Aviation for Women is the flagship member publication of Women in Aviation International. Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.
Issue link: https://afwdigital.epubxp.com/i/619020
10 Aviation forWomen J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 6 C H A P T E R S W A I N E W S MILE HIGH CHAPTER HONG KONG CHAPTER ATLANTIC AVIATORS CHAPTER NIGERIA CHAPTER ATLANTIC AVIATORS CHAPTER The At lant ic Aviators Chapter in southeastern Massachusetts was hon- ored to host a visit from NASA astro- naut Dr. Jessica U. Meir for the Atlantic Aviators Student Motivational Event. Always trying to inspire our youth, the chapter decided to pursue an as- tronaut visit to our community. The process was long and detailed, but we persevered and were selected. We were hoping to have a dynamic fe- male astronaut and our expectations were surpassed. Although unable to take an active part in the internation- al Girls in Aviation Day on September 26, our October 20 event date, select- ed by NASA, was our contribution to enhancing aviation enthusiasm in the young female audience. Jessica spoke to students at a local vocational high school and a middle school where she inspired the students to shoot for the stars and follow their dreams. "Work hard and dream big" was her message to the 2,300 vocational high school students. She electrifed the 800 middle school students with her inspirational talk on NASA, careers, and setting personal goals. She emphasized that astronauts come from varied educational backgrounds and career paths. Jessica is a private pilot and as a NASA astronaut, she now fies T-38 aircraft. At an evening reception at The New Bedford Whaling Museum, she cap- tured the attention of educators, aviators, and local dignitaries alike with NASA news, her extensive training, fun stories of her days as a young pilot, and her mes- sage, "Find your passion and make it happen." ✈ MILE HIGH CHAPTER The Mile High Chapter in Denver, Col- orado, held its October meeting at Jet Linx Aviation in Denver and posed for a photo for the Tutu Project, a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. ✈ HONG KONG CHAPTER On November 4, Hong Kong Chapter board member Vivian Poon , WAI 16535, and chapter member Candy Liu , WAI 64142, joined some of Cathay Pacifc Air- lines' frst 100 female pilots in celebrat- ing that milestone. Pilots honored in- cluded chapter members Simone Storey , WAI 60767, a Cathay A330 captain; and Jolene Verwey , WAI 60695, a Cathay B777 frst offcer. ✈ L-R: Trimbi Szabo, WAI 65562; Audrey Fishback, 53985; Stephanie Stephenson, WAI 60449; (baby) Savannah Stephen- son; Alexis Quintana, WAI 62261; and Amber Channel, WAI 50753. NIGERIA CHAPTER The Nigeria Chapter participated in the Women and Girls Sum- mit, an annual event held at the Centre for Women Development in Abuja, Nigeria. The theme was Empowerment and Training: Innovating for Girl-Child Education. Lady Onyeka Onwenu presided over the summit. Those in at- tendance were representatives of the wife of the president, wife of the governor of Kaduna state, perm sec federal ministry of aviation, some state commissioners of women affairs, Women in Aviation Nigeria Chapter led by the president Rejoice Ndudinachi , police offcers' wives association led by the wife of the inspector general of police, Nigerian Army Offcers Association, road sa fet y of f icers' w ives, civil society organiza- tions, and many more. T he prog ra m s c om- prised of opening cere- mony, musical interlude, a plenary session, break- out sessions, and round off sessions. The repre- sentative of the girl child initiative, Fatima Aliyu Gebi , stressed the need for government to enact more laws protecting girls, more counseling to those in internally displaced people (IDP) camps to encourage them and give them a new lease on life. ✈