Vaughn College presented Atlas Air with the Distinguished Employer Award at its 2024 New Year Reception held on January 18. The event honors individuals in the Vaughn community for their service and dedication to students.
The Distinguished Employer Award is presented to a company in the aviation industry that has demonstrated an overall commitment to the students of Vaughn College in the following ways:
- The company’s dedication to education through internship programs
- The continued commitment to the hiring of Vaughn College graduates
- Financial contributions to the college in support of The Fund for Vaughn College Scholarship programs.
- Financial support towards student-run initiatives such as the Student Leadership Society, The Student Experience Fund, a specific club or organization, and continued support towards further advancing diversity as stated in our Core Values.
Atlas has a proud and long-standing partnership with Vaughn and has worked with the institution on various programs, including the University Pipeline program, sponsoring their golf fundraising event, attending their annual galas, and hosting Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, President of the college as a speaker with the Atlas Air Worldwide Women’s Network for an International Women’s Day event.
Located in Queens, N.Y., Vaughn College is adjacent to LaGuardia Airport. Many members of the Atlas family across the organization were able to attend the reception including LaVerne Bowman, Vivian Cordero, Julia Crupi, Katia DeLoose, Sara Felder, Shelby Hodgson, Leisa Spears-Snyder, Heili Springsteen and Miyako Tomimasu.
Leisa Spears-Snyder, Director of Workforce Development, Talent Acquisition, and Sara Felder, Vice President, Associate General Counsel, accepted the award on behalf of Atlas.
“I was honored to represent Atlas at the reception,” said Sara. “We have such a wonderful partnership with the college. Ten percent of our workforce in our New York office are Vaughn College graduates, with even more working in other offices. Several of our employees are now teaching at Vaughn, and countless more have mentored Vaughn students over the years. This month, we launched our first external mentorship program, where our colleagues serve as mentors to Vaughn College students.”
Said Leisa, “Our partnerships with top tier aviation programs are invaluable in creating equitable access to opportunities within Atlas for underrepresented groups. Vaughn College has done a fabulous job maximizing collaborations to ensure opportunities for their students, many of whom are first generation college and minority students. In May of 2023, Vaughn joined our Pilot Pathways to Success program. It’s truly an honor to work with them.”
