AAAE Foundation

Since 1989, the AAAE Foundation has issued nearly 3,400 scholarships totaling more than $6.25 million, making the organization one of the largest supporters of higher education assistance in the entire aviation industry. In 2023, the AAAE Foundation will award 137 scholarships totaling $478,500.

The AAAE Foundation offers a number of scholarships aimed at supporting our Accredited Airport Executives (A.A.E.s) and their families, as well as scholarships to support the best and brightest future leaders in our profession.

Ways to Give

Click on the scholarship of your choice below to support the future with your tax-free donation.

Every dollar helps support education and the future of airports and the aviation industry.

  • Support AAAE Members - By contributing to the AAAE Foundation, you are supporting AAAE members and their families. Your gift could make the difference in whether an aspiring student can afford to attend college.
  • Support Future Aviation Industry Leaders - Did you know that the majority of the AAAE Foundation's scholarship programs do not require AAAE membership for eligibility? The Foundation offers four scholarship programs dedicated to advancing education in the aviation profession.  Today’s scholarship recipient could be tomorrow’s airport director or the CEO of an airport consultant, partner or vendor!
  • Tax Deductions - Donations to the AAAE Foundation are tax deductible under IRS rules, providing a tax break for you or your organization.

Learn what your support means from our scholarship recipients below!

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-24 school year! Applications must be received by March 17, 2023. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Past applicants can login with their existing account information. If you are first time applicant, click on the register link below the login button. If you are asked for a program key, enter AAAE.

APPLY NOW!

Below is a brief summary of each of the scholarship programs offered by the AAAE Foundation.  Complete scholarship details, including eligibility requirements and the application process, are included in the downloadable program brochures. Please note that students may only be a recipient of one AAAE sponsored scholarship program per year. 

Download the FAQ
(Adobe PDF File)

Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they, their spouse, or their parent/guardian is an active A.A.E AND a member of the regional AAAE Chapter.
  • Under this program, “children” are defined as natural or legally adopted children, stepchildren and legal wards supported wholly by the guardian, who is an active A.A.E.
  • A.A.E.s must be full-time employees of a public-use airport at the time of application and award.

Additional Details:

  • Recipients must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course load at an accredited two- or four-year college/university or vocational/technical, in any course of study.
  • If the applicant is the eligible A.A.E. or the spouse of an eligible A.A.E., they may be enrolled in a part-time course load
  • All awards are non-renewable, but applicants may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Applicants may receive an award for a maximum of four years (does not have to be consecutive)
  • Recipients will be selected based on academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.

Awards:

  • $2,000 (may be more based on the A.A.E.'s regional chapter membership)
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

Endorsed by an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they have been endorsed by an active A.A.E., Executive Emeritus, or Honorary Life Member of AAAE, who is also a member of their regional AAAE Chapter.

Additional Details:

  • A.A.E.s who have not, do not or will not have dependents to utilize the A.A.E. Scholarship may recommend up to three undergraduate students per year for the Endorsed by an A.A.E.
  • The Endorsed Scholarship Program is not intended to be used by A.A.E.s with dependents that will apply for the A.A.E. Scholarship in the future, or have already benefited from it.
  • A.A.E.s may not utilize both the A.A.E. and Endorsed Scholarship Programs.
  • Recipients must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course load at an accredited two- or four-year college/university, vocational/technical, or graduate school, in any course of study.
  • All awards are non-renewable, but applicants may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Applicants may receive an award for a maximum of four years (does not have to be consecutive).
  • Recipients will be selected based on academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.

Awards:

  • Up to twenty (20) awards valued at $2,000
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

Aviation Management Scholarship (formerly the AAAE Foundation Scholarship)

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are a current college junior or senior or graduate student enrolled in an aviation program at an accredited two- or four-year college/university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Additional Details:

  • Eligibility under this program is not based on AAAE membership.
  • Recipients will be selected based on academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.
  • A minimum of two (2) scholarships will be awarded to applicants that represent an ethnic minority.

