Whirly-Girls International, a non-profit, educational, and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in the helicopter aviation industry, has announced the recipients of the 2020 Whirly-Girls Scholarship Awards. The scholarships were awarded January 26, 2020 at the Whirly-Girls Annual Awards Banquet during HAI HELI-EXPO in Anaheim, California. Thanks to the support of aviation leaders, 23 scholarships were bestowed upon deserving female aviators, with a total value of over $135,000. This is the largest scholarship program in the helicopter industry.

Recipients of the 2020 Whirly-Girls scholarships are:

Advanced Mountain Flight Training Scholarship
○ Melissa Shantz WG #1877

Airbus Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC) Training Scholarship
○ Michelle Hovey WG #1355
○ Taylor Hughes WG #2116

CHC Safety & Quality Summit Scholarship
○ Joanna Forrester WG #1869

Edward. M. Thurn Memorial Scholarship
○ Catriona Adam WG #2020

Erickson & Volo Mission Vertical Reference/External Load Scholarship
○ Samantha Challburg WG #1921

FlightSafety International Bell 206/Bell 407 Scholarship
○ Allison Leinen WG #1967

Garmin GTN & G500/600 Training Scholarships
○ Sara Standord WG #2112
○ Ivana Doverspike WG #2060

Night Flight Concepts Night Vision Goggles Initial Pilot Qualification Scholarship
○ Rebecca Pelassini WG #1829

Oregon Aero CRM/AMRM Instructor Training Scholarships
○ Vera Aitzinger WG #2105
○ Paolo Sissconetto WG #2088

Robinson Helicopter R22/R44 Safety Course Scholarship
○ Margret Bunge WG #2048