1
Educating Vertical Flight Leaders of Tomorrow
VERTICAL FLIGHT FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The Vertical Flight Society’s philanthropic arm, the Vertical Flight Foundation (VFF), was
established in 1967, and began making awards in 1977. The Foundation is an independent
charitable trust for the support of education in vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) technology.
The Foundation’s awards are made possible solely by tax deductible donations that have
established and contributed to an endowment. The Vertical Flight Society pays for all
operational and administrative expenses.
Each year the VFF awards scholarships to college level students who demonstrate an interest
in pursuing engineering related careers in vertical flight technology. To date, the Foundation
has awarded nearly 600 scholarships to students from throughout the world.
The Vertical Flight Foundation scholarships are solely merit-based and the value of the
scholarships range up to $6,000 (USD).
Eligibility
A student does not need to be a member of The Vertical Flight Society.
High school students are not eligible.
At the time of application (February 2021) applicants must enrolled as a full-time
student in a relevant engineering degree program at an accredited university.
Technical disciplines relevant to complex aeronautics engineering or aviation systems,
even if not considered vertical lift engineering, will receive equal consideration.
Applicants must be registered as full-time student for at least one academic term
after the award of the VFF scholarships at the Annual Forum taking place May 11-
13, 2021.
A student can receive a VFF scholarship award once as an Undergraduate, once as a
Master’s student, and once as a Graduate student.
Eligibility for each degree category is as follows.
Undergraduate / Bachelor’s (BS) Degree Category
A college student pursuing an eligible engineering undergraduate degree.
The student will have at least one-term of university work towards the relevant
Bachelor’s program after the awarding of scholarships at the Annual Forum, May 11-13,
2021.
Note
o A senior graduating in May of 2021 is eligible to apply for the MS category if they
will be continuing immediately after graduation to a graduate studies program,
either MS, PhD, or MS/PhD combined graduate studies program. If the senior is
2
not accepted into a relevant graduate program by May 2021, the student is not
eligible.
o A senior graduating with a BS degree in May 2021 is NOT eligible to apply in the
BS category.
Master of Science (MS) Degree Category
A master student pursuing an eligible MS engineering degree.
The student will have at least one-term of university work towards their current MS
program after the awarding of scholarships at the Annual Forum, May 11-13, 2021.
Note: if in a combined Masters/PhD program, the student is eligible under the MS
category if they have not passed qualifying exams as of the application deadline in
February 2021 and do not already have an MS degree.
Doctoral (PhD) Degree Category
A graduate student who already has an MS degree or is in a combined MS/PhD
program and verification of formally meeting doctoral degree requirement such as
qualifying exams.
The student will have at least one-term remaining in their current PhD program after the
awarding of scholarships at the Annual Forum, May 11-13, 2021.
A complete application package must include the following in order to be eligible for
review:
Completed Scholarship Application Form
Resume
Narrative
Official University/School Transcript*
Professor Letter of Recommendation*
*Documents must come directly from the school registrar or the professor. Any
transcripts or letters of recommendation sent by a student will NOT be eligible for
review
DUE DATE
ALL VFF documents must be received by the VFF Coordinator by
February 1, 2021 at the email or address below in order to be eligible for
review.
There are no extensions or exceptions to the above deadline date so
you must plan to have your application, transcripts and
recommendation letters arrive ON OR BEFORE THAT DATE.
3
Other information
Applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Review Committee. The Foundation
will award several scholarships annually, unless there are no qualified applicants.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by the VFF Coordinator of the decision by late
March/early April and all decisions are final.
All VFF documents, including step-by-step guidelines/instructions and an online
application can be found at www.vtol.org/vff.
