GirlVenture 2022

By Aileen Watkins, Treasure Coast Chapter

Nineteen years ago, a program was launched at EAA AirVenture to inspire young women from 9th through 12th grades to consider aviation as a possible career path. The program, originally called Women Soar, You Soar, averages 60 to 80 girls in attendance, with 85 signed up for 2022. The GirlVenture name rose to align with other AirVenture programs offered. The construct of this outstanding opportunity matches the interests of the girls with an incredibly diverse group of mentors who are chosen to include pilots, air traffic controllers, A&P mechanics, aviation and aerospace educators and engineers, from both military and civilian disciplines. This year included a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Space Force. Activities and networking events designed to expose the ladies to the many facets of aviation and aerospace vocations involved team-building and leadership exercises and engaging professionals in the field to include airshow pilots, manufacturers and industry. Astronauts Eileen Collins and Nicole Stott, Delta Captain Karen Ruth, NASA SOFIA pilot Liz Ruth all spoke with the ladies about their paths and experiences in reaching their career goals. Each of the ladies had the opportunity to fly in the Ford TriMotor, and each team catered their experiences to the specific STEM emphasis wants and needs of each group. Some of our past program attendees have pursued careers in aviation, with five of them returning as mentors this year. Kyleigh Blachford attended in 2013-2015, received her Private Pilot Certificate when she was 17, recently earned her Airframe and Powerplant Certificate, mentored this year, and has been hired by Boeing. Hannah Collette, one of our more recent attendees, is in the Civil Air Patrol and attending Delta State University. Tina Druskins first attended in 2008 and is now a First Officer with United Airlines on the Boeing 757 and 767. 2018 attendee Zoe Finn is currently attending Dubuque University, just earned her Instrument Rating and earlier this summer completed a study abroad program in Cuba. Elizabeth Resh attended 2014 through 2016, and has been promoted to Lead Flight Instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Four scholarships were awarded to attendees for postsecondary education and flight training expenses. Victoria Teet and Rachel Oppmann received the Morgan Brittany Smith Memorial Post-Secondary Scholarship, each in the amount $3,500. The Heather McRoberts Memorial Flight Training Scholarship was awarded to Lauren Stettbacher for $500, and the Commander John Paradiso Scholarship for Women in Aviation and Aerospace of $750 was awarded Erin Sweeny. Twenty-one Ninety-Nines served as mentors at GirlVenture 2022.

HondaJet and the United States Air Force are ongoing sponsors of GirlVenture, and this program would not be possible without the support of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). They share the planning committee’s vision by promoting and hosting the program for the last nineteen years. The Planning Committee, consisting of Ninety Nines Debby Rihn-Harvey, Brenda Lea and Cindy Hasselbring have created the GirlVenture experience to provide high school women the opportunity to meet, connect, and explore different career paths while learning networking techniques to develop friendships that can last a lifetime.