Soaring Newswire September 17, 2018

September17, 2018

Forward

Dreams Soar Team still flying high from Wingfoot Three Christening

Goodyear blimps have been christened by some of history’s most inspirational women. As Shaesta Waiz christened the newest Goodyear blimp Wingfoot Three, Dream Soar team members and VIP guests were there to celebrate. The event was also streamed live on Facebook.

Attending the ceremony were from the Dreams Soar Team were Michael Wildes, Jill Meyers, Sherry Rosenkranz, Elizabeth Larson, Rose Marie Norman, Chris Davis, Veronica Delgado and Holly Davis.

Shaesta and Michael went up on the first ceremonial flight with Goodyear CEO and President Richard Kramer. Goodyear made it possible the rest of our team, and Shaesta’s family, to go on flights later in the afternoon.

The flights were co-piloted by Taylor Deen, Goodyear Senior Pilot and one of only three female blimp pilots in the world. During the flight she graciously chatted with us, answered all our questions and offered us turns co-piloting the blimp. Once in the air, we were encouraged to roam the 12-passenger cabin and enjoy the 360 degree view from the wrap-around windows.

The stately speed of this airship, gentle rocking, open windows and subdued engine gave the feeling of being on a majestic seagoing vessel high in the air, with spectacular views.

It was an honor to be part of this historical day; the experience of a lifetime. For some of us, our feet have still not yet touched the ground.

Two special Akron Schools welcome Dreams Soar

As part of Shaesta’s trip to Goodyear, she also visited two exceptional Akron public schools.

Shaesta spoke to students in the inaugural class of the I Promise School. This unique school is a public school formed in collaboration between the LaBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools.

The school offers at-risk students a step up in mastering curriculum with smaller class sizes, longer school days (eight hours), a “support circle” for students after lunch and GED courses and job placement for parents. The school year launched with third- and fourth-graders, but plans to add grades each year until it houses first through eighth grade.

She also visited students at NIHF STEM Middle School (National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School), some of who later attended the Goodyear Wingfoot Three Christening Ceremony. The NIHF STEM Middle School is the result of an innovative partnership between Akron Public Schools, the City of Akron, the National Inventors Hall of Fame® Foundation, The University of Akron, Akron Tomorrow, and the the Greater Akron Chamber.

Students work collectively with inventors, STEM-related businesses and organizations, and faculty and students from The University of Akron, with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math.

At USS Intrepid 75th Anniversary, Holly Davis Cites Navy Dad as Inspiration for Giving Back

Holly Davis and Captain Tom Davis in front of an A-4,
one of the many airplanes he flew in 33 years as a Naval Aviator.

On August 18th, Holly Davis of Horsefly Group, an integrated marketing firm and staunch supporter of Dreams Soar, attended the 75th anniversary of the commissioning of the USS Intrepid, an Essex class aircraft carrier now permanently moored in New York City. She was invited as crew family, as her father, 91 year old Navy Captain Tom Davis, served aboard the ship in 1967-68 at the height of the Vietnam war.

One commonality among the 340 crew members who attended: no matter how short their tenure in the Navy, sometimes only two years, it left an indelible mark, most crediting it with “the making of the man I am.”

For Tom Davis, his 33 years as a US Naval Aviator was followed by 40 years building and running a public airfield on the Gulf Coast of Florida that was named after him in 2013. "Crystal River Airport Capt Tom Davis Field” was an honor bestowed for the difference wrought since 1978, when it was a grass strip and a gas pump, to the thriving airfield it is today, with instrument approaches, paved 4,555 foot lighted runway, taxiways, numerous hangars, and an international Part 141 flight school. At 91, Captain Davis still flies and actively runs the airport, reporting for duty seven days a week. He only recently retired his FAA Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) duties, but his wife Gudi Davis (an early Private Pilot graduate of the school) remains an FAA DPE, and co-manages the company.

Perhaps their greatest achievement is giving back to young people who want to learn to fly. Since 1992, Crystal Aero Group has awarded a full ride scholarship to a rising Citrus County high school senior for Private Pilot training, in 2018 valued at $8,570. In any location, a scholarship that size is a big deal. For a small company to award that in a county of modest means and low college attendance, it’s stunning, with enormous effect. Eight of the 26 recipients, or 32%, have been girls.

Following the example set by her father, Holly Davis, a commercial SEL/glider pilot with instrument rating, donated marketing services to the Dreams Soar effort. “I recognize my great fortune in being given flight training as a teenager, so I support Dreams Soar and the scholarship program. Sometimes a little leg up is all someone of limited resources needs to get underway achieving the career of their dreams.”

