Embraer today launched its first U.S.-centric educational partnership program to promote aviation career paths, offering scholarships, grants, and employee volunteer hours to students at select high schools, technical colleges, and universities in the U.S. This initiative will be led by the nonprofit Embraer Foundation and will implement an industry-focused scholarship and internship program to inspire and recruit students to pursue aviation careers. The first scholarships and grants will be for the fall 2022 term.

The program will initially focus on six schools with aviation training programs and will award approximately 20 scholarships and grants, each worth between $1,000 and $2,500, as well as internship opportunities. While not yet able to reveal the names of those schools, Embraer Foundation chief Monica Newman McCluney told AIN that the trial period will include three high schools, two technical schools, and one university—some in Florida, where Embraer has several facilities, but also in other states.

According to McCluney, the pilot program allows Embraer to hire entry-level talent and retain a more diverse workforce. Embraer plans to steadily increase the onboarding of talented students from partnership schools over the coming years.

Additionally, Embraer representatives will visit each school to provide academic support and serve in an advisory capacity related to the school’s aviation curriculum. Other benefits include hands-on training programs and on-site visits to Embraer’s Melbourne campus.

“As one of the leading companies in the aerospace industry, Embraer is invariably focused on innovation and education," said McCluney. "Education has always been at the core of our social responsibility initiatives and our new program reinforces that commitment—not only to inspiring youth through aviation, but to developing a high-performing and diverse talent pipeline. It is crucial that we make social investments that ensure our ability to attract a diverse workforce. These students are the future of our industry, and we are honored to provide additional resources to help them grow and succeed.”