Vertical Flight Society announces 2023 scholarship recipients awarded to 22 students
The Vertical Flight Society (VFS) has awarded scholarships totaling $100,000 to 22 of the world’s most talented engineering students interested in vertical flight.
“Since 1977, our Vertical Flight Foundation Scholarships have inspired students to pursue careers in vertical flight, with many now holding leadership positions in industry, academia and government, and with 667 scholarships awarded to date,” said VFS Executive Director Mike Hirschberg.
“Through the incredible generosity of our members, we have been able to greatly expand the program in recent years. Over just the past five years, we have now awarded more than 100 scholarships worth a half-million dollars.”
This year’s VFS Grand Awards will take place at the 79th Annual Forum & Technology Display from 16–18 May 2023, in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Bachelor Degree Recipients
⦁ Connor Elliott at Texas A&M University for the Troy Gaffey Scholarship, honouring his role in developing the tiltrotor at Bell and the coaxial compound helicopter as CEO of AVX Aircraft.
⦁ Peter Capozzoli at the University of Maryland for the Walter Hodgson Scholarship, named for the late US Air Force and Hughes Helicopter test pilot.
⦁ Alison Linares Mendoza at the University of Pittsburgh for the Franklin Harris Scholarship, honouring the contributions and memory of 65 years dedicated service and numerous contributions to the rotorcraft industry.
⦁ Gabrielle Schumacher at the University of Maryland for the Joseph Cribbins Scholarship, honouring the individual who had perhaps the most influence and long-term impact on US Army Aviation logistics in the 20th century.
⦁ Audrey Putri Waliliong at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Barry Baskett Scholarship, honouring the memory of a career US Army engineer who led Aviation Engineering, and later managed the Aviation Technology Base Program.
Master Degree Recipients
⦁ Catherine Catrambone at the University of Maryland for the Hal Andrews Scholarship, which remembers a preeminent Navy aviation engineer, advisor and historian.
⦁ Joseph Kiley Heimerl, Texas A&M University’s two-time recipient for the Tom Wood Honorary Scholarship, which recognises more than 50 years of technical contributions to Bell Helicopter.
⦁ Isabella Mawry at The Pennsylvania State University for the Dr Richard Bennett Scholarship, honouring the longtime Bell researcher, university professor and consultant.
⦁ Brenden Oates at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Dr Dewey Hodges, awarded to an applicant in Aeromechanics and honouring the beloved professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, decorated engineer, and one of the foremost aerospace researchers of his generation.
⦁ Nathan O’Brien at the University of Maryland for the Dr Alfred Gessow Scholarship, honouring a pioneer in the helicopter field at NACA/NASA and founder of the University of Maryland rotorcraft centre.
⦁ Vivek Uppoor at the University of Maryland for the Jimmie Honaker Scholarship, remembering the early US Air Force helicopter test pilot.
⦁ Zoelle Wong at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Frank Robinson Scholarship, honouring the founder of Robinson Helicopter Corp.
Doctorate Degree Recipients
⦁ Shreyas Ashok at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Dr Frank Caradonna Scholarship, honouring the US Army Emeritus Scientist who worked for 43 years at the Ames Research Center in flight dynamics as a researcher and mentor.
⦁ Christopher Axten at The Pennsylvania State University for the Evan Sampatacos Scholarship, remembering the former McDonnell Douglas/Boeing engineer.
⦁ Victoria Britcher at the University of Maryland for the Dr Friedrich Straub Scholarship, honouring the former senior manager of dynamics technology and technical fellow of The Boeing Company.
⦁ Lidia Caros-Roca at the Imperial College London for the Robert Head Scholarship, honouring the engineering pioneer at McDonnell/Hughes/McDonnell Douglas/Boeing.
⦁ Hunter Denton at Texas A&M University for the Bell Textron Scholarship, provided by a generous VFF endowment from the company and awarded to the top scoring applicant.
⦁ Aishwerya Singh Gahlot at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Dr Jing Yen VFF Scholarship for Cost Awareness, given to the most qualified applicant who shows interest in improving rotorcraft affordability.
⦁ Colleen Murray at the University of Maryland for the Virasak Family Scholarship, supported by longtime VFS member Jacques Virasak.
⦁ Shivani Patel at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University for the Alex Stoll honouring the memory of one of pioneers of electric flight.
⦁ Katarzyna Pobikrowska at the Warsaw University of Technology for the Frank Piasecki Scholarship, honouring the inventor of the tandem rotor helicopter.
⦁ Eleni Sotiropoulos-Georgiopoulos at the Georgia Institute of Technology for the Dr Robin Gray Scholarship, honouring the beloved Georgia Tech professor who taught generations of students.
