www.sfte.org

Engineers Week / Scholarship Drive

Society members;

It’s National Engineers Week!

As President of SFTE, I’ve enjoyed talking to students from elementary schools through graduate school about the rewarding careers in Flight Test Engineering. I hope you and engineers around you are having similarly rewarding experiences this week.

As you all know, our organization is always looking ahead to ensure a fresh influx of well-trained college graduates coming to aerospace careers, particularly in the field of Flight Testing. One method is to award scholarships in to the sons and daughters of Society members and Society student members. In this way, we hope to support and encourage students to strive for excellence, bolster the desire to pursue engineering, mathematics, and science degrees, and support or membership by providing financial assistance. Since 1984, SFTE has given out 122 scholarships to students worldwide, with a total value of $112,353. Last year, 2011, was a great year thanks to generous donations by corporate sponsors and Society chapters. We had a large group of applicants and awarded 12 scholarships totaling $9,100. The scholarship winners encompassed students from across the US, Canada, and Germany.

We are preparing to start the process for 2012. We are now seeking both scholarship applications from worthy candidates and we are also requesting donations to the SFTE Scholarship fund from individual members, corporate members, SFTE chapters and anybody wishing to donate to this investment in the future of the Flight Test Engineering Profession.

For those interested in making a donation to the SFTE Scholarship fund, we ask for your assistance in contributing to the award money we will distribute in 2012. Since the Scholarship fund is administered by SFTE’s Volunteer Board of Directors, all money contributed is distributed amongst the successful applicants with absolutely no “overhead costs” whatsoever. Also, each sponsor will receive recognition for his or her donation; SFTE recognizes sponsors in our newsletter, on our web site and at the Annual Symposium and Banquet, where the students are also recognized.

For Scholarship Applicants, the qualification criteria are simple. To qualify, the applicant shall be the son or daughter of a Society member in good standing or a student member in good standing and shall have completed his or her college freshman year in pursuit of an undergraduate degree majoring in engineering, computer sciences, mathematics, physics or other technical discipline. The award will be for one year. Previous recipients, as well as those who applied in previous years, are eligible to compete. Selection will be base on Academic Achievement, Career Goals, Extracurricular Activities, and Applicant Impression. The SFTE website contains detailed information and application.

The 2012 Scholarships will be awarded at the annual SFTE Symposium in October. Applications and transcripts must be received at the Society Headquarters Office on or before 14 June, 2012. If you have questions, please contact Mr. Ron Harney, the Scholarship Chairman, at (301) 342-4619 or Ms. Margaret Drury, SFTE Executive Director, at the International Society Headquarters office (661) 949-2095.

Wishing you safe, efficient, successful and fun testing…and an enjoyable Engineers Week,

Pete Donath President,
the Society of Flight Test Engineers
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