ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, January 12, 2011 – In lieu of holiday cards and gifts to members, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) established a $500 aviation maintenance scholarship through the Northrop Rice Foundation (NRF). The award will go to a student attending a Federal Aviation Administration certificated Part 147 Aviation Technician School, with the winner selected by NRF’s Board of Directors.

“Rather than going the traditional route in holiday giving, ARSA felt it would be appropriate to help provide a quality technical education to a deserving student.” said ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod. “NRF’s history of advancing aviation maintenance careers made it the perfect partner.”

The development of a qualified technical workforce has long been one of ARSA’s top priorities as members routinely list a shortage of skilled labor among the industry’s biggest challenges. In ARSA’s 2009 member survey, 65 percent of respondents reported difficulties in finding skilled technical workers.

“This gift will benefit one worthy student and aid the aviation community to develop and recruit a highly trained technical workforce,” MacLeod said.

To be eligible for the award, students must be attending a Part 147 aviation technical school and submit all the materials listed on the general application.

“We are grateful for ARSA’s efforts to promote excellence in aviation maintenance technical education through this award,” said NRF President Jim Lukins “This scholarship symbolizes ARSA’s long record of supporting repair stations and developing a skilled, safety conscious workforce.”

For more information about the ARSA supported scholarship, click here.

Established in 1994, The Northrop Rice Foundation is dedicated to promoting education, professionalism, and safety within the aviation career field. NRF supports the advancement of aviation maintenance careers by funding grants and scholarships for career development and providing support for the development of training. More information is available at http://www.northropricefoundation.org.

Contact:
Jason Langford (Jason.Langford@arsa.org)
Communications Manager
703 739 9543

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ARSA is an Alexandria, Virginia-based trade association that represents aviation maintenance and manufacturing companies. The association has a distinguished 25-year record of advocating for repair stations and providing regulatory compliance assistance to the industry.

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