Selection Criteria
Experience (work history, research, paper publications from resume) 35%
Narrative 25%
Letter(s) of Recommendation 20%
Academics 10%
Extra Curricula Activities 10%
VFF Coordinator Contact Information:
Vertical Flight Society
Attn: VFF Coordinator, Julie M. Gibbs
2700 Prosperity Ave., Suite 275
Fairfax, VA 22031-4340 USA
Email jmgibbs@vtol.org
Phone 1-703-684-6777 x103
4
VFF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
SECTION I
Please complete all sections.
Full Name: __________________________________________________________________
Present University Name: _____________________________________________________
University City, State, Country: _________________________________________________
Permanent Residence Street Address: ____________________________________________
Permanent City, State, Postal Code, Country: ______________________________________
Preferred Phone Number to be contacted: _________________________________________
Preferred Email to be contacted: ________________________________________________
I hereby certify that the information contained in this Application for Scholarship is true
and correct and that I have made arrangements for submission of my official grade
transcript and a letter or recommendation by a dean or professor affiliated with my
university.
Professor’s Name: ____________________________________________________________
Professor’s Email_____________________________________________________________
Student Signature: ____________________________________________________________
Date: _________________
click to sign
signature
click to edit
5
VFF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
SECTION II EDUCATION
Please list all schools attended, starting with the most recent first, i.e. the school you currently attend
should appear on line 1.
School Name/City, State, Country
Enrollment
Date
Expected
Graduation
Date
Cum.
GPA
Academic
Concentration
1.
2.
3.
What is your current academic level?
B.S □ M.S. □ Ph.D.
In what academic category are you applying? [Refer to eligibility criteria for each category.]
B.S □ M.S. □ Ph.D.
If you are continuing to another degree program, what will be your academic level after May 2021?
[Refer to eligibility criteria.]
Not Applicable B.S □ M.S. □ Ph.D.
What is your school’s grading system? A= ______
If the cumulative GPA you list for the school you currently attend covers one year or less of academic
work, you must submit two transcripts, one for the school you currently attend and one for the school
you previously attended.
What is your current GPA (present semester/quarter)? From ________ to ________
GPA _______________
If the scholarship is to be used at a school other than the one you currently attend (line 1 above), or if
the scholarship is to be used for an advanced degree program at the same school, please complete the
table below.
School Name/City, State, Country
Enrollment
Date
Expected
Graduation
Date
Cum.
GPA
Academic
Concentration
6
VFF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
SECTION III NARRATIVE
Please provide a printed, legible narrative below (or as a separate document in PDF or
Word format) but indicate if the resume is a separate document and please include page
numbers.
The narrative should provide a personal statement regarding your passion for
aeronautics/aeronautical engineering or complex aviation systems, and vertical flight
technology specifically. It should describe how your studies will assist in pursuing and
growing that passion. It should highlight specific interest, perspective and experience
in important and relevant topics to the vertical flight community, such as affordability.
The narrative should not be a restatement of your resume or description of research.
Name: _____________________________________________________________________
Preferred Email: _____________________________________________________________
Preferred Phone:_____________________________________________________________
7
VFF SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
SECTION IV RESUME
Please complete the following or attach a resume to your application using the template below.
Fill out the resume accurately and concisely and please include page numbers.
For undergraduates, any pertinent experience, history, honors/awards are activities from
Secondary/High School may be included, such as Civil Air Patrol, work in aerospace industry,
etc.
Name and Address
Email/Phone Contact Information
Career Objective
Experience/Employment History/Research (if it has not resulted in paper, publication or
presentation)
Vertical Flight Technology
Other Aerospace
Other
Papers/Publications/Presentations (can list any of these)
Vertical Flight Technology
Other Aerospace
Other
Professional Societies/Association Memberships/Extra-Curricular Activities (if held an
office or worked on a special project briefly describe what you did)
Vertical Flight Technology
Other Aerospace
Other (include community service)
Awards/Grants/Fellowships/Scholarships
Skills (such as languages, computing, etc.)
NOTES:
Provide any other information you would like the VFF Committee to consider.
Template should be followed accurately.
Should be submitted in PDF or Word format.