Alyssa Harvey is a student at Purdue University, where she is pursuing a major in Professional Flight Technology and a minor in Spanish. She became interested in aviation during her senior year of high school, when she began working as an intern at Griffith Aviation. While there, she coordinated logistics related to the flight school and helped in the office. Soon after she began working at the airport, one of the flight instructors asked if she wanted to fly with her. That day, Alyssa’s heart was stolen, and she knew that she wanted to be a pilot.

Alyssa is an active member of Women in Aviation International, and served on the committee for the first Girls in Aviation Day at Purdue. The committee planned activities for 3rd-8th grade girls to learn about aviation, explore the Purdue airport, and hear from women in the aviation industry.

For Alyssa, flying represents freedom and adventure, the excitement and challenge of new places and new experiences. Moving forward in her journey, she’s eager to share these gifts with other people, as a flight instructor next fall, and later as an airline or corporate pilot. Alyssa is excited to represent Purdue this summer as the copilot for the Air Race Classic, a women’s 2,400 mile, four-day race. For fun, Alyssa likes playing golf and rock climbing.

Alyssa is grateful and honored to receive the Dare to Dream Scholarship. She plans to use the funds to pursue her Multiengine Rating at Purdue.