Director of Education and Volunteer programs honored with Mary Ann Eiff Memorial Award for inspiring the next generation of female aviators
The CR Smith Museum’s Director of Education and Volunteer Programs, Marie Eve Poirier-Harris, was honored with the prestigious Mary Ann Eiff Memorial Award for her exceptional work inspiring youth to pursue careers in aviation. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to reaching young women through outreach activities, exposing them to opportunities in aviation, and encouraging them to explore the field. Marie Eve’s work has empowered students to envision themselves as future leaders in the industry.
A key program highlighting Marie Eve’s accomplishments is the CR Smith Museum’s annual Aviation Career Day, held each fall in partnership with American Airlines. Last year, the event welcomed over 600 youth from local middle and high schools, offering them a unique opportunity to explore over 40 different career pathways within aviation through meaningful interactions with seasoned industry professionals. With exposure to careers such as aircraft maintenance technicians, pilots, and cybersecurity experts, this event serves as a cornerstone of the Museum’s mission to inspire young aviators and make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and aviation careers accessible to students from all backgrounds. Student surveys showed that participation in Aviation Career Day and similar Museum workshops resulted in a 40% increase in interest to pursue aviation-related careers.
Aviation Career Day is the annual highlight of the Museum’s Aviation Career Pathways Program, a multi-year initiative that provides middle and high school students with access to aviation STEM education and exposure to career opportunities within the industry. Aviation Career Pathways works in partnership with individual schools and DFW area Independent School Districts, specifically their CTE (Career & Technical Education) programs and engaged over 4,500 students in the 2024-2025 school year. Through the program, students complete a tailored curriculum, gain behind-the-scenes access to American’s operations, and build connections with industry professionals. With its multiple touchpoints, the experience boosts student confidence, broadens career perspectives and fosters a sense of belonging within the aviation community. Ultimately, these programs help students overcome barriers to access and develop tomorrow’s aviation leaders.
Marie Eve shared, “I’m deeply honored to receive the Mary Ann Eiff Memorial Award. It’s incredibly rewarding to help young people, especially young women, discover the vast opportunities in aviation. Through initiatives like Aviation Career Day, we’re inspiring them to dream big and pursue careers they might never have imagined.”
Marie Eve is an educator with over 20 years of experience designing programs that change lives and communities. A science teacher by trade, she has dedicated her career to creating initiatives that help students build self-efficacy and a sense of belonging in STEM fields. Inspired by her mother’s path as a woman in STEM, she has made it her mission to equip students from all backgrounds with career resources and mentorship to empower them to turn their dreams into careers. Her unwavering dedication to this work has earned her several prestigious accolades, including a National Audubon Society Fellowship award and the 2021 STEM Education Organization and Educator of the Year award from Million Women Mentors.
Through the efforts of Marie Eve and the CR Smith Museum, the mission of the Mary Ann Eiff Memorial Outreach Award continues to thrive, opening doors for future generations to take flight into the aviation world.