Scholarship Application Workshop

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Michigan Ninety-Nines

Morgan Kuzera

What we will cover

• Where to find scholarships
• Scholarship tips
• Essay writing
• Resume writing
• Letters of recommendation
• Logbook tips
• Social media tips
• What to do after turning in your application

Where to find scholarships

• https://www.blondsinaviation.com/aviation-scholarship-calendar/
• Michigan 99s Scholarship Excel Sheet
• Michigan 99s Google Calendar for deadlines
• Pilot organizations: the 99s, WAI, WCA, AOPA, EAA, OBAP, NGPA, LPA
• Most organizations (but not all) require you to be a member before applying.

Pilot organizations

Most organizations (but not all) require you to be a member before applying.

Scholarship tips

• Begin the process early.
• Read and follow ALL directions.
• If a scanned picture of your aviation certificate is required then make sure it is scanned and not merely a picture off your phone.
• If a signature from your letter of recommendation is required, make sure it is signed and dated.
• If you do not meet all the requirements, do not apply.
• Most applications require an essay, resume, and 1-3 letters of recommendation.
• Proof of Driver’s License, Medical Certificate, Aviation Certificates, and/or Logbook picture(s) may also be requested. Make sure they are all clear and legible.
• If attending a university, a transcript may be required. Double check if it needs to be certified.

Scholarship tips

• Only submit what the application requests.
• If something in the application does not apply to you then type “NA”.
• If you have any questions or if something is unclear, do not hesitate to email the scholarship point of contact and ask for clarification.
• Make sure you have ALL the required information uploaded before submitting the complete application.
• If submitted through email create a single-file PDF with your LAST NAME and the application name (unless requested otherwise).
• If a physical paper-copy application is required, send with a tracking number.
• Create a personal deadline and submit on time and ahead of time.

Scholarship tips

• Apply for as many as you can!
• You cannot win the scholarships if you do not apply!
• Apply for the “big” ones but also the local ones as well.
• If you don’t win it, try again next year!
• Scholarship Committees like to see progress.

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There is so much money out there for women in flight training! Some scholarships even go unclaimed!

How to write a great essay

• This is the time to tell YOUR personal story!
• Market yourself and what sets you apart from others.
• State clear examples of what you have already done to accomplish your goals.
• Avoid statements like “I will” or “I plan”.
• If you have won previous scholarships, include what you have accomplished with the funds.
• Speak directly to the scholarship for which you are applying. Connect your essay with the organization’s values.
• Create a plan of action for how you will still achieve your goals without the scholarship.
• Be concise. Be specific. Keep it real. Keep it positive.

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Typical essay subject matter

• History and Goals.
• Accomplishments.
• Involvement in the Aviation Community.
• How you Funded Previous Training.
• Statement of Financial Need.
• Your Future.

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Essay formatting tips

• Read and follow ALL directions!
• Make sure your essay addresses each point that the application requests you to talk about (i.e. goals, how you give back, etc.)
• Pay attention to the word count.
• Do not go above the maximum word count, but do not make it too short either.
• Organize your paragraphs and add extra spacing if able.
• Always put your First + Last Name in the header. You may also add your phone number and email address.
• Do not use contractions! i.e. I’m, it’s, can’t, isn’t.

• Contact Information.
• Flight Experience.
• Certificates & Ratings.
• Education.
• Work Experience.
• Accomplishments.
• Involvement.
• Volunteering.

Parts of a Resume

• List Flight Hours such as:
• Total time
• PIC time
• Dual time
• Solo time
• Instrument time
• Night time
• Cross country time

Round decimals to the nearest whole number.

Resume

Flight Experience

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• If you’re more experienced….
• Multi-engine time
• Turbine time
• SIC time
• Dual given
• Type rating(s) / Aircraft flown

However, if you have 0 time in something, then do not list it.

Resume

Flight Experience

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• Consider listing the dates of…
• First solo.
• First solo cross country.
• Interesting milestones.

Resume

Flight Experience

• List each certificate and rating and the date you passed the checkride.
• Include endorsements with dates either here or in the “Accomplishments” section.
• If you wish to fly for the airlines, ensure you have a first-class medical (however the first-class privileges need not be current).

Resume

Certificates & Ratings

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• List your highest form of education first.
• If you have a Masters then first list your Masters, then Bachelors.
• If you have your Bachelors and it has been many years since high school, then list your Bachelors and omit high school.
• If you are currently in college, list your current college, then high school.

Resume

Education

• Do not forget about your flight education!
• Did you complete an in-person ground school course?
• Did you complete a home-study ground school course?
• Did you go through a rigorous flight school to obtain your certificate/rating?

Resume

Education

• Reverse chronological order.
• Check the verb tense.
• If it is a past job, make sure it is in the past-tense.
• If you are presently working at that job, make sure it is in the present-tense.
• Utilize action verbs.
• State achievements when possible.
• Be consistent with periods.

Resume

Work Experience

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• Have you won any scholarships, awards, etc.?
• Did you receive academic honors?
• i.e. Summa Cum Laude, President’s List, etc.
• You can also include noteworthy goals such as attending Oshkosh, flying across the country solo, helping judge a spot landing contest, or obtaining an endorsement.

