Aviation Specialties Unlimited Inc., (ASU) announced today, from the Helicopter International Association (HAI) HELI-EXPO Convention in Orlando, Florida, that the company once again sponsored a Whirly Girl Scholarship. Pilot Cristina Gonzalez from Puerto Rico was announced as the 2015 winner of the scholarship
“Giving back to the aviation community is important to ASU,” said ASU President Jim Winkel. “Supporting scholarships for Whirly Girl members is a great way for us to invest into the future of our industry. The Whirly Girls support furthering the education and opportunities for female pilots and we look forward to hosting Cristina for her night vision goggle training.”
Cristina flies helicopters in Puerto Rico performing numerous missions including emergency medical service flights, search and rescue and tourist flights.
“This scholarship means getting one step closer to the kind of job I want in the helicopter industry. Hopefully that job will be as a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter pilot. I’m applying for the Coast Guard OCS and will know if I’ve been accepted this May. This scholarship will better prepare me for the kind of training and flights that are hopefully in my future. I want to work towards a job that helps others, be it SAR, EMS and/or law enforcement. This will help me become a better prepared pilot for today’s industry and the jobs I’d like to work in,” said Gonzalez.
This is the fifth year that ASU has sponsored a student scholarship for the Whirly Girls. Gonzalez will visit Boise May 4, 2015, to complete her training.
“The help ASU is providing by giving scholarships to people like me who are looking to become better pilots and professionals means a lot. Companies that are willing to invest in the people that may not have an opportunity to use their product if not for a scholarship are opening doors that help, not just the individual, but the industry as a whole. Flying helicopters is expensive and any help is appreciated, but ASU has gone above and beyond in my opinion and I can’t wait for training to start. I hope to learn as much as possible about night vision goggles. How they work, their uses in the industry and how flying with them on feels like. I’ve never been to Boise so that’s another thing I’m looking forward to learning about,” said Gonzalez.
