GALA Aviation Career Scholarship
Scholarship Description
The GALA Scholarship Fund is named in honor of Betty Skelton, Tampa’s own aviation trailblazer and the “First Lady of Firsts.” Betty began her career at Peter O. Knight Airport, went on to become an international aerobatics champion, a record-breaking pilot and racecar driver, and a fearless pioneer for women in aviation.
Her legacy lives on through the Girls Achieving Leadership in Aviation (GALA) scholarships, which empower young women in Tampa Bay to pursue their dreams in aviation and carry the torch forward for the next generation of leaders in the sky.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Be a young woman between the ages of 18 and 26 at the time of application.
- Currently live in, or maintain a permanent address in, the Tampa Bay Area.*
- Demonstrate an interest in, or be actively pursuing, a career in aviation or aerospace.
- Eligible areas of study or professional development include: Aerospace Administration
- Air Traffic Control
- Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aerospace Education
- Other principally aviation-related career fields
- Other aviation-related career paths may also be considered.
Application Dates
September 1, 2026 – January 15, 2027 (Current)
Minimum Age
18
Maximum Age
26
Other scholarships from this sponsor
Female Applicant Preference
Yes
Field of Study
- Aeronautical Science
- Aerospace Medicine
- Agricultural Aviation
- Aircraft Maintenance
- Air Traffic Control
- Astronautics and Space
- Aviation Management
- Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology
Scholarship Type
- Education Tuition
Scholarship Recurrence
- Annual