BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, March 5, 2024 – The Women’s Aviation Career Symposium (WACS) will be held for the sixth year on March 16, 2024. A professional career conference for women from high school junior through retirement, WACS will take place at Western Michigan University’s College of Aviation in Battle Creek, Michigan. The WACS event will award $30,000 in scholarships for aviation education, flight and maintenance training, and professional development. Attendees will hear the story of keynote speaker Lynn Rippelmeyer, the first woman to fly a Boeing 747, captain a 747 transoceanic, and the first woman to advance from a career as a flight attendant to a career as an airline pilot.
The details for the event are as follows:
March 16, 2024
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM EDT
Western Michigan University College of Aviation
237 Helmer Road North Battle Creek, MI 49037
Designed to introduce women to aviation and to promote networking, education, and scholarships, WACS takes pride in building up the aerospace community in Michigan. The vision of the WACS team is to become a pipeline for the Great Lakes Region and to backfill pilot, mechanic, and industry professional shortages. There are many highly qualified women who earn scholarships and internships through the WACS event that would be perfect additions to any corporate operator, airline, military branch, or other aviation company.
“Our desire is to support women in aviation and support companies looking to fill their talent pools by hosting this unique event every year. With this being the sixth year of WACS, we are pleased by the ever-increasing interest from sponsors and schools in participating,” said Helen Hagg, co-founder of WACS. “Scholarships, career advice, mentorship, job opportunities – there is no better place for young women in aviation in Michigan to find resources to follow their dreams!”
WACS will feature time for meeting and networking with industry companies, organizations, and professional women in aviation. Additionally, attendees can join breakout sessions and fast track workshops with information on aviation, aerospace engineering, STEM education, airport administration, and military aviation. With roundtable discussion panels and booths with attending companies, WACS prioritizes time for attendees to learn about the everyday life of each panelist and ask questions about different industry careers.
Scholarships are an integral part to WACS and to helping women achieve their dreams. Thanks to generous donations from their sponsors, this year WACS will award $30,000 to go towards aviation education, flight and maintenance training, and professional development. Since their inception in 2018, WACS has awarded $111,500 in scholarships. Forty-five companies are sponsoring this year's event, including Gulfstream, Western Michigan University, Michigan Business Aviation Association and Foundation, Duncan Aviation, AvFlight, Dassault Falcon Jet, Dow Corporation, GrandAir Aviation, Jackson National Life, and more.
To learn more or to register for the event, visit the following link: Women's Aviation Career Symposium (WACS) 2024 or view our Conference Preview.
ABOUT WACS
WACS was founded in 2018 as an effort to help alleviate industry-wide shortages of pilots, mechanics, and other aviation professionals. Their mission is to be the leader in advancing the industry by promoting local companies, jobs, resources, and schools in Michigan and surrounding Great Lakes states. This year WACS began a new partnership with the Michigan Business Aviation Association (MBAA) and their non-profit Foundation (MBAF). With the help of their team and network, WACS is able to expand outreach to more businesses, as well as new attendees in our region. In 2019, the team was awarded the Michigan Aeronautics Commission (MAC) Award of Excellence.
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. For more information contact wacsmichigan@gmail.com.
Contact: chelseav@mrgmi.com, 734-652-3329
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