Horsefly Group has pledged 5% of any marketing contracts from the Dreams Soar network to go towards DSI scholarships.

2018 Katharine Wright Trophy to Anne Bridge Baddour.

Jill Meyers, Dream Soar's own Director of Operations and wearer of many hats, was honored to serve on the selection committee for the The National Aeronautic Association's (NAA) Katherine Wright Trophy.

The committee selected Anne Bridge Baddour to receive the 2018 Award for her lifelong personal commitment to the advancement of all who pursue aviation careers and her tireless efforts in educating the aviation community and general public.

For the past 64 years, Baddour has dedicated herself to aviation. She has piloted 42 types of aircraft and for 20 years, worked as a research pilot for Lincoln Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - the first female pilot employed by the Lab. She was assigned to programs for the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, including work as an early tester of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Baddour has competed in 16 air races, beginning in 1954, and set 27 world speed records between 1985 and 1991.

She has served as an active leader and helped to establish scholarship programs at a variety of aviation organizations, including the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Aero Club of New England, the Ninety-Nines, the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, and Daniel Webster College.

Baddour has helped countless individuals achieve their career goals by leading them through inspiration, scholarship, and guidance.

The essence of this award is not only great achievement in one’s own right, but recognition of the extra effort it takes to make all around you better each day.

Members of the Katharine Wright Trophy Selection Committee included: Pat Blum, Katharine Wright Trophy Recipient (2016); Leslie Day, Member, The Ninety-Nines; Major Chrystina Jones, Katharine Wright Trophy Recipient (2017); Jill Meyers, Director of Operations, Dreams Soar, Inc.; Pat Prentiss, Past President, The Ninety Nines, and NAA Board of Directors; John Stammreich, President, Aero Club of Southern California, and NAA Board of Directors; and Alyssa Ten Eyck, Corporate Communications, Embraer, and NAA Board of Directors.

The Katharine Wright Trophy will be presented at the NAA Fall Awards Ceremony this fall.
For more information or to view a complete list of previous recipients, visit www.naa.aero

New Horizons for
Dreams Soar Team Members

Congratulations are in order for three Dreams Soar team members, all who have, coincidentally, secured amazing new jobs in New York.

We are all so proud of your successes! You are living proof that dreams DO soar!

Jessica Ortega completed her initial flight training with Republic Airline and is now a First Officer. She will be flying the Embraer E170 and E175 out of LaGuardia Airport.

Liz O’Toole is now a Certified Flight Instructor, teaching students to fly at Take Flight Aviation in Montgomery, NY.

Kim Kissh recently started a new position as Pilot and Flight Operations Admin for Tailwind Air LLC in Westchester, NY.

See Shaesta Speak at the Smithsonian by Webcast

Dreams Soar

Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM and Aviation Professionals Dreams Soar's Shaesta Waiz will be speaking at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on the evening of Sept. 26th as part of their GE Aviation Lecture series.

Can't make it to Washington, DC?
Watch it on webcast.
Register here. There's still time!

Women in Aviation Int'l Aviation Scholarships

Scholarships for Every Aviation Interest.

Want to be an AIr Traffic Controller? Do aerobatic flying? Learn commercial aircraft maintenance? Or just learn to fly, at any age?

Scholarship awards are a major benefit of WAI membership and help both men and women reach their goals and advance into the aviation and aerospace careers they have always dreamed about. A total of $695,500 was awarded in 2018. Get more information and view the list of scholarship categories and requirements.

The 2019 WAI scholarship program is now open. Become a member by Nov. 1, 2018. Check for deadlines.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
with Official Dreams Soar Apparel!

Inspire the next generation of STEM and aviation professionals by purchasing your very own Dreams Soar polo shirt or jacket!

Thanks to our on-going partnership with MSK Concepts, every purchase supports our mission! Thanks to MSK Concepts who generously donates 15% of every purchase to our global outreach mission.

Order now

Words from Our Founder

“Every time I open the door of an aircraft, I ask myself, ‘How did a girl with my background become so lucky?' The truth is, anyone can be me.”

— Shaesta Waiz

"It is our duty to help ensure that all women have the education and opportunity to investigate and pursue exciting careers available in STEM. More than half of the world’s population is female. Their success is the best influence for girls to believe that they too are capable of succeeding in these fields.”

— Shaesta Waiz

“Every time I fly, I realize the aircraft does not know my gender, my background, my social class, my religion, or my financial state and yet, it propels me forward.”

— Shaesta Waiz

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