Krimson Aviation's founder and CEO Dawit Lemma has launched a $100,000 scholarship to fund a new endowment at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. The Krimson Aviation Scholarship and the Krimson Business Opportunity Program Scholarship will be awarded to students from minority groups in aviation, with the intention of opening new flightpaths for individuals.

The cross school grant will contribute funds to one or more annual undergraduate scholarship for students enrolled in the School of Aviation and Transportation Technology at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, or students enrolled in the Dr Cornell A. Bell business opportunity programme (BOP) within the Krannert School of Management.

The Purdue Department of Financial Aid is responsible for the aviation scholarship while the Krannert scholarship is decided by the Department of Financial Aid and Krannert BOP program. Each department is responsible for defining the selection process, identifying students that fulfil entry requirements and managing how funds will be allocated.

Lemma, born in Ethiopia, graduated in 2002 from Purdue University with an Association of Science in Aeronautical Engineering and Flight Technology. He has since worked in Switzerland and the US, before launching Krimson in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2016.

To mark the occasion Lemma will add the Ethiopian flag to the international collection already representing aviation nations around the world in the Niswonger Aviation Technology Building.

“As an alumnus of this prestigious school I'm thrilled to be in a position to give back to the school that helped me achieve what I have so far. There is no doubt that there is still a significant lack of diversity within aviation, and I hope that by launching programmes like this it not only assists students who show potential but also highlights the balance, inspiration and success that a mixed workforce brings to aviation,” comments Lemma.

The first student enrolment under the scholarship scheme is anticipated before the end of 2022. Once the scholarships are in place Krimson will also offer internship opportunities in support of the scholarship.