We give the following awards to honor the women who have been a part of our Ninety-Nines flying history, and to inspire us all to continue in the great tradition and spirit of this group.
Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Ninety-Nines Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund (AEMSF) was established in 1940 to help members attain specific and realistic goals in their advancement toward aviation/aerospace accomplishments.
These goals may qualify for or further an aviation-related profession or charitable cause. Financial need must be demonstrated in order to progress toward a goal. (The Vicki Cruse Scholarship is excluded from this requirement.) One pilot training course, certificate or rating can be applied for at a time. The Fund is intended to extend opportunities to as many members as possible, although current or past scholarship winners may submit application for any scholarship or award for which they are eligible, and may be awarded scholarships in consecutive years.
How To Apply:
Complete details and eligibility requirements can be obtained at www.Ninety-Nines.org.
Past Recipients of the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund:
| 2024: | Alyssa Rittel |
Midnight Sun, Multi-Engine |
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| 2023: | Stacy Uebelhor |
Greater Seattle chapter, Multi-Engine add on |
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| 2023: | Jing Suo |
Central Oregon High Desert chapter, Vicki Cruse Emergency Training |
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| 2021: | Meredith Datena |
Columbia Cascade chapter, Multi-Engine add on |
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| 2020: | Autumn Eels |
Oregon Pines chapter, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Associate's |
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| 2020: | Jiah Sims |
Columbia Cascade chapter, Multi-Engine add on |
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| 2020: | Magali Lewis |
Columbia Cascade chapter, Citation 525(s) type rating |
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| 2018: | Julie Lyn Baker |
Greater Seattle chapter, Academic |
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| 2018: | Sheryl Fisher |
Columbia Cascade chapter, CFI |
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| 2018: | Laura Lloyd |
Columbia Cascade chapter, Multi-Engine rating |
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| 2018: | Ashley Taylor |
Idaho chapter, Commercial |
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| 2017: | Sheri (Sharki) Kontra |
Idaho Chapter, Multi-engine |
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| 2017: | Tosha Cypher |
| Mat-Su Valley Chapter, CFI helicopter | |
| 2017: | Alana Erickson |
| Idaho Chapter, ME Commercial add-on |
First Wings Awards
The First Wings Scholarships, awarded by the International Ninety-Nines, are semiannual awards of up to $6,000 based on the completion of specific training milestones. They are available only to Student Pilot members of The 99s who meet the eligibility requirements.
How To Apply:
To be eligible, applicants must hold a student pilot certificate (or provide evidence that they meet their country's flight training requirement), have been an official Student Pilot member of The Ninety-Nines for at least three months prior to the application deadline, have logged five hours in the six months prior to the application deadline, and show financial need.
First Wings applications are due April 1st & Oct 1st annually. More information is available at https://www.ninety-nines.org/first-wings.htm.
Past Recipients of the First Wings Awards:
| 2024: | Ellen Kirby (Intermountain) |
| 2023: | Mahroo Hamedani (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2023: | Gina Wilke (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2023: | Vanessa Schultz (Midnight Sun) |
| 2023: | Diane Lambert (Mid-Columbia) |
| 2023: | Wendy Rover (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2022: | Cathy Keller (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2022: | Danielle Linehan (Intermountain) |
| 2022: | Laura White (Montana) |
| 2022: | Turi Abbott (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2022: | Paige Whaley (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2021: | Kahlan Davis (Intermountain) |
| 2021: | Victoria Delshire (Columbia Cascade) |
| 2021: | Brandy Simison (Greater Seattle) |
Gloria Heath Scholarship 2024 - Flight Safety Foundation
The Flight Safety Foundation is excited to announce the availability of the Gloria Heath Scholarship for 2024. This prestigious scholarship is designed to recognize and support outstanding female students pursuing careers in all faucets of aviation. We would like to extend a direct invitation for your members to apply.
Here are some key details about the Gloria Heath Scholarship:
- Amount: up to $5,000
- Eligibility: Female students in all facets of aviation, including, but not limited to: pilots, engineers, air navigation, aerial controllers, and technicians.
- Application Deadline: May 10, 2024
How To Apply:
Visit the application information page: https://flightsafety.org/foundation/aviation-awards/gloria-heath-scholarship/
Greater Seattle 99s Scholarships
The Greater Seattle Chapter of The Ninety-Nines will award a Nancy K. Jensen Memorial Scholarship 2024 in the amount of $3,000 to a student pilot to be used toward completion of a Private Pilot Certificate. Applications are due April 1, 2024.
How To Apply:
See the chapter's Scholarships page (www.seattle99s.org/scholarships) for full details, application forms, and a link to a webinar by chapter scholarship chair Mollie Warren about scholarship application tips.
Greater Seattle 99s Scholarships Application
Mount Tahoma Scholarship
Mount Tahoma Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, Washington, offers a scholarship of $1000 given out as funds are available. The aim is to support women pilots in their continued pursuit of aeronautical skills, both professionally and recreationally. The scholarship is open to any Ninety-Nine member located in the Northwest Section who is seeking to increase proficiency or regain currency by adding a new rating or certificate by participating in a defined training activity, e.g. instrument training, seaplane, tail wheel, mountain flying, aerobatics. The Mount Tahoma Scholarship is available to student pilots for initial flight training in obtaining their private pilot certificate.
