The Expo is a unique opportunity for aspiring talents to interact directly with experts and discover many career opportunities in the thriving aviation and aerospace sectors. Participants gained invaluable industry insights through keynote speeches, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions.
LEESBURG, Va., Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- ProJet Aviation hosted the Aviation Education and Career Expo, drawing in over 1,000 young enthusiasts aged 16-22 from the Mid-Atlantic region and nationwide. The Expo provided a dynamic platform for future aviation and aerospace professionals to engage with more than 75 esteemed aviation organizations, including universities, airlines, private aviation companies, and medical, military, and law enforcement agencies.
Hundreds of students submitted essays vying for prestigious scholarship awards, including cash, paid experiences (such as flight training lessons), tuition, and paid internships offered by Expo sponsors. Collectively, the 2023 sponsors awarded over $166,000 in scholarships, bringing the Expo's total to over $1.6 million in scholarships since 2009.
Julie O'Brien, ProJet Aviation General Manager and Cofounder of the event, emphasized the Expo's transformative impact. "The Expo provides experiences, mentoring, and scholarships that inspire students to discover and pursue their passion for the skies. This year's theme was Explore Beyond the Horizon because the event shows students what's possible and provides support to help them turn their dreams into reality."
The Expo is a unique opportunity for aspiring talents to interact directly with experts and discover many career opportunities in the thriving aviation and aerospace sectors. Participants gained invaluable industry insights through keynote speeches, live demonstrations, and interactive sessions.
Motivational speakers and presenters included:
- ProJet Aviation Cofounder and CEO Shye Gilad
- Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk presented Julie O'Brien with a Proclamation from the Town of Leesburg recognizing the Expo's achievements.
- Commercial airline pilot and former Expo scholarship winner Chelsea Montgomery
- Commercial airline pilot and veteran military aviator Chris Dueweke
- Veteran Senior Naval Aviator and Entrepreneur Micah "Snoop" Lenox who thrilled the audience with an aerial demonstration in an L-39 Albatross jet fighter.
- Garda World Federal Services delighted attendees with a live K-9 unit demonstration, showcasing the value of working dogs to law enforcement agencies and public safety.
- Richard Zaher, Founder and CEO of Paramount Business Jets and Best You Best Me – a local non-profit focused on random acts of kindness, presented a special legacy award to Michael Burke, who inspired the first-ever scholarship award presented by ProJet Aviation at the 2009 Expo.
2023 Legacy Scholarship Awards honored:
- Fury Gilad – Aviation enthusiast, educator, entrepreneur, and long-term supporter of the Expo
- Elaine D. Harmon – WWII WASP and Congressional Gold Medal recipient afforded full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery
- Leroy Homer Jr. – Veteran Air Force Pilot and First Officer of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked as part of the September 11 attacks in 2001 and crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, killing all 37 passengers and seven crewmembers, including LeRoy.
- Sarah Thompson - Cofounder of the Aviation Education Expo
2023 Scholarship Winners.
This list provides each recipient's name alongside the organization that awarded the scholarship.
Some names appear more than once, indicating they have received multiple awards.
- Jack Allen - Marywood University
- Leen Atari - Avfuel Corporation
- Kendall Beetle - Bravo Flight Training
- Jason Brunsman - Unmanned Safety Institute
- Gavin Cameron - Smokehouse Pilots
- Thomas Clifton - Open Air/Cirrus
- Thomas Clifton - Airline Pilots Association
- Sebastian De La Cruz - Aero Elite
- Eileen Domingue - Women in Aviation International
- Jordan Fahringer - Paragon Aviation Detailing
- Max Fotovat - St. Francis University
- Aiden Garcia - Mindstar Aviation
- Aiden Garcia - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Alejandra Lozada - ProJet Aviation, The Hoxton Agency, Avemco, and AOPA
- Jacob Le - Frederick Flight Center
- Luke Moitoza - NetJets
- Sarah Moss - Aviation Adventures
- Sarah Moss - Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
- Ashlee Nguyen - Paramount Business Jets and Paragon Aviation Group
- Luke Nowak - Goose Creek Aviation
- Zachary Ouimet - Aviation Influence
- Olivia Armstrong - Greater Washington Business Aviation Association
- Logan Reuter - Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics
- Greyson Rollman - St. Francis University
- Cody Michael Stebbins - LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation
- Jaqueline Esmeralda Smale - Pelican Aircraft Consulting
- Kayla Waterfield - Women in Aviation and NBAA YoPro's
- Kailyn Williams - First Chime In-flight Catering
- Stephen Wilson - Jetlinx
- Peter Vila - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Skyler Yingling - Averett University
In addition to scholarships, numerous paid internships were awarded courtesy of General Dynamics, ProJet Aviation, Paramount Business Jets, Aviation Influence, Mindstar Aviation, Aero Elite Flight Training, First Chime In-Flight Catering, The Global Air Drone Academy, The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Toth Financial, Weird Bros. Coffee, 1st Chime in-flight catering, Little Caesars, Passion Fin, Costco, and Harris Teeter provided breakfast and lunch, and Dulles Executive Sedan Services provided parking shuttles throughout the event.
About The Aviation Education & Career Expo
The Aviation Education & Career Expo is one of the largest and most successful aviation education events in the United States. Since its inception in 2005, the Expo has awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships to high school and college students pursuing careers in aviation and aerospace. Founded by aviation professionals Julie O'Brien and Sarah Thompson, the Expo is committed to helping students explore the many career opportunities available through the world of flight. ProJet Aviation hosts the Aviation Education & Career Expo at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO) in Leesburg, VA.
About ProJet Aviation
ProJet Aviation is the DC metro region's premier aviation hospitality company, dedicated to helping people accomplish extraordinary things through the wonder of flight. The company operates ProJet Center, a Fixed Base Operation (FBO), at Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO), general aviation's gateway to Washington DC, Dulles, and Virginia's Horse & Wine Country. Established in 2007 as a partnership between former airline pilot, educator, and entrepreneur Shye Gilad and noted entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, Founder & CEO of Salamander Hotels and Resorts, ProJet Aviation combines the operational integrity of the world's best airlines with the refined service of a world-class resort. ProJet's numerous accolades include recognition as a Washington Business Journal Best Places to Work, Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Service Business of the Year, and an Inc. 500/5000 Fastest Growing Company.
Media Contact
Julie O'Brien, ProJet Aviation, 1 7038898558, [email protected], https://projetaviation.com/
SOURCE ProJet Aviation
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