Sheltair, the largest privately owned FBO network in the U.S., has been serving the needs of the aviation community for decades. Now it plans to help train future members through scholarships offered in honor of company founder Jerry Holland.
After separating from the Air Force in 1963, Holland, who died in 2025, entered the building trade, which led to airport property development focused on general aviation.
In 1986 Holland acquired Walkers Cay Aviation at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (KFLL) and later rebranded by merging its name with Sheltair. The business continued to grow, and when daughter Lisa Holland took over the family business in 2020, they had 19 locations stretching from Florida to Colorado.
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According to Lisa Holland, her father believed in the importance of continuing education and personal growth, and investing in others to allow them to learn and grow, so it’s only fitting that scholarships be awarded in his memory.
Details
Sheltair said it will provide four $8,000 Jerry Holland Legacy scholarships to individuals who demonstrate a passion for aviation and commitment to advancing their education or aviation career. The scholarships are designed to support individuals pursuing education, training, certification, or professional advancement in any aviation-related field, such as:
• Flight training and ratings
• Aviation maintenance and technical training
• Dispatch, operations, and air traffic services
• Airport management
• Aviation business and leadership
• Aerospace engineering
• Aviation safety
• Continuing education
• Professional certifications
• College, university, or trade school tuition
• Other aviation-related educational or career advancement opportunities
Applicants need to clearly explain how the scholarship funds will support their educational pursuits, professional development, or long-term career goals within the aviation industry. Funds may be used for approved aviation-related educational, certification, training, or professional development expenses.
Funds must be utilized within one year of the award notification unless otherwise approved by the Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE), a nonprofit organization in Lakeland, Florida.
To qualify for a scholarship, the applications must:
- Demonstrate a passion for aviation and commitment to advancing within the aviation industry.
- Be pursuing or planning to pursue aviation-related education, training, certification or professional development.
- Be a legal resident of the U.S. or the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
- Be at least 18 years of age at time of application.
- Submit a completed application, including all required materials.
- Agree to terms and conditions.
Applications will be accepted from now through December 31.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed by a scholarship selection committee appointed by ACE, in partnership with Sheltair. They will be evaluated on the demonstrated passion for aviation, educational and career goals, quality of application responses, leadership, initiative and community involvement, and overall potential to positively impact the aviation industry.
The scholarship funds will be paid directly to the recipient’s accredited educational institution, training provider, or organization offering the approved aviation-related program. Scholarship recipients will need to provide documentation verifying enrollment or acceptance into the applicable program, as well as any additional information necessary to facilitate payment.
For questions about the scholarship program, email scholarships@flysnf.org. Applications can be submitted here.
