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For Prescott Campus student Anna Scott, her first takeoff at the controls of a Cessna 172 pretty much charted her future course. That moment “changed everything” and put her on a path to a career in the air.

And the Aeronautical Science major is already well on her way to her dream of earning a spot on the flight deck of Boeing’s hi-tech 787, a journey that got a jumpstart when Scott was selected for the elite Boeing Scholars program.

“I was so surprised that I got it,” said Scott (’23). “It was the tipping factor that allowed me to come to Embry‑Riddle, which is where I wanted to be.”

Why choose Embry‑Riddle for an aeronautical science degree?

Scott is making the most of every opportunity Embry‑Riddle offers in the air and on the ground. She was elected as Chief Pilot of the award-winning  for the 2021-22 season, and will be among two teams of female fliers from Embry‑Riddle to compete in this year’s 2021 Air Race Classic collegiate competition in June.

This year’s race will be a bit different because of the pandemic, so teams will plan and fly detailed routes as precisely as possible.

The pandemic has also altered the competitive landscape for the Golden Eagles team, whose storied tradition on the Prescott Campus includes 34 consecutive regional championships and 12 national championships. This year, the contest will include only aviation-related ground events.

Even without the flying competition, Scott says she feels “incredibly privileged and honored to be accepted on the team. They are some of the hardest working people I have ever met, and I really feel like I fit in with them.”

What other aviation opportunities are available to Embry‑Riddle students?

Scott also is the social media and membership chair for the , a chapter of the international group that offers networking and scholarships to help support female pilots. On campus, she works as a flight dispatcher in the operations department and is a mentor for  students.

Her roommate is fellow Boeing Scholar Zsoee Eisel, an Aeronautical Science major and aspiring pilot from Oregon.

For Scott, flying runs in the family. Her mother is a certified flight instructor who took a break from flying while Scott was growing up in Las Vegas. But when Scott zeroed in on aviation as a career, it was time for mom to climb back into an airplane – with her.

“I had done [private pilot] ground school when I was 15, and it was an absolute blast,” Scott said. “When my parents saw that I was serious, my mom became my flight instructor.”

Scott earned her private pilot license and began to look for colleges where she could pursue her aviation passion. She dreamed about attending Embry‑Riddle, but cost loomed as an obstacle – until she won the Boeing scholarship.

“I am really excited to be here,” she said. “Embry‑Riddle is so supportive of its students and you always feel comfortable asking for help, because everyone is always willing to talk to you.”

How fast can you earn flight ratings at Embry‑Riddle?

In less than two years, Scott has earned her single-engine commercial and instrument ratings, is now pursuing her multi-engine ticket and also is part of the Pathways program for , which helps provide a direct route to the flight deck.

Thanks to Embry‑Riddle, her fellow students, and the school’s experienced and caring faculty, Scott is watching her dream come closer every day.

“When I went all-in with aviation,” she says, “I knew I made the right decision. And I feel the same way about coming to Embry‑Riddle."