Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund Inc. is prepared to award 15 scholarships this year, Whirly-Girls said. This is a decrease from 2016, when it was able to award what it called a “record-breaking number” at 28 scholarships.

This year, scholarship sponsors include Airbus, Antipodean Aviation, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, FlightSafety International Inc., Garmin, Guidance Aviation, Night Flight Concepts, Oregon Aero, Robinson Helicopter Co., Survival Systems USA Inc., Western Helicopters Inc., as well as private individuals. Sponsors that did not return from 2016 include Bristow Group, Agricultural Systems Inc., AirEvac Lifeteam, Aviation Specialties and Erickson Inc.

It is planned that awards will be given for flight training, wire and obstacle environment awareness, pilot ground school, avionics and equipment training, safety training, and ditching training.

Like years prior, the award ceremony is slated for the Annual Awards Banquet in Dallas, Texas, on March 5. Immediately following, Whirly-Girl’s inaugural casino night will take place, with proceeds going to the scholarship fund.