USU’s Women in Aviation Club: Taking the year and air by storm
Utah State University’s chapter of Women in Aviation is working to reach out to the next generation of female aviators.
USU’s chapter of Women in Aviation has been active since 2016. The club started with 10 members and is up to 60 with various levels of engagement. The club offers volunteer opportunities and allows flexible attendance for members.
Audrey Gass, a USU student and president of the chapter, is an aviation technology major. As president, she plans meetings, organizes events and coordinates community outreach.
“We have a really big aviation program here,” Gass said. “I think it’s a really good way to get more females involved in the aviation industry. I’m not exactly sure on the number, but I believe around 4% of airline pilots are female, which is really low, and we have a significantly higher number of women in our program at the university, so we try to create a community for them to encourage us to help each other out, keep going and not give up.”
The club holds biweekly board meetings to plan activities and community events. There are currently six board members, and the two club advisors are Amy Monson and Baron Wesemann.
The annual Girls in Aviation Day was hosted by the club in September. Over 40 volunteers and 100 young girls ages 8-18 met at the Logan-Cache Airport to participate in activities, visit information booths and become familiar with aviation and being a pilot.
There is also an upcoming Women in Aviation International Conference held for the entire international organization. Various chapters meet around the country. Last year’s conference was held in Nashville, Tennessee, and this year it is being held in Long Beach, California. USU will send a few representatives to network and gain more experience. USU students have been attending the conference for about 10 years, even prior to the official establishment of the USU chapter of Women in Aviation in 2016.
In an interview conducted over the phone, Monson said it was necessary to have this organization as a resource to women pursuing aviation-related careers.
“The organization aims to get more women involved with aviation in general, and especially in those positions that are more traditionally held by men such as, you know, piloting, mechanic, engineering and STEM fields,” Monson said. “They are just interested in getting women involved in all aspects of aviation.”
According to the organization’s mission statement, they are “dedicated to the encouragement and advancement of women in all aviation career fields and interests.”
The organization relies on fundraising events and grants to support training and travel expenses.
“I’ve met so many great people and had so many great opportunities thanks to Women in Aviation,” Monson said.
To join Women in Aviation or learn more about the USU chapter, contact Audrey Gass at a02348078@usu.edu.