Dr. Sheree Utash, the recipient of the 2026 Wichita Aero Club Trophy, according to the Wichita Aero Club.
As the president of WSU Tech and vice president of workforce development for Wichita State University, Utash has been positioning the local workforce to meet the high‑stakes demands of a global aviation market.
Bridging the gap between education and industry
Since taking the helm of WSU Tech in 2015, she has led the college through a massive structural evolution, including its 2018 affiliation with Wichita State University and its transition from the former Wichita Area Technical College (WATC). Today, the institution serves more than 8,000 students and acts as the managing partner for the National Center for Aviation Training.
Ashley Bowen Cook, the Executive Director of the Wichita Aero Club and CEO of Alpha Charlie Marketing, noted that Utash has been a “transformational leader” in creating the vision necessary to power the next generation of the aviation workforce, wichitaaero.club reported.
“I am truly humbled and deeply honored to be selected as this year’s Wichita Aero Club Trophy recipient. To be recognized by an organization that represents an industry so deeply woven into the fabric of Wichita, and one that has been such an important part of my professional journey, is incredibly meaningful.”
A record of civic and national advocacy
Utash’s impact extends beyond the Wichita campus and into the halls of federal policy. She has previously led the National Aviation Consortium, a $15 million project designed to unite two-year colleges across five different states to address workforce shortages. Her expertise has even reached the highest levels of government; she has testified before the U.S. Senate’s Commerce Committee on Aviation to advocate for the growth of the industry and the urgent need for skilled workers.
WSU Tech president Sheree Utash has been named the 2026 Wichita Aero Club Trophy winner for her work on aviation training and workforce needs in Wichita. https://t.co/MWXe6j1xC4
Her recognition by the Wichita Aero Club follows a string of significant honors that highlight her dual role as an educator and a civic leader. These include:
- Induction into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2024.
- Naming as Honorary Commander of the McConnell 22nd Refueling Wing in 2018.
- Recognition as the SkillsUSA Postsecondary Administrator of the Year for Kansas in 2017.
- Being named the NAACP Wichita Chapter Person of the Year in 2016.
The formal celebration of her achievements is scheduled for the near future. The Wichita Aero Club will present the trophy during its annual Trophy Gala on Saturday, January 30, 2027, an event expected to bring together prominent aviation leaders and community members to honor her contributions to the region.
