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Women's Aviation Career Symposium
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BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, November 7, 2023 – The Women’s Aviation Career Symposium (WACS) will be held for the sixth year on March 16, 2024. WACS is a professional career conference for women from high school junior through retirement and will take place at the Western Michigan University College of Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan. Designed to introduce women to aviation and to promote networking, education, and scholarships, WACS takes pride in building up the aerospace community in Michigan and surrounding Great Lakes States. The WACS event will also provide multiple scholarship opportunities to women for aviation education, professional development, flight training, and maintenance training.
“Every year, this event exceeds our expectations in bringing numerous companies and resources together for women interested in aviation. We are very excited for the young women who get to connect with seasoned professionals in the industry and be inspired to pursue a career in aviation,” said Helen Hagg, co-founder of WACS. “Through scholarships, career advice, mentorship, and job opportunities – we support and promote every aspect of aviation to women in our region!”
WACS will feature time for meeting and networking with local industry companies, organizations, schools, and professional women in aviation. Additionally, attendees can join workshops with information on flight and maintenance training, aerospace engineering, space, STEM education, and military aviation. WACS also prioritizes time for attendees to learn and ask questions from women professionals about their everyday life in their specific field. Exhibitors and sponsors are invited to join an industry briefing to discuss current challenges and changes, and innovations in aviation. The event ends with a keynote speaker and the presentation of scholarships.
Last year, the event sold out with over 180 women in attendance and 40 exhibitors. Twenty women each received $2,000 in scholarships, with the total awarded funds at $40,000. The event was sponsored by 45 companies, including 25 new sponsors. WACS has awarded $81,500 in scholarships since inception.
ABOUT WACS
WACS was founded in 2018 and is led by Helen Hagg, Mary Poirier, and Pam Catlin, who are all corporate or airline captains. Their goals for the symposium are two-fold: advance women in aerospace careers and help alleviate the industrywide pilot and mechanic shortage through promoting pipelines to local companies and career opportunities.
SPONSOR/ EXHIBITOR INFORMATION
If you or your company are interested in being a sponsor or an exhibitor during our Women’s Aviation Career Symposium event, click here.
This event is organized solely through volunteer work and funded through tax deductible donations. WACS is now partnering with the Michigan Business Aviation Foundation (MBAF), a non-profit which exists to support the next generation of business aviation professionals through educational opportunities and scholarship funding. Your tax-deductible donations support and help to ensure we maintain a robust talent pipeline and promote workforce development in our region. For more information contact wacsmichigan@gmail.com
One of the MBAA’s goals this year is to alert association members when there are opportunities to pursue governmental awards or grants. As discussed in April at the MBAA Legislative Day, the Going Pro Talent Fund could be a great resource for any member that spends resources training, retraining, or developing their employees. Grants from the state are available to defray the cost of the training program.
Several MBAA members have taken advantage of this program in the past and we’d love even more to participate in the future. You can find further details here.
In order to be eligible for a grant, you need to apply by the October 27th, 2023, deadline.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact MBAA Lobbyist Bob DeVries at devries.b@gcsionline.com
Several MBAA members have taken advantage of this program in the past and we’d love even more to participate in the future. You can find further details here.
In order to be eligible for a grant, you need to apply by the October 27th, 2023, deadline.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact MBAA Lobbyist Bob DeVries at devries.b@gcsionline.com