HAYLEY HANING EIDSON SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT AVIATION-PROFESSIONAL FLIGHT MAJOR
“Leaving Your Comfort Zone Is Essential.”
That passion only grew throughout
That’s the title of one of Hayley Haning’s
her teenage years, and with it a deter-
earliest entries in her blog. It also sums
mination to “take on anything,” as she
up her life.
once wrote in her blog. “The opportuni-
She grew up in a town of 2,500 in northern West Virginia, two hours from the closest international airport. So Ms.
ties and freedom that flight brings sealed my decision,” Ms. Haning said. But the extra financial burdens
Haning felt more than a little nervous
associated with an aviation degree can
when, at age 17, she traveled to Oshkosh,
ground many students and their families.
Wisconsin, by herself for Women Soar,
“Receiving the Eidson Scholarship has
You Soar Camp, a four-day event to
allowed me to continue to my flight
introduce young women to the limitless
training while following my dreams of
potential of aviation careers.
becoming a professional pilot.”
Today, Ms. Haning is flying high at
After graduation, Ms. Haning plans
EKU. Literally. And the Patricia Eidson
to continue building flight hours while
Memorial Scholarship is the fuel for her
working as a flight instructor. Then, after
dreams.
meeting FAA requirements, she will
The junior aviation-professional flight major from Shinnston, West Virginia, fell
“pursue a professional pilot position that best suits me.”
in love with flying as a seventh-grader,
Ms. Haning also hopes to use her
though it didn’t occur to her then that
education to serve as a missionary pilot
she might someday become a pilot.
and empower others, especially females, to pursue careers in aviation. Just as she was inspired to soar as a young girl.
SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
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