Bessie Coleman Legacy Scholarship
Inspired by Ms. Bessie Coleman
The scholarship is inspired by Ms. Bessie Coleman, who was an early American civil aviator. She was the first woman of African-American descent, and also the first of Native-American descent, to hold a pilot license. Ms. Coleman overcame tremendous racism in U.S. aviation by saving up money and obtaining sponsorships to go to France for flight school. Afterward, she became a high profile pilot in notoriously dangerous air shows in the United States. She was popularly known as “Queen Bess” and “Brave Bessie”, and she hoped to start a school for African-American fliers. Ms. Coleman died in a plane crash in 1926 while testing a new aircraft. Her pioneering role was an inspiration to early African-American and Native American pilots. Learn more about our inspiration here. We have permission from the Bessie Coleman Aerospace Legacy to name the scholarship in her honor.
Note: The Spring 2024 application period is now closed. Applications received outside of this timeframe will be considered in the 2025 application cycle.
The Scholarship Award
In honor of Queen Bess, the Bessie Coleman Legacy Scholarship works relentlessly to ensure that students with a broad array of backgrounds and life experiences are given the educational opportunities they deserve. This includes students from groups or with skills or attributes that are underrepresented in STEM industries and specifically students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Each scholarship is administered by Aviation Youth Empowerment Foundation and granted to students after a rigorous selection process wherein applicants demonstrate their passion and dedication to aviation, science, technology, engineering or mathematics. Recipients of the Bessie Coleman Legacy Scholarship will be awarded an amount determined during application review to help defray the cost of school tuition and related expenses, such as fees, books and technology, for one academic term. We will discuss the financial award in detail with the scholar finalists.
Our mission with the Scholarship program is to not only assist in the increasingly high cost of attending college, but to create a network and community of young, gifted and ambitious talent that is ready to take off in an aviation STEM career following graduation. The scholarship program combines financial support, mentorship, community values and what we hope to be life-long relationships and connects that can be passed down and carried forward.
Eligibility Requirements – Who Should Apply?
Senior high school students of color and girls of all races and ethnicities with aspirations to major in areas of study that focus on aviation, sciences, technology, engineering and math fields in the upcoming fall academic year are encouraged to apply. Those already enrolled in community college, a university program, or pursuing a certificate are also encouraged to apply. Scholarships are limited to students who currently reside in the United States. The scholarship award may be applied toward any U.S. institution of higher learning. You may not apply the award to institutions outside of the U.S.
Finalists will be asked to verify their education background with a copy of unofficial or official high school and college transcripts.
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
To encourage the professional and personal development of our awardees, AYEF is committed to providing an inclusive, safe, open and supportive network. This is created through a combination of mentorship and hands-on and in the field experience. In this spirit, we will work with each scholar to find peer mentoring, academic coaching, and professional preparation and development support near your U.S. institute of higher education. We will help you connect with others who share your interests and professionals in the area of your institution that are further along their career journey than you are. Nationally, we have partnered with organizations that will help you during your college breaks and during the summers, should you live near your home of origin during that time. Our goal is to help you meet your goals!
WELCOME ORIENTATION
Prior to the start of each academic year, current and past awardees will come together for an orientation day. Focus of the orientation will be on networking, career guidance and shared learned experiences. The orientation is your first opportunity – but certainly not the last – to meet members of AYEF who want to see you succeed in accomplishing your goals. The goal of orientation is twofold: for you to get to know AYEF and its partners better and for you to understand all the resources that you have at your fingertips. When college life gets hard – academically, socially, or economically – we will be here for you.
MENTORSHIP
Understanding how unfamiliar and daunting college and these fields can be, AYEF will match awardees with past recipients or industry professionals during their award term. Mentors and mentees are encouraged to communicate and correspond on a schedule that fits for both parties. Participation is voluntary and will be tailored specifically to your academic needs.
If this is a scholarship that interest you, please complete the application below by the program deadline. Awardees will be selected and informed by the July 2024 prior to the beginning of each academic year.
Application Process and Timeline
Step 1: Applicant submits form (see link at bottom of page for essay scoring).
The deadline for submitting applications is 11:59PM, PST June 30, 2024. Applications received after this time will be considered in the 2025 cycle.
Note: Due to the volume of applications, AYEF will not consider incomplete applications. You will receive an auto-response stating that your application was received.
Step 2: AYEF reviews applications and selects finalists (July 2024).
If you have not heard from AYEF by July 15, 2024 you are not considered a finalist. Due to the volume of applications, we will only be contacting finalists.
Step 3: AYEF interviews finalist applicants in late July 2024.
Step 4: AYEF notifies award winners by no later than August 16, 2024.
If you have been interviewed as a finalist, you will receive notice from AYEF whether or not you are selected as an award winner. If you have not heard from us, it is because we are still deliberating. Thank you for your patience during this time.
Step 5: AYEF distributes Year 1 award amount to U.S. institution.
Step 6: Scholars gather for orientation day in late August or September 2024.