Southwest Airlines Grants Scholarships, Pledges $290,000 to Students over 4 Years

Southwest Airlines has announced the beneficiaries of the Herbert D. Kelleher and Rollin W. King Scholarships for 2023. The scholarships fund students’ educational adventures around the country, inspiring them to take flight through education. Southwest pledged to donate $290,000 over four years to 17 prize winners in the spirit of these scholarship programs, and each student received two round trip tickets on Southwest to help them keep connected with their loved ones throughout the year.

  • The Herbert D. Kelleher and Rollin W. King Scholarship, celebrating its 41st year, is an internal scholarship designed to pay tribute to the founders and namesakes of Southwest Airlines. It offers financial support to dependents of Southwest Employees furthering their education.  

  • The Southwest Airlines Scholarship, introduced in 2021, reflects a dedication to fostering a diverse talent pool within communities. As a scholarship available to external candidates across the country, it emphasizes the significance of creating equal opportunities and influencing future generations positively.

“We’re proud to extend our scholarship support to 17 students this year while prioritizing access to education by recognizing its impact on an individual as they grow,” said Laurie Barnett, Vice President Corporate Reputation at Southwest Airlines. “We look forward to continuing these opportunities and encouraging students to apply for these scholarships in the years ahead as we do our part to inspire future generations to let their dreams soar.”

The 2023 scholars will attend schools around the country, including the University of Tennessee, Tuskegee University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Harvard College, and others. The majority of the recipients are just starting college and have their sights set on an aviation profession, with degrees ranging from aerospace engineering to aviation business administration.

Both scholarships are funded by the Southwest Airlines Foundation and administered by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. They are accessible to students enrolled in approved vocational, community/junior college, or undergraduate institutions. Southwest actively tries to have a substantial difference through the Southwest Airlines Foundation by investing in programs and projects that generate positive change, with a focus on fairness, prosperity, and sustainability.
For more about our corporate responsibility efforts, visit Southwest.com/communityoutreach.