NBAA Dale "Potsy" McBurney Scholarship

NBAA Charities, in coordination with the Trust Committee for Dale “Potsy” McBurney and the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Flight Attendants Committee, established the Dale “Potsy” McBurney Aviation Scholarship to benefit business aviation professionals seeking continued professional development opportunities to advance their existing careers. 

The scholarship was created to honor the memory of former business aviation flight attendant Dale “Potsy” McBurney. McBurney was dedicated to promoting the role of the cabin crewmember. He was a highly regarded and requested corporate flight attendant, a recognized and respected trainer and industry specialist, an executive for an FAR 91 flight department and a valued member of the NBAA Flight Attendants Committee.

Scholarship recipients will be announced at the 2020 NBAA Flight Attendants/Flight Technicians Conference, to be held May 5-7, 2020, in Hartford, CT. Funds up to $2,500 may be awarded to one recipient who embodies a commitment to excellence, as McBurney did. Awards will be redeemable under the conditions established by NBAA Charities and its donors. Applicants are limited to receiving one award per person every other year; i.e. recipients of the 2018 scholarship are not eligible to apply for the 2019 awards, but they will be eligible to apply again in subsequent years.

Scholarship recipients must complete all professional/educational training by June 2022, or risk forfeit of the award. Funds awarded through this program will be paid directly to the recipient for reimbursement of expenses associated with the designated education and training classes.

The Dale “Potsy” McBurney Aviation Scholarship is one of many scholarships offered by NBAA Charities to promote professional development and business aviation careers.

Application Requirements

1. Fill out the online application form in its entirety.
2. Submit either a written essay or a multimedia essay describing your interest and goals related to one of the following two topics:
   1. How do you specifically plan to use this scholarship in order to enhance your professional development in business aviation?
   2. How do you specifically plan to use this scholarship to promote cabin safety and the importance of the third crewmember in business aviation?

Written essays must be typed, double-spaced and 500 words long. Your typed name must appear at the top of the page. Multimedia essays must be a maximum of three (3) minutes in length and can take the form of a video or other visual presentation.

3. Submit a current, one-page resume with your permanent home address.
4. Submit two professional letters of recommendation from those qualified to comment on your career aspirations and qualifications, focusing on your commitment to excellence and professional development within the business aviation industry.
5. Completed application package, which includes the online form, one essay, one resume and two letters of recommendation, must be received by NBAA Charities no later than 5 p.m. ET on Feb. 1, 2020, to be considered for the scholarship.