Boeing Scholarship Has This Eagle on Course to a Future Filled With Aviation

Callista Herdt’s aviation fascination started early. Kindergarten early, in fact.

The Georgia native vividly remembers sitting on the floor with an HP laptop scouring the internet for features and videos about airplanes in general and the Taiwanese airline EVA Air in particular.

“If I were to pinpoint a single reason why I am such a fan of aviation, I would say it is because of my Chinese-Indonesian mother, as we flew to her homeland of Indonesia to celebrate my second birthday,” said Callista, (’27). 

What Does it Mean to be a Boeing Scholar?

Callista’s love of aviation has ignited the pursuit of a B.S. in Aeronautical Science degree and that mission got a huge boost when Callista was selected as part of the 2023 cohort of Boeing Scholars at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University.

Although just starting the academic journey, Callista is already grateful for the benefits of being chosen as a Boeing Scholar, saying it “gives me lots of opportunities that I would not be able to have otherwise,” which included a recent trip to Boeing's facilities near the Kennedy Space Center.

Boeing awards nine outstanding freshmen scholarships of $5,000 to $7,500 a year for two years as they began degree programs at Embry‑Riddle.

The scholarships are supported by a $3 million endowment from Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company and leading aircraft manufacturer.

It has made a major difference for Callista, who also works at Publix to help pay tuition.

“The scholarship helps me out financially and reduces the number of anxieties I have relating to paying for my education,” Callista said.

“Overall, this program will help me and the other scholars to broaden our education and give us a better chance of working for the companies that we hope to work for in the future.”

Making the Most of a Tough Start

A graduate of Creekview High School in Canton, Georgia, Callista weathered a “rough childhood” caused by a divorce, although there was a upside to it in the long run.

“I was raised by my grandparents instead, but I have managed to persevere through the troubles, and I think I made it out just fine!” Callista said. “In fact, since I was with my grandparents, who are both retired, that meant they had more time and money on their hands to kickstart my love and passion for traveling.”

Why Choose an Embry‑Riddle Degree Program?

When it came time for college, Callista had Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus in sight from the start.

“First, the name itself is a pretty powerful tool on a resumé,” Callista said. “Secondly, in case aeronautical science doesn't work out, Embry‑Riddle has plenty of alternatives that I can go to without having to transfer to a completely different university. Finally, the Aeronautical Science program itself is very good with new technologies and lots of different resources that students can use.”

Those resources are what Callista is using to zero in on a career in commercial aviation, which “I've been obsessed with ever since childhood, from constantly looking up whenever I hear a jet to researching the histories of different airlines, both past and present.”

Callista is also counting on Embry‑Riddle’s longstanding industry connections and strong career support team to land a dream job at Delta Air Lines.

“From hosting career fairs and expos to the flight program itself, I believe Embry‑Riddle can help me get to where I want to be,” Callista said.

From Crews to Cruise

Callista’s love of aviation is matched only by a love of cruise ships, which came in a close second as a potential career choice.

“Perhaps an extra underlying reason as to why I chose Embry‑Riddle is because of its proximity to Port Canaveral,” Callista said. “I almost chose the maritime industry as my field of work if it weren't for the strong possibility that I'd have to go through the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, which is basically the military, and I am not cut out for the military.”

Callista is looking forward to having a car on campus and taking drives to Jetty Park or Fishlips Bar & Grill on a Saturday or Sunday nights to watch the ships leave port.

“I know Royal Caribbean's history like the back of my hand,” said Callista. “Did you know that Royal Caribbean's foundation indirectly was caused by the fire and subsequent capsizing of the Yarmouth Castle liner?”