for the general population. Through fundraising and sponsorship programs, I’ve helped take students to the WAI annual conference three years in a row and we are currently working on a scholarship program to cover the expenses of FAA written exams. In Fall of 2021, my outreach and inclusivity efforts grew the WAI chapter by 200%, which encompassed nearly the entire female population of students in the Aviation and Aerospace department. Similarly, in Fall 2022, my recruitment efforts for AHP helped to grow the chapter to nearly the largest collegiate fraternity in the country in a manner of two months. I am passionate about creating safe spaces for students to share experiences, grow, and develop professional skill sets that will benefit them after graduation, if not provide them with a network of friends and peers they can rely on.