By JEREMY BOHN
K-State Salina Communications and Marketing
In response to the ever-growing demand for highly skilled aviation maintenance experts, Kansas State University Salina Aerospace and Technology Campus has launched a new scholarship that's designed to make world-class aviation maintenance education accessible and affordable to aspiring professionals in the field.
The Vanier Family Aviation Maintenance Scholarship is possible thanks to the generous support of the Vanier family and will be available to incoming freshmen beginning in fall 2024.
As the aviation industry continues to grow, K-State Salina furthers its commitment to the university's land-grant mission by providing crucial financial support to full-time students pursuing a degree in aviation maintenance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a shortfall of 12,800 aircraft mechanics annually over the next decade. The Vanier Family Aviation Maintenance Scholarship helps K-State Salina step into that gap.
The scholarship focuses on supporting recipients seeking an associate degree in aviation maintenance management. The maximum award is up to $15,000, which equates to $7,500 per year, and is renewable for up to two years.
The scholarship allows students to gain the education they need to obtain their airframe and powerplant certifications from the FAA and quickly enter the workforce with minimal financial burden. It also prepares learners for continuing their education and obtaining a bachelor's degree from K-State Salina.
"As a leader in the aerospace sector, we identified a way to support the labor gap in aviation maintenance by providing skilled graduates to the workforce," said Michael James, K-State Salina executive director of administration, finance and enrollment services. "The Vanier Family Aviation Maintenance Scholarship allows us to do just that by making the degree more affordable and providing quality education to students of the state and region."
The Vanier Family Aviation Maintenance Scholarship provides recipients with support for any cost — tuition, housing and fees — that exceeds their total scholarship aid, including grants and scholarships from federal, state and institutional sources, up to a maximum award of $3,750 per semester.
In cases where a student's existing grant or scholarship package falls short of covering these costs, K-State Salina will automatically award the Vanier Family Aviation Maintenance Scholarship to help ensure that education remains accessible and that the next generations of skilled workers have the knowledge they need to positively affect the industry after graduating.
To be eligible for the new scholarship, applicants must be new, degree-seeking students in the aviation maintenance management program at K-State Salina, be a United States citizen or eligible noncitizen, maintain satisfactory academic progress each semester, have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and be an undergraduate student enrolled full time.
A degree in aviation maintenance management from K-State Salina features a robust curriculum that prepares students for success in a dynamic industry with more than 11,000 square feet of lab space to gain hands-on experience working on actual aircraft.