This scholarship honors Natasha Warshaw, an enthusiastic and accomplished private pilot who loved to fly!

Natasha’s love of aviation began as a young girl, flying with her parents in their 1962 Mooney M20C from Montgomery Airport in San Diego to destinations throughout California, Arizona and Mexico. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong passion for aviation and travel, and ultimately inspired her to pursue her private pilot license.

Natasha learned to fly at Santa Monica Flyers, located at Santa Monica Airport.  It was there that she met Charles Thomson, her flight instructor, and other student pilots and started building a community centered around aviation.  She earned her private pilot certificate in 2018, when she was 28.  However, learning to fly the Mooney was going to have to wait…after many years of flying the airplane, the engine had timed out. Determined to get the Mooney back in the air, Natasha found an unexpected opportunity during the pandemic. While her business was temporarily shut down, she devoted herself to restoring the airplane she loved so deeply. Beginning in 2020, Natasha and her father, working alongside their trusted airplane mechanic, undertook a major overhaul of the Mooney, including the installation of a new engine and upgraded avionics.

The restoration breathed new life into the aircraft, and shortly after the project was completed, Natasha proudly piloted the Mooney on her first Mooney test flight. Inspired by the aircraft’s transformation, she immediately began training for her instrument rating. Through hard work and dedication alongside her flight instructor, Natasha earned her instrument rating. The following year, she was expanding her skills further by training in formation flying with fellow Mooney pilots and close friends.

Flying was not only Natasha’s passion, but also part of her daily life. A highly sought-after hairstylist who worked in premier salons in Beverly Hills and La Jolla, she often piloted her Mooney between Southern California locations for work. She treasured the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: aviation and hairstyling. When she wasn’t working, Natasha could often be found flying low along the Malibu coastline—her “happy place”—before heading to Santa Ynez for her favorite barbecue.

Natasha’s love of flying was unmistakable. It showed in her smile whenever she took to the skies and in the enthusiasm she shared with others. She felt deeply grateful for the opportunity to fly and often said with heartfelt wonder, “I can’t believe I get to do this.”

The Natasha Warshaw Private Pilot Scholarship was created to honor Natasha’s passion for aviation and to support the next generation of women pilots. The scholarship provides up to $20,000 to assist the recipient in achieving this milestone. Applicants must demonstrate active participation in WAISD and present a clear plan for completing their flight training.  Recipient will be chosen based on merit, career aspirations, and dedication, as well as contributions to their community.