Scholarship

An important part of Women in Aviation’s mission is to provide scholarship and career advancement opportunities to its members. Here in the Boston Chapter, we are excited to be offering multiple scholarships each year.

As of June 2026, our chapter has awarded $7300 in scholarships!

All applicants must be members in good standing of the Boston Chapter and meet all requirements of the specific scholarship application. All parts of an application must be submitted at the same time. Please note: No late or incomplete applications will be considered.

Fall 2026 Scholarships Now Open!

Anne Bridge Baddour Educational Scholarship

The WAI Boston Chapter is proud to offer the Anne Bridge Baddour Educational Scholarship of $1,250, generously donated by Anne’s family to support women pursuing careers in aerospace.

Anne’s passion for aviation began at age eight with her first flight in a Ford Trimotor. Throughout her remarkable career, she became the first woman experimental research pilot at MIT Lincoln Laboratory’s Flight Test Facility, conducting research for the Department of Defense and FAA. She also competed in 16 air races, set numerous world aviation records, and dedicated decades to aviation education, mentorship, and scholarship programs.

We are grateful to the Baddour family for helping continue Anne’s legacy of breaking barriers and inspiring future generations of women in aviation.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026 at 11:59pm Eastern

Apply to the Educational Scholarship

Anne Bridge Baddour - WAI 2027 Conference Scholarship

Anne Bridge Baddour took her first flight at just eight years old in a Ford Trimotor. From this young age, Anne knew that flying was her calling. Her aviation career began at the John R. Powers Aerospace School in Boston where she served as an instructor. Her journey within the aviation field led her to holding roles such as a corporate pilot, and manager and pilot for Baltimore Airways. Anne continued to break barriers, being the first woman pilot to fly as an experimental research pilot for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory Flight Test Facility, doing airborne research for the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration.

Anne has competed in 16 air races, beginning in 1954, and has established numerous world aviation records. Her ongoing involvement in the Aero Club of New England has been varied and exhaustive. She served on their Board of Directors from 1977 to 2002, establishing several scholarships, and has served as an advisor since then. She served on the Board of Directors, Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum, Daniel Webster College, Boston University Library–Special Collections, Villa Viscaya, and the Miami Maritime Museum.

The Anne Bridge Baddour $2,000 Sponsorship will afford two recipients the opportunity to attend the 2027 Women in Aviation Conference in Savannah, GA. The funds awarded will cover: