A scholarship is set to help a young Aviatrix achieve her high flying dreams.
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Elyzia Quin from Nowra recently received a scholarship for $3000 from Australian Women Pilots Association.
The scholarship will help with flight training, enabling Elyzia to gain her Recreational Pilot Licence.
The nationwide scholarship was open to women of all ages, and having increased from $1500, Elyzia’s grandmother and carer Jenni Quin said she was very lucky to be chosen.
“She had to write an essay and she was competing against adults, uni students and professionals and here’s this 14-year-old who has won. It’s fantastic,” she said.
“They were very impressed with her writing and her commitment to flying.”
“One of the pilots gave her an amazing piece of advice, she said ‘you employ your instructor, the instructor is there to help you so don’t be afraid of them’ and it really empowered her to be in the adult world and go for what she wants.
- Jenni Quin
Elyzia has been flying since 13 years of age and is aiming to go solo around her 15th birthday in January next year.
She was presented with the scholarship at a dinner in Adelaide and received strong support from women pilots from across the country.
“One of the pilots gave her an amazing piece of advice, she said ‘you employ your instructor, the instructor is there to help you so don’t be afraid of them’ and it really empowered her to be in the adult world and go for what she wants,” Ms Quin said.
Elyzia said she’s had a desire to fly since she was four-years-old and was inspired by the early women pioneers of aviation such as pilots Jean Batten and Nancy Bird-Walton.
At age eight she joined the Air League for girls and a 10, went on her first joy flight in a Piper.
“I knew from that moment on that I was destined to fly,” she said.
In 2014 Elyzia discovered the age for solo flying changed to 15, fuelling her desire to fly solo.
“If I achieve this, I want to pay it forward and share my story with other young girls,” she said.
“I want them to realise that anything is possible if you set your mind to it and believe in yourself.”
In her essay entry Elyzia outlined how the scholarship funds will help her and her family.
“I have now had several flying lessons which my grandparents have paid for out of their own pensions,” she wrote.
“I would love to be awarded this scholarship because it will ease the financial strain on my grandparents.
“They have done so much for me. Winning this scholarship would be one way that I can help repay them for supporting me throughout my flying journey.”
