GALA Raises More Than $20,000 For Women In Aviation Scholarships

TAMPA, FL — Aviation enthusiasts from Tampa Bay came together Friday to support Women in Aviation at the first GALA event, raising more than $20,000 in the process.

The GALA, which stands for Girls Achieving Leadership in Aviation, was organized to raise funds to provide scholarships to young women in the community looking for a future in the aviation industry.

The event, with 150 attendees, was hosted by the Tampa Bay Women in Aviation chapter in partnership with Tampa International Airport, Sheltair and other local aviation partners. The Tampa Bay Chapter of Women in Aviation will manage and distribute the scholarships from the funds.

Guests enjoyed small plates and catering by Mise En Place as well as cocktails on the ramp at Peter O. Knight Airport on David Islands. Surrounded with old-school aircraft, the space took on an air of the 1940s with help from The Deleon Band singing tunes reminiscent of the period.

Dorothy Cochrane, an aeronautics curator with the Smithsonian Museum and the first speaker of the night, focused on the history behind the first all-women airshow that took place 75 years ago. Cochrane also spoke about Betty Skelton, the “First Lady of Firsts," and her contributions to the show as well as her history in the aviation and automobile industry which included setting 17 aviation and race car records.

The second speaker of the night was Shanan Gibson, dean of the college of business at Embry Riddle, who focused on the present women in aviation, speaking about present and past students to pass through Embry Riddle and how the aviation industry has impacted their lives.

The keynote speaker, retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott, shared her journey in the aviation industry as well as her time in the astronaut program and women's belief in themselves and what they can do.

“It’s all about perspective,” Stott said.

Jane Davis Doggett, responsible for the blue and red wayfinding system at TPA as well as her groundbreaking designs in many other airports, was also in attendance. She was presented the Spirit of Flight Honoree award by Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano for her work in the aviation industry.