Runway event supports women's careers in aviation

Two scholarship recipients from Chicago’s Leading Edge are Grace Kohlert and Lily Fifer.

Grace Kohlert recently obtained her dispatcher certificate and multi-engine rating after graduating cum laude from Lewis University with a degree in aviation administration. She began flight training at age 15 and was flying solo by age 16. Currently working as a flight instructor at Fly America at Dekalb Airport, she hopes to fly corporate planes or for a major airline someday.

Lily Fifer is studying flight operations and aviation management at the University of Dubuque while minoring in business. She has achieved her pilot’s license and flies three to five times weekly when not attending school or working. Her future goals include obtaining additional certifications such as CFI (Certified Flight Instructor), CFII (Certified Flight Instructor Instrument), MEI (Multi-Engine Instructor), followed by bush flying in Alaska.

Attendees are encouraged to visit the booth of Chicago’s Leading Edge during this year's Run the Runway event to learn more about their initiatives. The organization aims to double its scholarship recipients for next year's Women in Aviation National Conference.