NBAA Names Stephanie Orbach and Ella Waits as 2026 Cheri Rudd Scholarship Recipients

The two business aviation professionals are eligible for up to $2,500 each for advanced customer-service training.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Stephanie Orbach and Ella Waits are the 2026 Cheri Rudd Memorial Scholarship recipients.
• Each recipient is eligible for up to $2,500 for accredited advanced customer-service training.
• The scholarship commemorates longtime NBAA employee Cheri Rudd, who died in 2018.
• The award forms part of NBAA Charities’ wider scholarship support for aviation professionals.

Two business aviation professionals will be able to pursue advanced customer-service training with support from a scholarship commemorating a longtime industry association employee. Stephanie Orbach and Ella Waits have been selected for the 2026 Cheri Rudd Memorial Scholarship, with each eligible for up to $2,500 toward accredited professional courses.

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) named the recipients in an October 16 announcement from Las Vegas. The award recognises professionals whose work reflects high standards of service, an important consideration in business aviation, where flight operations involve close coordination among passengers, crews, dispatchers and support teams.

Training support with a focus on service

Established by NBAA in coordination with NBAA Charities, the annual scholarship helps business aviation professionals develop their skills through training with a particular emphasis on customer service. The scholarship programme’s published criteria emphasise professionalism, lifelong learning and a commitment to helping others. Eligible training opportunities can include industry conferences, professional development courses and customer-service education.

For Orbach and Waits, the awards provide financial assistance for further education rather than an unrestricted cash prize. NBAA has not specified the recipients’ employers, chosen training providers or individual course plans in its announcement.

Remembering Cheri Rudd

The scholarship carries the name of Cheri Rudd, who joined NBAA as a receptionist in 1990 following similar work at several Washington, DC, companies. She later served as the association’s manager for office coordination and became known for helping members and colleagues find answers, resolve problems and obtain information efficiently.

Rudd died in 2018. NBAA subsequently established the memorial award to carry forward the service-oriented approach for which she was recognised during almost three decades with the organisation.

Part of a wider aviation training programme

The award sits within the broader NBAA scholarships programme, which provides financial assistance and training opportunities for aviation students and established professionals. Its various awards serve roles including pilots, aircraft maintenance technicians, flight attendants, flight department managers, schedulers and dispatchers.

In its October 16 release, NBAA stated that its charitable scholarship initiatives represent nearly $140,000 in annual funding, supported by member donors and administered through association committees. The association, founded in 1947 and headquartered in Washington, DC, represents approximately 10,000 company and professional members.

Information about eligibility, upcoming opportunities and application requirements is available through NBAA’s scholarship resources. Enquiries may also be directed to its scholarships team at [email protected].