Resume

Accomplishments

• List the organizations (aviation preferred) that you are involved with and a brief, specific description of how you are involved.
• Ex: Participates in the monthly 99s book club.
• If you are not involved yet, then get involved! It does not mean much to a reviewer when they see that you are a member of an organization yet do not actively participate.
• Leadership roles help make an application and resume shine!

Resume

Involvement

• What have you done to give back to the community?
• It does not have to be aviation related, however, that is a plus.
• Ex: Volunteered at Oshkosh, Volunteers once a month at the local dog shelter, Volunteer pilot for EAA Young Eagles flights.

Resume

Volunteering

Resume tips

• Tailor your resume specifically for the aviation scholarship and remember that it is not to procure a job.
• Resume appearance is critical.
• Pay attention to the details!
• Check grammar, spelling, and format.

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If the recruiter has to squint to read, or if the information does not follow a logical and concise format that easily assesses your experiences and qualifications, then your application may quickly be dismissed.

• Recruiters and scholarship committees spend ~10-20 seconds when initially reviewing resumes!

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Resume formatting tips

• Resume length:
• New to aviation: 1 page.
• Very experienced: 2 pages.
• Save as a PDF.
• Do not include a photo.
• Do not use your college email or an unprofessional email (i.e. ilovefly@gmail).
• Do not put “Reference Available Upon Request”.
• If the committee needs a reference, they will contact you directly for that.

Resume formatting tips

• Use easy-to-read fonts (Arial, Helvetica, Calibri, Times New Roman)
• 10-12 point font. Avoid very small or very large text.
• Bold your section headings. Only use italics or underlines if necessary.
• Avoid using colored text or images or blocks of color on the resume.
• Use active phrases instead of passive.
• Do not rely on your computer’s spell check function. Review each word carefully! It is easy to miss typos when you are familiar with the content of the document.
• Have at least two other people review your resume for spelling, grammar and other errors.

Commonly misspelled words

• Ferry (not fairy)
• Hangar (not hanger)
• Dual (not duel)

References for recommendation letters

• Letters of Recommendation written by aviation professionals, mentors, flight instructors, or aviation professors carry the most weight.
• The best letters come from pilots who:
• Have known you > a year.
• Have regular contact.
• Have already attained your long-term goal.
• If the letter is based upon character and must be from someone outside of the aviation community, then persons like your boss, church leader, or long-time friend would be viable options.
• Avoid letters written by a family member or someone you just met.

Typical elements in a letter of recommendation

• Make sure the letter of recommendation from your reference has these elements:
• 5 W’s: Who, What, When, Where, and Why
• Who - Address the person(s) reading the letter i.e. Dear Scholarship Committee. Who your reference

is and their relationship to you. The reference’s contact info should be included at the bottom.

• What - Statement of recommendation from the reference.
• When - How long your reference has known you and how you first met.
• Where - Tell your reference where the letter should be sent (email, mail, or submitted online), if it

needs a signature and when it is due.

• Why - Reasons why you are a good candidate.

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Recommendation letter tips

• Give your reference plenty of time to write the letter! ~2 weeks - 1 month
• Proofread the letters and ask them to edit if necessary.
• Get permission from your reference if you would like to use it for additional scholarships.
• Keep the letters fresh.
• Do not submit letters written more than three years ago.
• Be specific and tell your reference exactly what you want the letter to talk about.
• i.e. How you worked over 50 hours a week to pay for training
• Use the recommendation letter to help paint a picture of your entire story.
• You can suggest topics for your reference to write about such as your dedication or volunteerism.

• Normally, applications request for photocopies, scans, or pictures of the last 2-3 pages of your logbook.
• An accurate, up-to-date logbook is crucial.
• If the last page is incomplete, pencil in the totals at the bottom so that the reviewers do not have to add it themselves.
• Do not use white out! If a mistake is made, simply cross it out and write the correct number along with your initials.

Logbook Tips

• Sometimes reviewers turn to social media to help them decide on the applicant’s seriousness in aviation and to get to know you better as a person.
• If you are passionate about aviation then reviewers should expect to see aviation-related photos or posts on your page.
• It is fine if your Facebook is private but at least have your profile picture or cover photo be related to your aviation dream.

Social Media Tips

• Send a handwritten thank you note to each reference.
• Make a note of when you should expect to hear back about the scholarship.
• If you win the scholarship, send a handwritten thank you note to the scholarship committee.

After turning in your application…

Helpful resources

• How to create a single-file PDF
• Merge PDF
• Google “Action verbs for resumes”

Where to find scholarships

• Michigan / 99s Specific Scholarship List excel sheet
• https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ePX3gAG43xu44k0qMXOrUdTGXYok4bG2m2QPffKv3MQ/edit?usp=sharing
• Aviation Scholarships Facebook Page
• Facebook groups:
• Lady Aviators
• Ladies in Flight Training (LIFT)
• Female Aviators Sticking Together (FAST)
• Girls Love to Fly
• North Central Section 99s
• Michigan Pilots

Resources in this presentation

• “Six secrets to a top-notch scholarship application” by Jenny Beatty
• “How to submit a winning WAI scholarship application” by Claude Blackburn
• WAI Great Lakes and Yankee Ladies Scholarship Application Workshop Session
• ERAU Resumes and CVs: https://careerservices.erau.edu/resources/resumes-cvs
• Aviation Careers Podcast: Two steps to a successful letter of recommendation