WomenVenture And Girls In Aviation Day Upcoming

With a successful 2015 conference now concluded, Women in Aviation, International has turned its attention to two upcoming outreach programs to engage women active in the aviation industry and attract more women to the aviation community.

WomenVenture, now in its eighth year, is scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2015, during EAA AirVenture. Originally designed to increase the visibility of women at AirVenture, WomenVenture has grown in popularity and participation. For many women, WomenVenture is a summer tradition.

This year, WomenVenture kicks off at 8:00 a.m. with WAI's annual Connect Breakfast in the Nature Center Pavilion which is attended by more than 300 enthusiastic AirVenture participants. Speakers, door prizes, networking and camaraderie make this breakfast a must-attend event during the week. Breakfast is followed by the annual WomenVenture group photograph on AirVenture's showcase Boeing Plaza at 11:00 a.m.

A WomenVenture "Power Lunch" follows immediately at Theater in the Woods at 11:30 a.m. The lunch speaker is Cindy Hasselbring, the leader/coordinator of STEM education initiatives for the State of Maryland, who is also a pilot and for 10 years has pursued a dream of traveling in space through NASA's astronaut candidate program.

"There are so many reasons WomenVenture has been successful," says WAI President Dr. Peggy Chabrian (pictured), "but I have to say foremost of these reasons is just plain fun. People are relaxed; the pace is casual and it's energizing to simply be together with other aviation-minded women from all over the world."

Girls in Aviation Day will expand for the first time beyond a one-location WAI Conference event. In 2015, WAI's nearly 100 chapters across the globe will each host a unique Girls in Aviation Day program. Designed for girls from 8 to 16 years of age, Girls in Aviation Day strives to introduce girls to the career and lifestyle opportunities in aviation through role models, speakers and educational activities.

"Many girls have never even considered aviation as a career path," says Dr. Chabrian. "We want to change that and show that a fulfilling career in aviation is a viable possibility for them."

Because each WAI chapter is different worldwide, each Girls in Aviation Day event will provide a different set of experiences for attendees. WAI has supplied its chapters with resources and materials to aid them in hosting a successful event.

"We have given the chapters information on everything from publicizing the event to program suggestions," says Dr. Chabrian. "Participants will come from each local community, relying both on girls associated with WAI members as well as from Girl Scouts and other organized groups."

Concludes Dr. Chabrian: "Reaching out to expand the number of women in the aviation community is important to our members who enthusiastically support these efforts. We are looking for long term results, and we are confident these programs will influence countless young ladies and reap future rewards."

FMI: www.wai.org