Last week, EAA committed a million dollars to flight-training scholarships, and this week, FedEx stepped up, funding $2.5 million in scholarships for students pursuing aviation professions—not just pilots, but also maintenance technicians and more. “E-commerce is driving increasing demands on both air and ground transportation networks at a time when large numbers of workers in these fields are retiring, or nearing retirement,” said FedEx Express CEO David Cunningham. “We are working with schools to strengthen the pipeline of talented and diverse pilots, mechanics and other aviation professionals.”
The grants will fund scholarships for students pursuing aviation careers at the University of Memphis (Tennessee), Delta State University (Mississippi), University of North Dakota, Indiana State University, Tennessee College of Applied Technology and Arkansas State University Mid-South. The scholarships will benefit students in FedEx’s Purple Runway program, which helps mentor students along a career track from college to the FedEx feeder airlines. “The FedEx Purple Runway Aviation Scholarship helps lay that foundation for an individual to have a promising and successful career,” Cunningham said.
