AAAE Foundation
Since 1989, the AAAE Foundation has issued more than 3,540 scholarships totaling more than $6.83 million, making the organization one of the largest supporters of higher education assistance in the entire aviation industry. In 2024, the AAAE Foundation awarded 143 scholarships totaling $578,900.
The AAAE Foundation offers scholarships to support our Accredited Airport Executives (A.A.E.s), their families and endorsed students, as well as scholarships for the best and brightest future aviation leaders.
Ways to Give
Click on the scholarship of your choice below to support the future with your tax-free donation.
- A.A.E. Scholarship
- Endorsed by an A.A.E. Scholarship
- Aviation Management Scholarship
- Native American Scholarship
- Women in Aviation Scholarship (general fund)
- William Robert Hauptli Scholarship for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship
- The Carl D. Newman Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship
- Planned Giving Options
Reasons to Give
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!
Impact
Patrycja Krzystyniak | Lewis University
"The Foundation has granted me the opportunity to achieve my education goals and further my career."
Estelle Jules | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
"I am constantly faced with the challenge of being a minority within a minority. This scholarship will allow me to make a significant impact in aviation."
Jacob Weber | Purdue University
"With this scholarship, I will be able to focus more on my studies rather than my future payments."
Scholarships
We are honored to offer scholarships to support our members, their families, and future aviation leaders in achieving their academic and professional goals. Below is a summary of each scholarship.
Please Note:
- Applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open.
- The deadline to submit your application is March 14, 2025. Late submissions will not be accepted.
- Students may receive only one AAAE-sponsored scholarship per year.
- Returning applicants: Log in using your existing account credentials.
- First-time applicants: Click the "Register" link below the login button to create an account.
- If prompted for a program key, use: AAAE.
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:
- $4,200 (may be more based on the A.A.E.'s regional chapter membership).
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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 $4,200 (may be more based on the A.A.E.'s regional chapter membership).
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
Aviation Management 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 $2,000.
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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 $2,000.
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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 3.0 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 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:
Seven (7) Women in Aviation Scholarship awards valued at $5,000
- 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
- Sara Nelson Women in Aviation Scholarship
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).
Awards:
Two (2) awards valued at $5,000
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship (general fund)
- Carl D. Newman, A.A.E., Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Scholarship
Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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.
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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) award valued at $10,000
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
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.
- Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable.
The AAAE Foundation reserves the right to change or discontinue these programs without notice.
