I Hart Flying Foundation (IHFF) in partnership with Girls Love to Fly (GLTF) awarded more than $18,000 in scholarship funding and pilot training packages to five women pursuing careers in aviation. Through an “All Hands on Deck” themed opportunity, the non-profit organizations selected Allison Scholtthaur, Megan McArthur, Kate Olaf, and Pepper Rhodes as IHFF Hart Scholars and Monica Jageman as a GLTF Dedicated Aviator.
“At I Hart Flying we work hard, put in the effort, and recognize the workforce issue across our industry. We have a hand in changing this story,” said Rachelle Spector, founder of IHFF. “We’re thrilled to aid these deserving women who showed up, put in the work, and illustrated to our organizations that they strive to become professional pilots. Each winning scholar currently mentors, is involved in giving back to their communities, and has plans to become airline, corporate, or cargo pilots. They dream, they devote, they achieve!”
Scholtthaur is a flight training student at Chickasha Wings in Oklahoma working toward her instrument rating and has a goal to become an airline or cargo pilot. McArthur is a mother who intends to use the award towards her instrument rating and commercial license with the goal of becoming a career flight instructor. She trains at Blue Skies Flying Service near Fox Lake, Illinois.
Olaf is in training at Sling Pilot Academy in Torrance, California. She intends to continue her flight training and receive her commercial, certified flight instructor and instrument flight instructor certificates with aid from the scholarship.
“This scholarship will be giving me so much peace of mind regarding my financial status, as I am continuing to work as a paramedic while completing my aviation ratings. I’m looking forward to inspiring others to believe in themselves in learning to fly, as well as honoring the I Hart Flying mission of giving back to the aviation community,” Olaf said.
Rhodes is training in Fort Myers, Florida, at Jet Access Flight Training and plans to use the scholarship to advance her qualifications. She earned her private pilot certificate at age 17 and has launched a campaign, “Girls Who Soar,” to persuade Girl Scouts of America to change its no-fly policy. Drafting a petition as part of her Girl Scouts Gold Award project, Rhodes hopes to see the Girl Scouts remove the gender barrier and allow girls to fly in small aircraft as part of an aviation badge, as Boy Scouts are permitted to do. She aspires to become an astronaut after working as an airline pilot.
GLTF scholarship recipient Jageman is a student pilot in Granite Bay, California, who plans to continue her training and eventually fly for the airlines.
“As a 2019 ‘Ignite the Magic of Flight’ Hart Scholar, now Hart Scholarship Committee member, it was nostalgic for me to review the many qualified applications with my fellow committee members,” said Kristin Gibson, an airline pilot for Horizon Air. “I’m honored I can pay it forward and continue seeing the impact we make on women’s lives, together. We all ‘have a hand’ in giving wings to others.”
The scholarships were made possible through donations from donors, members, and sponsors including King Schools, Sheltair, Go Rentals, Starbucks, On Final Aviation Apparel, and Flight Apprentice. Since 2017, IHFF and GLTF combined have awarded more than $300,000 in scholarship funding, flight simulation, pilot supplies, equipment, and ground school training to more than 55 female pilots.
IHFF has plans to launch a second themed scholarship opportunity this year.
