Spirit Airlines donates to Diversifying Our Industry Scholarship

Spirit Airlines and the Spirit Airlines Charitable Foundation leaders presented a $50,000 check on March 25, 2021, to Embry-Riddle President P. Barry Butler to support the university’s newly established Diversifying Our Industries Scholarship Fund. 

“Spirit was the first one of our corporate partners to commit to this fund to help support underrepresented groups and promote diversity throughout the campus and the future workforce,” said Alan J. Stolzer, Ph.D., dean of the College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus.

Several Spirit Airlines representatives, including Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Bendoraitis, Senior Manager of Human Resources Lisa Lopez and Senior Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnerships Lanie Morgenstern, toured the campus and met with key university leaders and College of Aviation faculty and staff. 

Spirit Airlines is the first company to support the university’s Diversifying Our Industry Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund recognizes the academic achievement of underrepresented students, which includes women and people of color, at Embry-Riddle and develops their potential for the industries they serve. It provides support to eligible first-time, undergraduate degree-seeking freshman at Embry-Riddle.

Visiting Spirit Airlines leaders were also given a student-guided tour of the College of Engineering and College of Arts and Science labs, including the EcoCar garage and telescope observatory. They also visited with Career Services staff to discuss internships, co-ops and hiring opportunities.