Former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student Shaesta Waiz has earned a place on the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s Wall of Honor.
Waiz, the youngest woman to fly solo around the world in a single-engine aircraft, was honored by Smithsonian at the end of March, a press release says.
“The Wall of Honor is a permanent memorial created of airfoil-shaped stainless-steel plaques honoring the men and women who have had a passion for flight,” it says. “The wall contains icons of aviation and space including Waiz’s own inspiration and mentor, Jerrie Mock, the first woman to fly solo around the world.”
Waiz, who was 30 at the time, began her 145-day, nearly 29,000-mile flight May 13 in Daytona Beach. Her journey spanned five continents, 22 countries and numerous cities and put her in the record books.
“Now that my name is inscribed on this memorial, I find myself very honored and humbled,” Waiz said in the release. “I hope my name will represent to young visitors that with enough persistence, hard work and passion, regardless of who you are, your dreams will soar.”
Waiz returned to Daytona Oct. 4. Since then she has been working with Dreams Soar, Inc., a nonprofit she founded in 2014 to inspire young people to pursue science, technology engineering and math careers.