Professional Women Controllers Scholarship Program
Offered by Professional Women Controllers, Inc.
About This Scholarship
Professional Women Controllers (PWC) is the national organization of women in air traffic control, and its scholarship program has been running since 1991 — first to help members finish their degrees, later expanded to members' immediate families, and in 2000 broadened again with a Recruitment Scholarship that encourages qualified women to enter the air traffic profession.
The program has three distinct doors. Members and their spouses, domestic partners, children, and grandchildren may apply in any field of study. The Jacqueline Smith Burdette Career in Aviation Scholarship is open to both men and women pursuing any aviation-related education with no PWC membership required. And recruitment candidates — women enrolled in or accepted into an FAA-recognized air traffic training program — may apply without joining, though student membership is encouraged.
All applicants need a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and the package is scored on academics, activities and volunteer work, recommendation letters, a self-assessment essay covering educational and career goals, and overall presentation. Winners are announced at PWC's National Training Conference and are asked to report back to the membership the following year on how the scholarship was used.
Eligibility
- PWC member, or spouse, domestic partner, child, or grandchild of a member (any field of study), OR
- Burdette Career in Aviation Scholarship: open to men and women in any aviation-related field, no membership required, OR
- Recruitment Scholarship: woman enrolled in or accepted into an FAA-recognized air traffic training program
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for all applicant types
- Undergraduate, graduate, and technical students are eligible
How To Apply
- Download the instructions and application from pwcinc.org/scholarships, then email the completed package — application form, self-assessment essay (up to two pages), letters of recommendation, and official transcript or proof of enrollment — as a single PDF to [email protected]. The filing period runs August 1 through October 31, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a PWC member or a woman to apply?
Not necessarily. The Jacqueline Smith Burdette Career in Aviation Scholarship is open to both men and women in any aviation-related field with no membership requirement, and recruitment candidates entering air traffic training do not need to join. The general scholarships are for members and their immediate families.
What does the application include?
A completed application form, a self-assessment essay of up to two pages on your educational and career goals, letters of recommendation, and an official transcript or proof of enrollment, emailed as a single PDF.
When will winners be announced?
Scholarship recipients are announced at PWC's National Training Conference, and winners are asked to update the membership the following year on their progress.