American Airlines Awards 3rd Round of Elise Eberwein Cadet Scholarship

USA – American Airlines has announced the third round of recipients of the Elise Eberwein Cadet Academy Pilot Scholarship, awarding $50,000 each to American Airlines flight attendants Sarah Smith and Lubava Zhdanovich — both based at LaGuardia Airport — to fund their progression through the American Airlines Cadet Academy (AACA).

• The Elise Eberwein Cadet Academy Pilot Scholarship is a million-dollar, decade-long initiative designed to enable American Airlines team members to transition into professional pilot careers through the AACA; applications for the next round will be announced in late 2026.
• The scholarship honours the legacy of former American Airlines Executive Vice President of People and Global Engagement Elise Eberwein, who retired in 2022 after 35 years of service and was known for championing career development within the airline.
• Candidates undergo a rigorous selection process encompassing a written application, multiple letters of recommendation, and an all-day in-person panel interview with current American pilots and senior leadership.
• Sarah Smith, who began flight training independently while working as a flight attendant — training up to 20 hours per week while flying up to 70 hours per month — received her private pilot licence from Buckeye Flight Academy in Toledo, Ohio in October 2025; she is now enrolled at ATP Flight School in Concord, North Carolina.
• Lubava Zhdanovich, originally from Russia and a member of Women in Aviation International, began flight training in mid-2025 using savings from her career as a flight attendant and will commence training at Infinity Flight Group's Fort Pierce, Florida location.
• Both recipients are involved in aviation community and diversity initiatives: Smith volunteers with the all-Ohio chapter of the Ninety-Nines and operates a nonprofit supporting individuals experiencing homelessness; Zhdanovich is a member of Women in Aviation International.

Statements

• "I couldn't be prouder of Sarah and Lubava, two candidates who are incredibly well-positioned for flight school. They show strong qualities of perseverance, tenacity and passion — all skills necessary to succeed in the Cadet Academy's training and, ultimately, as an American Airlines pilot," said Elise Eberwein, former Executive Vice President of People and Global Engagement, American Airlines.

Source: American Airlines