LAS
VEGAS, July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Allegiant
Travel Company (NASDAQ: ALGT), in partnership with the Boys &
Girls Club of America, today announced Jill
Prime, 17, as the recipient of the airline's Careers in
Aviation scholarship.
Jill will receive $34,000 from
Allegiant, which she will use to pay for tuition and expenses as
she pursues her bachelor's degree at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
"We are so proud to inspire the next generation of aviators,
exposing them to the rewarding career opportunities available in
aviation," said Allegiant's President and incoming CEO,
Gregory C. Anderson. "Jill's journey
exemplifies resilience and perseverance, qualities that are
integral to the success of a pilot. By investing in her education,
we hope to not only support Jill's individual aspirations, but
contribute to a more diverse and inclusive future for the aviation
industry."
This award marks a milestone in Jill's journey, which began at
age 8 when an aviation field trip, hosted by her local Boys &
Girls Club in Florida, sparked her
dream of becoming a pilot. This scholarship underscores Allegiant's
dedication to bridging the gender gap in the aviation industry and
supporting the ambitions of young aviators like Jill.
A core pillar of Allegiant's corporate giving program is to
inspire the next generation of young aviators by promoting STEM
education and access to careers in the aeronautical sciences. In
May 2023, the Las Vegas-based airline took their commitment
to the next level and pledged $1
million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The
partnership enabled the organization to develop aviation-inspired
programming for Club youth across the country.
According to research by the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas, "exposure to STEM during early
childhood is critical to establishing an optimal educational
trajectory." A report from the University of
California at San
Diego concludes "students are more likely to pursue STEM
majors at universities and colleges if introduced to those topics
in grade school."
For the big reveal, Boys & Girls Clubs of America flew Jill
to Las Vegas where she was invited
to speak to kids from various Southern Nevada Boys & Girls
Clubs at Paper Plane Palooza, an annual event hosted by Harry Reid
International Airport. Jill shared her enthusiasm for aviation with
the crowd of peers before introducing Allegiant president
Greg Anderson to speak.
Little did she know, Anderson was about to make an announcement
that would change her life forever. The airline executive surprised
the crowd and announced Allegiant was going to help make Jill's
dream come true by funding half of her first year of tuition at
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
He also shared she would be matched with a current Allegiant
captain, Captain Kati Whatley, as a
mentor who will encourage Jill as she continues to pursue her
dreams.
Determined to achieve her aviation dreams, Jill earned her
student pilot's license before her driver's license. She now
embarks on a new journey at Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University. Allegiant's scholarship provides
financial assistance for tuition, flight training, and other
educational expenses.
The FAA Women in Aviation Advisory Board reports that roughly 5%
of airline pilots are women, and only 3.6% of airline captains are
women. The Advisory Board also states girls who do pursue aviation
careers run into a lack of scholarships, financial aid, and
mentors. With the odds stacked against them, many young women
struggle to see themselves in the sky. Allegiant and Boys &
Girls Clubs of America recognize the importance of role models like
Jill who will inspire other young individuals, particularly young
women, to pursue careers in aviation.
"We're grateful for Allegiant Air's support in opening doors for
ambitious young people like Jill," said Jim
Clark, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of
America. "Jill's story is a testament to what this generation can
dream and achieve – especially when they have a safe space, like
their local Boys & Girls Club, where they can experience and
explore the numerous career paths available to them."
Paper Plane Palooza is an annual event hosted by the Harry Reid
International Airport (LAS) community, including the Clark County
Department of Aviation, airlines, concessionaires, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, Clark County Fire, federal agency partners,
and children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. The event welcomes more than
70 children from local Boys & Girls Clubs to participate in a
paper airplane folding and flying competition that provides them an
inside look at a variety of careers in aviation.
"Paper Plane Palooza began as a special partnership with the
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern
Nevada to commemorate the opening of Terminal 3 and provide
young children an opportunity to experience the airport in a unique
way, while also learning about all of the various roles involved to
operate one of the nation's busiest airports," said Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Director of Aviation. "Now more
than a decade later we are thrilled to see how partnerships like
these can directly impact aspiring pilots throughout their
education and careers."
Through their partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of
America, Allegiant aims to engage children of all ages to empower
and inspire them to pursue careers in aviation. By matching
recurring gifts to Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Allegiant
gives more kids the meals, mentors, and meaningful life experiences
necessary to reach new heights.
Please visit www.BGCA.org/monthly to learn more.
Allegiant – Together We Fly™
Las Vegas-based Allegiant
(NASDAQ: ALGT) is an integrated travel company with an airline at
its heart, focused on connecting customers with the people,
places and experiences that matter most. Since
1999, Allegiant Air has linked travelers in
small-to-medium cities to world-class vacation
destinations with all-nonstop flights and industry-low average
fares. Today, Allegiant serves communities across the nation, with
base airfares less than half the cost of the average domestic
roundtrip ticket. For more information, visit us at Allegiant.com.
Media information, including photos, is available
at http://gofly.us/iiFa303wrtF.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to
learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and
friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily
basis during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Clubs
programming promotes academic success, good character and
leadership, and healthy lifestyles. Over 5,400 Clubs serve more
than 3 million young people through Club membership and community
outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on
Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in
BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations
worldwide. The national headquarters is located in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls
Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
Media Contact
Phone: 702-800-2020
Email: mediarelations@allegiantair.com
Category: News
Category: Corporate Citizenship
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SOURCE Allegiant Travel Company
