Women Soar: Mixing Mentors and Teens

June 28, 2010 — Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. Sally Ride became the first American woman in space and Eileen Collins was the first female pilot of a space shuttle. All those women had someone who supported and believed in them. And that’s the purpose of an EAA program called Women Soar You Soar. Inspirational women aviators will mentor and engage teenage girls about aviation careers as part of EAA's sixth annual event, being held July 25-27 at the EAA Aviation Center in Oshkosh. Among the approximately 40 mentors scheduled to appear are Lt. Col. Jill "Raggz" Long, a U.S. Air Force pilot and an aerobatic performer; Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo, the first woman to fly for a major airline; Jessica Cox, who was born without arms but became the first pilot certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration to fly with her feet only; Amanda Wright Lane, the great grandniece of first flight pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright and a trustee of Wright "B" Flyer Inc.; and members of the WWII Women Air Force Service Pilots, who received the Congressional Gold Medal in March 2010. This year, Women Soar You Soar will host 100 girls in grades 9-12 for a variety of activities, including flight simulation, workshops, wing rib assembly, and mentor sessions. Applications will be accepted through July 10; however, space is limited to 100. You can apply online at www.airventure.org/WomenSoar. A one-page essay on why you want to attend or what you hope to gain by attending is also required. The cost is $50, which includes lodging at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, meals and admission to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh. For more information, e-mail womensoar@eaa.org or call the EAA Development Office at 800-236-1025.

Lt. Col. Jill “Raggz” Long leads a group session in the EAA AirVenture Museum. EAA photo by Jim Labre A Women Soar You Soar attendee assembles a wing rib at last year’s session. Rib building is only one of many hands-on activities scheduled during the program. EAA photo by Bonnie Kratz

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