Whirly-Girls International, the non-profit charity dedicated to the advancement of women in the helicopter industry, has broken its previous record of scholarship support this year, awarding 28 scholarships at the organization’s annual awards banquet here at Heli-Expo Sunday night. The total eclipsed the previous record of 14, set last year during the charity’s 60th Diamond Anniversary at Heli-Expo in Orlando.

Among the sponsoring companies are Agricultural Air Services, Air Evac Lifeteam, Airbus Helicopters, Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Bell Helicopter, Erickson, FlightSafety International, Robinson Helicopter, Survival Systems USA, Western Helicopters and HAI. Joining the ranks of supporting companies this year are Guidance Aviation, Bristow Group, Oregon Aero, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Antipodean Aviation.

“It has truly been an incredible year, and we are so pleased with how quickly the scholarship program has grown,” said Colleen Chen, Whirly-Girls vice president of scholarships. “With the support and generosity of these amazing companies, our scholarship program has doubled in the last year. These scholarships can not only change the lives of the recipients, but also encourage other women to pursue careers in the helicopter industry.”