About the Wac trophy
Past Aero Club Trophy Recipients: (Left to right) Dr. John Tomblin, Al Higdon, Paul Bowen, Senator Jerry Moran, Ron Ryan, Jeff Turner, Lynn Nichols
The Wichita Aero Club Trophy
The Wichita Aero Club continues to build upon the tradition it began in 2009 by selecting a deserving candidate with solid ties to the Wichita and Kansas aviation community. Each year, members of the aviation community and the general public are encouraged to follow the simple criteria outlined below for nominating potential recipients.
The Trophy Selection Committee, which is chaired by Ashley Bowen Cook of the Greteman Group, includes members of the Wichita Aero Club Board of Directors and prominent members of the aviation community. The Selection Committee evaluates all of the nominations, including those previously submitted if they still conform to the criteria.
The 2024 nomination period is now closed!
Members of the aviation community and the general public are encouraged to follow the simple criteria outlined below for nominating potential recipients. The winner will be announced at a special reception. Details to be announced.
The Trophy Selection Committee, which is chaired by Ashley Bowen Cook of the Greteman Group, includes members of the Wichita Aero Club Board of Directors and prominent members of the aviation community. The Selection Committee evaluates all of the nominations, including those previously submitted if they still conform to the criteria.
Acknowledging Legacy: A Look Back
The Wichita Aero Club Trophy was created to recognize both contemporaneous accomplishment or a lifetime of achievement. The first WAC Trophy went to someone who has been associated with Wichita’s aviation history since its early days, Mrs. Velma Wallace. Of course, that doesn’t mean that nominees can’t come from the ranks of individuals, groups, or organizations whose recognition is based on a recent milestone or singular event. There are always significant achievements during the course of a year that warrant consideration.
Nominees for the Trophy
The Wichita Aero Club Trophy will be awarded annually to a living person, group, or organization with a strong relationship to the greater Wichita area. The nominee(s) will be considered on the basis of exemplary achievements in the field of aviation or aerospace accomplished during the past year or, as appropriate, over an extended period or career.
Sculptor and trophy creator Chris Brunner chose elements that represented the eyes-turned-skyward spirit of aviation. A translucent blue pyramid containing the Aero Club Logo harkens to the ancient form through which man strived to reach the heavens. Its delta shape is also representative of the modern form of advanced flight. The translucent aspect of the trophy represents the atmosphere, with contrails wrapping upward from the base. The trophy’s pedestal of stainless steel framework gives recognition to Wichita’s aircraft manufacturing legacy.
This beautiful achievement trophy permanently, prominently, and proudly resides on the mezzanine at Eisenhower International Airport.
2023 Trophy recipient
The Wichita Aero Club (WAC) has chosen United States Senator Jerry Moran as its thirteenth recipient of the Wichita Aero Club Trophy. Senator Moran has been an incredible cheerleader for aviation and aerospace in the Wichita region and throughout the state of Kansas. His support and advocacy have made him an incredible candidate for the 2023 Aero Club Trophy. Senator Moran was honored at the Aero Club Trophy Gala on the evening of February 3, 2024, at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitors Center in Wichita.
