NBAA has awarded a dozen scholarships ahead of its annual convention this week in Las Vegas, including the Cheri Rudd Memorial Scholarship. Presented to private aircraft charter broker Gigi Ferreira, the Rudd scholarship was named in memory of the organization’s longtime manager for office coordination who passed away in 2018. It was created to support business aviation professionals who demonstrate exemplary dedication to professionalism.
Ferreira was recognized for exemplifying business aviation’s commitment to exceptional customer service. She will use the $2,500 award to attend accredited professional training courses focused on advanced customer service.
The remaining slate of awards includes the William M. Fanning Maintenance Scholarship, presented this year to Remington Prentice, an aviation technology major at Lansing Community College, and Timothy Borden, a student at the School Missionary Aviation Technology.
For the Fred and Diane Fitts Aviation Scholarship, the honorees are Troy Ettenson, a student studying aeronautics at Saint Louis University-Parks College; Jordan Burkett, who is studying operations management at Utah State University with plans to become a flight department dispatcher; Charles Helmer, who is currently studying aviation technical operations at Western Michigan University on his way to becoming a maintenance professional; and Delainy Reinard, a student at Palomar College who intends to become a flight attendant.
The Lawrence Ginocchio Aviation Scholarship is awarded annually to recipients who demonstrate honesty, integrity, and selflessness. It was presented this year to five people: Grace Kane and Jameson McCarty, Saint Louis University-Parks College students majoring in aeronautics; Ivy Adams, a Middle Tennessee State University student majoring in aerospace; Dyland Mardoian, who is studying aviation flight science and aviation management at Western Michigan University; and Shelby Glissmeyer, who is matriculated at Utah Valley University’s global aviation program.