The Women’s Aviation Career Symposium was held in Battle Creek in March. WACS, now in its fifth year, provides an informative and engaging event for women interested in a career in the aerospace industry. Attendees were women of all ages, from high school juniors to retirees.
"This is a great way to network," Helen Hagg, a captain, corporate pilot, and co-founder of WACS, added. "It's a way for women to come in and experience different careers in aviation, and to be able to learn about all of the things available to them, not just being a pilot, not just being a mechanic, but the many different aviation careers that are out there."
In this multifaceted event, WACS attendees were able to meet and network with industry companies, organizations, and professional women in aviation. Representatives from over 30 aviation companies, including Spirit, Delta, and Southwest Airlines visited and spoke with attendees. The event was sponsored by 44 companies. Twenty-four panelists represented 10 different aviation career fields including airlines, air traffic control, airport operations, corporate and charter, engineering and aerospace, flight support, maintenance, and military aviation. With exhibitors like GE Aviation, FedEx, and Lansing Community College present, the event featured information on aviation, aerospace engineering, space, STEM education, and military aviation.
"In the last two years, this event has become kind of a recruiting event, we actually have companies here looking to fill internships and job positions," Mary Poirier, WACS co-founder said. "We offer many different workshops, so it's growing. Our mission has changed and evolved to help move these students into these positions with a lot of the companies we have here in the Great Lakes Region."
Keynote speaker Tammy “G” Barlette, a retired Lieutenant Colonel US Air Force Pilot and professional speaker, is set to inspire the next generation of women to persevere and keep a mission-focused mindset, “We give up too early on our dreams and our goals, whether they are big or small. We should be ready to fail out instead of bail out.” This year’s event boasted over 221 attendees and awarded over $40,000 in scholarships. As a result, 20 women each received $2,000 in scholarships.
WACS was founded by three women aviators, Helen Hagg, Mary Poirier, and Pam Tobin, all current or retired corporate pilots. Their goals for the symposium are two-fold: advance women in aerospace careers and help alleviate the industry wide pilot and mechanic shortage through promoting local companies and career opportunities.
MRG supports WACS through the provision of graphic design, public relations, and other marketing materials and event planning logistics.
WACS scholarship winners
This year's event boasted over 220 attendees
WACS founders with Tammy "G" Barlette
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