Awards

  • Up to ten (10) awards valued at $1,500 and are non-renewable.
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

AAAE Native American Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are a current college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in an aviation program at an accredited two- or four-year college/university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must be of Native American origin and have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Additional Details:

  • Eligibility under this program is not based on AAAE membership.
  • Recipients will be selected based on race, academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.

Awards:

  • Up to two (2) awards valued at $1,500 and are non-renewable.
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

AAAE Women in Aviation Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are a current college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in an aviation program at an accredited two- or four-year college/university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must be female and have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Additional Details:

  • Eligibility under this program is not based on AAAE membership.
  • Recipients will be selected based on gender, academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.
  • Students may only receive a Women in Aviation Scholarship twice (does not have to be consecutive years).

Awards:

Six (6) Women in Aviation Scholarship awards valued at $5,000 each will be awarded including:

  • Women in Aviation scholarship
  • Linda Hall Daschle Women in Aviation Scholarship
  • Gina Adams Women in Aviation Scholarship
  • Trish Gilbert Women in Aviation Scholarship
  • Claudia B. Holliway Women in Aviation Scholarship
  • Sharon Pinkerton Women in Aviation Scholarship
Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

The Oris W. Dunham, Jr. and Sylvia M. Dunham Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are a current college student enrolled in an accredited two- or four-year college/university, technical/vocational, or trade school in the United States or Canada enrolled in an aviation-related program.

Additional Details:

  • Eligibility under this program is not based on AAAE membership.
  • Recipients will be selected based on academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.

Awards:

  • Up to five (5) scholarship awards valued at $1,500 each will be awarded and is nonrenewable.
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

AAAE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are a current college junior, senior or graduate student enrolled in an aviation program at an accredited two- or four-year college/university in the United States or Canada.
  • Applicants must be an ethnic diversity student (Black or African American; Hispanic or Latino; American Indian or Alaska Native; Asian; and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander) with a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Additional Details:

  • Eligibility under this program is not based on AAAE membership.
  • Recipients will be selected based on ethnic diversity, academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.
  • Students may only receive a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship twice (does not have to be consecutive years).
  • Award amount are yet to be determined and will be based on funds raised.
Awards:
  • One (1) $5,000 award
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2022-2023 academic year.

The William Robert Hauptli Scholarship for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are an Executive or Affiliate member of AAAE. These individuals must be full-time employees of a public-use airport at the time of application.
  • Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA OR in certain Executive Educations programs focusing on innovation and/entrepreneurship at one of the following institutions:
    • Harvard Business School
    • MIT Sloan School of Management
    • The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
    • Stanford Graduate School of Business
    • The University of Virginia Darden School of Business

Additional Details:

  • Recipients will be selected based on AAAE membership status, academic achievements and records, work experience, and submission of a personal statement.
  • Members can only receive the Hauptli Scholarship once.

Award:

  • One (1) Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 will be awarded and is non-renewable.
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2023-2023 academic year.

Mario DiDomizio “Excellence in Education” Scholarship

Eligibility:

  • Students are eligible to apply if they are the child of an employee of Hudson, OR an employee of Hudson.
  • The employee must have been hired on or before December 1, 2019 to be eligible or for their child to be eligible.
  • Under this program, “children” are defined as natural or legally adopted children, stepchildren and legal wards supported wholly by the guardian, who is an employee of Hudson.

Additional Details:

  • Children of Hudson employees must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a full-time course load at an accredited two- or four-year college/university or vocational/technical, in any course of study. Hudson employees may be enrolled in part-time programs.
  • All awards are non-renewable, but applicants may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.
  • Recipients will be selected based on academic achievements and records, financial need, participation in school and community activities, and submission of a personal statement.

Awards:

  • Up to (10) $2,500 awards.
  • Amounts subject to change. Above is estimated award amount for 2021-2022 academic year.

The AAAE Foundation reserves the right to change or discontinue these programs without notice.