Whirly-Girls International Announces 2017 Scholarship Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 6, 2017Whirly-Girls International Announces 2017 Scholarship WinnersWhirly-Girls International, a non-profit, educational, and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in the helicopter aviation industry, has announced the winners of the 2017 Whirly-Girls Scholarship Awards.The Whirly-Girls Scholarship Committee made the announcement on March 5th at the Whirly-Girls International Annual Awards Banquet during the HAI Heli-Expo convention in Dallas, Texas. The Whirly-Girls awarded 16 scholarships to deserving female aviators, setting the bar for the entire helicopter industry, thanks to the support of aviation leaders.Winners of the Whirly-Girls Scholarships are:Advanced Mountain Flight Training ScholarshipMelissa Wnorowski (WG 1850)Airbus Flight Training ScholarshipCathleen Perdok (WG 1133)Antipodean and Embry-Riddle Wire and Obstacle Environment Awareness Course ScholarshipMichelle Hovey (WG 1355)Embry-Riddle Commercial Helicopter Pilot Ground School Course ScholarshipSabine Buehlmann (WG 1363)FlightSafety International Bell 206 ScholarshipJessica Kanellos (WG 1771)Garmin GTN & G500/600 Course ScholarshipMelissa Hanthorn (WG 1877)Night Flight Concepts Night Vision Goggle Initial Pilot Qualification ScholarshipSarah Snell (WG 1701)Oregon Aero CRM/AMRM Instructor Training ScholarshipSami Challburg (WG 1921) & Sherri Spagnola (WG 1357)Robinson Helicopter R22/R44 Safety Course ScholarshipAmy Hartt (WG 1941)Robinson Helicopter R66 Safety Course ScholarshipElena Dawson (WG 1932)Survival Systems USA Aircraft Ditching Course ScholarshipAbigail Stogdale (WG 1878) & Sami Challburg (WG 1921)Thurn-Herr Annual Advanced Training ScholarshipChelsea Atwater (WG 1917)Whirly-Girls Memorial Flight Training ScholarshipMegan Dukes (WG 1340)Whirly-Girls Helicopter Add-on Flight Training ScholarshipNancy BradshawSarah Dufton, Whirly-Girls Scholarship Director, stated, “We are so amazed and heartened by the support that we have received from our loyal supporters and the Helicopter Industry as a whole. These key partnerships are absolutely pivotal in the success of women in helicopter aviation.”The Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund, Inc. (“WGSF”) was incorporated in 1974 to oversee and administer the scholarship funds raised by the Whirly-Girls and their Auxiliaries, and is a federally tax exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. Initiated in 1968, the scholarship program has grown from a single $500 scholarship to a wide range of training and development scholarships valued.For more information on Whirly-Girls International and Whirly-Girls scholarships, please visit www.whirlygirls.org or contact Sarah Dufton at scholarshipdir1@whirlygirls.org.# # #