Phyllis Wells was instrumental in building WSPA’s scholarship program to the level it is today.

Prior to 1998, WSPA offered only two scholarships:  the Briegleb and the Sky Ghost.  Prior to 1998, the recipients of those two scholarships were chosen by the WSPA Board.  From 1990-1997, WSPA Board awarded 15 scholarships totaling $2700. In 1998, the Scholarship Committee was formed with Phyllis as Chairperson.  Phyllis served as Scholarship Committee chair for twenty-two years, leading the expansion of WSPA’s scholarship program to nine scholarships.  She introduced a rigorous decision process, encouraged donations to expand the program, and implemented new scholarships.  Her leadership led WSPA to today’s nine successful scholarships.  During her 22-year leadership, 95 women received scholarships totaling over $75,000.  Scholarship winners have gone on to become CFI-Gs and even compete in world championships and glider aerobatics.

The scholarship program foundation Phyllis put in place has made transition of the program to her successors seamless.  It has also built momentum in donations supporting scholarships, including the recent support from the Soaring Society of America.

Phyllis Wells’ leadership over more than two decades is largely why WSPA has such a successful and growing scholarship program today.