Kimberly Novak used to hold down two bar jobs in downtown Orlando working six-day weeks to help cover the cost of flight school. Some of that financial burden has eased slightly now that she has been chosen as the recipient of the inaugural pilot training scholarship from local charter company Stratos Jets.

Valued at $2,000, the bursary will help the 26-year-old cover a portion of the estimated $80,000 cost of attending ATP Flight School at Daytona Beach International airport. Combined with the hours she has already accumulated at another flight school at Orlando International airport, her training will likely exceed $100,000.

“I'm impressed by who Kimberly is as a person,” says Stratos Jets president Joel Thomas, who announced the scholarship to help address the current jet charter pilot shortage. “You can see how hard she has worked to get where she's at, and I hope this scholarship will help her achieve the ultimate goal of becoming a professional pilot. She shows real initiative in seeking out businesses that are forward thinking, and she's trying to learn different aspects of the aviation industry.”

Novak has earmarked the scholarship money to buy her first headset and help cover tuition expenses. “After working for the past several years to save the money required to enroll in full-time schooling, Stratos Jet Charters' generous scholarship will allow me to reach my funding goal and continue to chase my dream,” she says.

Novak is proud to be entering a vocation that she says has been dominated by men, but where in more recent years governing bodies have made a push to make it more inclusive and welcoming for both genders. “Even 10 or 15 years ago this may have been a struggle,” she says. “So far I've met more than a dozen women in aviation and all have been absolutely wonderful to me. However, my mentors have been males who have been nothing but professional and have taken time out of their day to help me.”

Stratos Jet Charters is now accepting applications for its 2019 pilot scholarship.