For Part-Time Flight Attendant and Scheduler, The Second Application Was The Charm

Sept. 2, 2013

Holly Gorsuch is a proud mom whose son will graduate from high school next year and a 2013 recipient of an NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee Training Scholarship award, which was generously donated by Beyond & Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training. Gorsuch began her career in aviation at Delta Airlines as a flight attendant after attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, AZ. She is now a scheduler and flight attendant at C&S Aviation Services in New Hampshire where she works alongside Eve Gregory, a member of the Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee.

Gregory encouraged Gorsuch to apply for an S&D scholarship, even though she was not selected to receive a scholarship the first time she applied. Fortunately, the second time was the charm – Gorsuch received a Beyond & Above Corporate Flight Attendant training scholarship, which included initial flight attendant training for five days at their training center in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The training focused on safety, service and preparation for the duties of a business aviation flight attendant. Since her travel and hotel expenses were not included in the scholarship, her employer agreed to cover them. After completing her training, her employer acknowledged her refreshed skills by assigning her to trips as a flight attendant.

While in training, Gorsuch found it very interesting to see several older people in the program with her. She had assumed that she would be one of only a few mature faces in the crowd. It proved to her that a career in aviation is available for anyone and everyone, regardless of age and background.

She is currently working part-time as both a scheduler and flight attendant for C&S Aviation Services, while also working as a real estate agent. At C&S, Gorsuch is regularly assigned as a flight attendant on trips involving VIP passengers who require special care and assistance. Her cross-training efforts as both a scheduler and a flight attendant have broadened the company’s service abilities and produced a safer environment for its flight crews and passengers.

Gorsuch strongly encourages others to apply for an S&D Committee scholarship, especially those who aren’t actively working in the aviation industry. She feels that applying for a scholarship was definitely worthwhile, especially after doing some “soul searching” about her future. Aviation was always her first career choice, and it certainly runs deep in her veins.
Application Checklist

Anyone working in aviation or looking to begin a career in aviation is eligible to apply for NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarships, which are online at:

Schedulers & Dispatchers Monetary Scholarship
Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship

Here’s a quick and easy application checklist to get started:

1. Complete the monetary or training scholarship application.
2. Write a 500-word essay.
3. Include a copy of a current resume.
4. Include two letters of recommendation.
5. Submit the completed application package (including all of the above) by the deadline on the application.

About the Scholarships

The NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee is dedicated to promoting education and training as a means for business aviation schedulers and dispatchers to enhance their careers. In conjunction with many generous donors, the committee offers a wide range of monetary and training awards each year, giving away awards of up to $10,000 per applicant.

The NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Committee is grateful for the ongoing support of all of its scholarship donors: Signature Flight Support, Universal Weather and Aviation Inc., AC-U-KWIK, Jet Aviation, Savoya, Rockwell Collins Flight Information Solutions, Airline Ground Schools, Beyond and Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training, CornerStone Strategies LLC, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Fireside Partners, FlightSafety International, Frontier/Medex, Jeppesen, MedAire, Inc. and NBAA Air Traffic Services (formerly the NBAA GA Desk).

Direct scholarship questions to NBAA at (202) 783-9250 or info@nbaa.org.