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NBAA Announces Recipients of 2007 Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarships

PHOENIX, AZ, January 23, 2007 — The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and its Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee today awarded over $40,000 in scholarship funds to six individuals seeking to advance their aviation careers through continuing education. Eight corporate sponsors each contributed $5,000 to the 2007 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship: ExxonMobil and the Avitats, Signature Flight Support, Universal Weather and Aviation, ChevronTexaco Global Aviation, Atlantic Aviation, Air BP Aviation Services, Jeppesen DataPlan and Ac-U-Kwik.

The 2007 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship recipients are as follows:

– Cynthia Black, Citigroup Corporate Aviation, White Plains, NY – After a few years with the company as an executive assistant, Black pursued an opening in the company's flight department and has been there for nearly 14 years. She will be using her scholarship to attend the 2008 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference.

– Shyla Maruschak, West Wind Aviation, Saskatoon, Canada – Maruschak started her career in aviation as a ramp attendant with West Wind. A few years ago she pursued an opportunity as a logistics coordinator with the company. She will be using her scholarship to attend the Flight Dispatcher Program at York University in Toronto.

– Nathalie Krauss, West Wind Aviation, Saskatoon, Canada – Krauss was introduced to the world of FBOs by a full-time position she held at the Shell Aerocenter in Saskatoon. Ultimately, a sales/logistics coordinator position opportunity became available at West Wind, leading Krauss to take that position. She plans to use her award to attend the Flight Dispatcher Program at York University in Toronto.

– Aleesa Kurtz, Westminster College, Salt Lake City, UT – Kurtz became hooked on aviation through a position in a dispatch office; for Kurtz, it was the Flight Operations Center at Westminster College. She has since been promoted to dispatch manager and will use her scholarship to begin work toward an MBA this fall, attend the Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference this year, and obtain her dispatch license at Flight Safety.

– Patrick O'Neill, Southern Company, Chamblee, GA – After college and four years on the commercial side of aviation, O'Neill joined his father at Southern Company as an aircraft coordinator. He plans to use his award to further his skills and obtain his dispatch license at Sheffield School of Aeronautics.

– Justin Pastor, American Express, Newburgh, NY – Pastor's first experience with aviation dates back to his childhood and flying with his father. Since then, he has held several positions with well-known companies within the industry. He will use his scholarship to further develop his career by obtaining his dispatch license at Flight Safety.

These winners and seven other scholarship recipients were announced today during NBAA's 18th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, held this week in Phoenix, AZ. Applications for the 2008 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship will be available in the summer of 2007.

NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee offers its scholarships through two separate but related programs that specifically promote professional and career development for schedulers and dispatchers in business aviation.

First, through the Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship Program, the Committee offers cash grants, which can be used for a variety of professional development initiatives. Since 1997, more than $240,000 has been awarded to schedulers and dispatchers through this program. In 2005, the program was expanded to provide scholarships specifically to Canadian schedulers and dispatchers.

A separate Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship Program offers opportunities for scholarship recipients to have access to hands-on teaching initiatives. These scholarships were first offered in 2004.

For more information about NBAA scholarships, contact NBAA Director, Operations Jay Evans at (202) 783-9353 or jevans@nbaa.org. For information about NBAA's Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee, contact NBAA Senior Manager, Air Traffic Operations Jo Damato at jdamato@nbaa.org.

NBAA offers several scholarships to promote professional development and business aviation careers. For more information or to download application forms, visit www.nbaa.org/scholarships.