Scholarship takes students from NTU to the sky
The Women in Aviation Singapore Chapter awarded its first-ever scholarships to two NTU female undergraduates pursuing an aviation career. The scholars share what fuels their excitement for joining the industry.
By Sadia Roohi
Aviation wasn’t always at the forefront of Trudy Teo’s mind. “I didn’t initially think about aviation as a career,” she admits. “But as I learned more about it—starting with aircraft accident investigations—my interest grew. It’s an industry that has naturally captivated me.”
Learning about accidents taught her how the industry helps to avoid them. She was intrigued to know about the critical role of the ‘bird strike test’ during aircraft certification, which involves firing a dead bird at different parts of the aircraft to see how it withstands the impact, continues functioning and keeps the aircraft safely in the air.
Her passion for every part of aviation led her to pursue a degree in Aerospace Engineering at NTU in 2022, where the programme perfectly matched her growing interests.
Trudy seated inside an Airbus A350-900 full flight simulator at the Airbus Asia Training Centre.
Trudy also received mentorship from a captain pilot from Singapore Airlines, whom she met during one of the LevelUp mentoring programmes arranged by NTU’s Career and Attachment Office.
Her fascination with aviation began during her secondary school days where she joined the Automation and Robotics Club. It was there she first discovered her interest in programming and the design aspects of robotics. Although she didn’t grow up near an airport, she recalls the awe whenever she saw a plane up close.
The scholarship she received from Women in Aviation Singapore (WAI-SG) has strengthened her interest to work in aviation and hopes to become a female pilot one day.
“It has given me a clearer sense of direction, knowing there’s a network of professionals supporting me,” Trudy says.
Her passion for aviation stretches beyond academic work. When asked which aviation pioneer she would like to meet, Trudy immediately chose Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to break the sound barrier in 1947.
“I learned about the sound barrier in a Horrible Science book, and ever since then, I’ve been fascinated by aerodynamics, which is now one of my favourite modules,” she explained. “If I could meet Yeager, I’d ask him what it felt like flying the Bell X-1, a rocket engine–powered aircraft. He didn’t just break the sound barrier — he proved it could be done safely, becoming the first pilot to go supersonic.”
Trudy and NTU aerospace engineering student Rica Angelina are inaugural recipients of the Women in Aviation Singapore (WAI-SG) Scholarship. Comprising female professionals and corporate members from leading companies such as Boeing, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, and Airbus, WAI-SG is dedicated to empowering women through mentorship and outreach programmes that inspire the next generation of aviation leaders.
This scholarship from WAI-SG supports outstanding female undergraduates in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and related engineering fields at NTU.
WAI-SG underlined its commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in aviation at the first-ever Gen Z Careers in Aviation Day, held on 24 January 2025 at Singapore Polytechnic. The event featured keynote sessions by industry leaders, recruitment booths, a speed mentoring session, and networking opportunities with leading aviation organisations.
Ms Mabel Kwan, WAI-SG’s Vice-President, delivering the opening speech at Gen Z Careers in Aviation Day.
“The successful conclusion of Gen Z Careers in Aviation Day showcased the incredible potential of young talent shaping the future of aviation,” said Ms Mabel Kwan, Vice President of WAI-SG. “Seeing so many passionate and driven students, especially young women, engaging with industry leaders reaffirms our commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in this dynamic sector. To future scholarship recipients — embrace every opportunity, push boundaries, and know that the sky is not the limit,” she added.
For Rica, her love for engineering started in childhood. She enjoyed working on puzzles like LEGO and exploring how moving parts came together to create mechanisms.
In high school, her enthusiasm grew, fuelled by her love for physics and mathematics. A novel about an aerospace engineer sparked her curiosity about the field and eventually led her to pursue aerospace engineering at NTU.
NTU aerospace engineering students Trudy Teo (left) and Rica Angelina (right) received their scholarship awards at the Gen Z Careers in Aviation Day organised by Women in Aviation Singapore chapter.
With the support of this scholarship, both women are more confident than ever in their path to becoming leaders in the aviation industry.
Rica hopes to establish herself as a professional and well-recognised aerospace engineer, with aspirations of leading a team in the aviation industry. She looks forward to seizing opportunities to drive innovation and contribute to both her team and society.
“Aviation excites me because it connects places and people globally while pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation,” Rica shared.
One of the valuable things she’s learned so far is how aircraft designed with multiple engines are certified to operate even if one engine fails. “This shows how far safety in aviation has come, making it the safest mode of transport.”
