For Immediate Release

Women in Aviation, International’s 14th Annual Conference Judged a Success

March 25, 2003—More than 2,400 Conference attendees were on hand at the Cincinnati Convention Center to watch last weekend while Women in Aviation, International awarded 55 deserving members with aviation and aerospace training and merit scholarships totaling $313,000. “Competition was stiff this year,” says Mary Ann Eiff, who co-chaired the organization’s scholarship committee. “There were 800 applicants for those scholarships, and we worked hard with the companies that provide the monies to pick the very best candidates,” she continues.

There were more than consolation prizes for those who did not quite make the grade this year, though. Conference attendees were also privileged to be addressed by some of the most influential women in aviation history, including Mary Feik, master maintenance technician, June Maule, aircraft manufacturer, Evelyn Johnson, senior flight instructor (with more than 50,000 hours logged), Boeing Skunkworks Vice President Pamela Drew, retired astronaut, now CEO Kathryn Sullivan, Airbus Chairman T. Allan McArtor and others who inspired and challenged attendees to reach for the future of aviation and aerospace.

Beyond the lecture halls 40 educational sessions covered topics as diverse as Nanotechnology in aviation engineering to aircraft electronics to communications between air traffic controllers and pilots, to biometrics and airport security.

Women in Aviation, International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests. Its 7,000+ membership includes astronauts, corporate pilots, maintenance technicians, air traffic controllers, business owners, educators, journalists, flight attendants, high school and university students, air show performers, airport managers and many others.
WAI provides year-round resources to assist women in aviation and to encourage young women to consider aviation as a career by offering educational outreach programs to educators, aviation industry members and young people nationally and internationally.
The 15th Annual International Women in Aviation Conference is scheduled for March 11-13, 2004 in Reno, Nevada. For more information contact Priscilla Lamont at: (386) 226-7996 or visit www.wai.org.

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Contact:

Dr. Peggy Chabrian, President
Women in Aviation International
pchabrian@wiai.org
386.226.7996 Phone
386.226.7998 Fax

Priscilla Lamont
Women in Aviation International
386.226.7996 Phone
386.226.7998 Fax