AAAE Foundation

Scholarships

Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now being accepted. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2025. 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.

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

If you have any questions regarding the AAAE Foundation, please contact gwen.basaria@aaae.org.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Amount subject to change. The above reflects 2024-25 anticipated award amounts. Awards are non-renewable. 

• Learn more about the AAAE Women in Aviation Scholarship
• Learn more about the AAAE Women In Aviation Scholarship Luncheon

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.