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Kelowna International Airport (YLW) will award $2,500 this year to a student in the Okanagan conducting their studies in aviation or aerospace.
“As an industry, it is important we support the next generation wanting to pursue a career in aviation,” said Sam Samaddar YLW CEO. “We need to continue to remove roadblocks, such as financial barriers, to build a strong workforce into the future.”
In 2022, YLW proudly established the Scholarship Fund to support aviation and aerospace students who are currently conducting their studies in the Okanagan. The first recipient of the YLW Scholarship was awarded in 2023 to Kendra Huttema, who is enrolled at BP Aviation to become a pilot.
“Being the recipient of the 2023 Kelowna International Airport Scholarship has truly been a blessing in my short aviation career. It is funny how most people see scholarships just as funding without acknowledging how they are also an affirmation of your potential from people outside of your immediate context. Yes, the scholarship has practically aided in funding part of my Commercial License, but it has also given me a greater appreciation for those institutions that graciously support young pilots like myself,” said Huttema, first recipient of the YLW Scholarship.
YLW officially recognized Huttema’s achievement as the first recipient of the YLW Scholarship Fund at the Silver Wings Industry and Scholarship Awards Celebration on Oct. 26, 2023.
The YLW Scholarship Fund is managed by the British Columbia Aviation Council (BCAC). BCAC recognizes the financial pressures faced by students pursuing studies in aviation and aerospace and are pleased to be offering over $150,000 worth of scholarships and other support this year. With the critical shortage of human resources faced by the aviation industry – even before the COVID pandemic – and the need to support industry-wide recovery efforts, a focus on scholarships is a key priority of the BCAC. As a result, this is Canada’s largest aviation and aerospace scholarship program.
“The BC Aviation Council is pleased with the leadership demonstrated by Kelowna International Airport,” said Council Chair Heather McCarley. “The continued growth of this scholarship fund will help ensure the ongoing success of the Okanagan’s aviation and aerospace sector.”
Applications are now open until April 30 for the 2024 scholarship. Aviation and aerospace students studying in the Okanagan are encouraged to apply online at bcaviationcouncil.org/scholarship-applications.
To learn more about the YLW Scholarship Fund, visit ylw.kelowna.ca/scholarship.
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