The philanthropic arm of the International Flight Services Association (IFSA), the IFSA Foundation, is inviting applications from around the world for its 2023 scholarships. Submissions must be submitted by May 19. Recipients will be notified in August.
Since 2000, when the IFSA Foundation was established, scholarships with a total value in excess of $1.5 million have been awarded. In 2022, 17 scholarships were awarded by the IFSA Foundation. Their value totalled $94,000.
Scholarship criteria
The scholarships are available to individuals that are employed by IFSA and Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) members and their families. Students pursuing a career in the catering and onboarding services industry or the airline passenger experience industry are also welcome to apply.
Applicants for the Sue Ling Gin Charitable Trust Scholarship, named in honour of the Flying Food Group founder, are required to submit two essays as part of their application.
At present, scholarships are being promoted at institutions including Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England, and the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. The IFSA Foundation has connections with the Culinary Institute of America, Drexel University, Grand Canyon University, the University of Georgia and the University of Houston within the USA.
Scholarship recipients
“Words cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am to the IFSA Foundation for pouring into me and truly believing in the beauty of my dreams,” said Victoria Humphrey (pictured), who was awarded the IFSA Foundation’s 2022 Gate Gourmet/gategroup Scholarship.
Studying on the Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Training Program, Humphrey has some upbeat words of advice to anyone considering applying for a scholarship: “Seriously, run, don’t walk to the IFSA Foundation website to apply today. The IFSA Foundation is committed to supporting future leaders across the globe – you could be next!”
That’s echoed by Sarah Klatt-Walsh, now the Sustainability Lead at FORMIA, who was the first recipient of the J.J. O’Neill Leadership Development Award, underwritten by LSG Sky Chefs, in 2006: “Do not hesitate! It is a great opportunity to help finance your future education. And it can open doors in this amazing Inflight industry as well.”
“I started working in the airline world 35 years ago and would have never imagined that I would stay in the industry for so long. It has provided me the opportunity to work in many different companies – caterers, airlines and suppliers – in different countries, in a very dynamic and exciting industry,” adds Klatt-Walsh.
The IFSA Foundation application portal is available online. Donations to the IFSA Foundation can also be made via the IFSA website. Find out more about how to apply for a scholarship on the IFSA website.
 Foundation is inviting applications for the 2023 IFSA Foundation scholarships by May 19 2023.){kind=link}