How To Apply:
Applications open April 1, 2024, and the application due date is May 1, 2024. Training must be complete by June 1 of the year following the award presentation. Please read and follow the full instructions in the application. Work with your chapter's scholarship chair to create the best application package possible. Note: The essay is strictly limited to 500 words. All information is to be submitted to Laura Burkig and Sara Shapiro, scholarship committee, via the email addresses listed on the application.
Mount Tahoma Scholarship Application
Oregon Pines - Rising Star
The Rising Star Scholarship is a $1,500 Oregon Pines labor of love intended to assist a 99 member to rise to a higher level in aviation training. We would be pleased to see it applied to a new airmen certificate, a higher certificate, additional rating or other proficiency training.
APPLICANT Must be a current member of The Ninety-Nines, Inc. at the time of application (include membership number on application) and live in the state of Oregon.
How To Apply:
Click on the application for full application instructions.
DUE DATE: Completed scholarship application packets must be electronically RECEIVED BY Friday, June 28, 2024. Send to Oregon Pines Scholarship Chair: reasonershelly@gmail.com
Oregon Pines - Rising Star Application
Patty Mitchell Northwest Section of The Ninety-Nines Scholarship
Amount of Scholarship: Up to $1,500.00
Application Due Date: March 15, 2024
Award Announcement: April 1, 2024, or at the Spring Board of Directors Meeting
Brief Description: To support women pilots in the continued pursuit of aeronautical skills, both professionally and recreationally.
-- Any Ninety-Nines member seeking to increase proficiency or regain currency by adding a new rating or certificate by participating in a defined training activity, e.g., instrument training, seaplane, tail wheel, mountain flying, aerobatics.
-- This scholarship IS available to student pilots for initial flight training in obtaining their private pilot certificate.
See scholarship application for more information.
Patty Mitchell worked as a substitute teacher to pay for flying lessons. After quickly earning her private, commercial, Instrument and CFI certificates, she became one of Montana’s first smoke jumper pilots. Later, she flew charters and borrowed money to earn a type rating on a Citation. She interviewed in 1987-88 with several airlines and ran into gender discrimination barriers, but kept trying. Finally, she was hired by United Airlines in 1988 on the basis of her “thinking out of the box” during communication emergencies. She was one of 200 women out of 8500 pilots. Discrimination and harassment made it difficult but she never gave up. She flew 727’s, eventually earning a type rating in the 747 which she loved to fly. Patty retired from United at age 60. She continued flying, instructing, mentoring, was an aviation friend, leader and active member of the 99’s until passing in 2021.
How To Apply:
Scroll down for the link to the application form. Application consists of the following:
- An essay strictly limited to 500 words, describing the applicant’s objectives in obtaining the scholarship (i.e. professional aviation career; increasing proficiency; regaining currency), and how the scholarship will be used to advance that goal.
- Review Patty Mitchell’s biography to identify your steps toward your aviation goal. The essay should address how you intend to use some of Patty’s characteristics to achieve your goals. For example, how you deal with the gender gap and discrimination and/or examples of “thinking outside the box.”
- Essays should emphasize what this training would mean to the applicant, and how the applicant would “pay it forward” to other Ninety-Nines by returning value to the aviation community.
- Any supporting documentation you deem important.
- Documented TOTAL cost of flight training requested and how you will pay for the additional cost of training not covered by the scholarship (make it clear that there are sufficient funds from other sources to complete the training or course of study). Financial need is not a requirement, but is an evaluation factor (tie-breaker).
- Letter of recommendation from applicant’s chapter chair to verify member's activity level and participation in chapter activities.
Patty Mitchell Northwest Section of The Ninety-Nines Scholarship Application
Past Recipient of the Patty Mitchell Northwest Section of The Ninety-Nines Scholarship:
| 2024: | Alyssa Rittel |
Alyssa Rittel, a Ninety-Nine and pilot from Fairbanks, Alaska, began flying in 2022 and is excited to pursue an aviation career as an airline pilot. She is a participant in the Horizon Air Pilot Development Program and is training to become a certified flight instructor. Her favorite part of aviation is exploring the vast landscapes and untouched wilderness of Alaska. She is also a member of the Midnight Sun Ninety-Nines and is grateful for the mentorships and friendships formed with other women pilots. When not flying, Alyssa enjoys being a mom, exploring trails with her huskies, knitting, gardening, fishing, and outdoor adventures. |
Previous: Mountain Flying/Backcountry Scholarship
This was a one-time scholarship. The Northwest Section donated the money for this scholarship in the name of the Montana Chapter to honor them for their great job hosting the 2013 International 99s conference in Bozeman.
Past Recipient of the Previous: Mountain Flying/Backcountry Scholarship:
| 2015: | Cindy Fritz |
| Cindy is active in the Idaho Aviation Association's efforts to maintain backcountry airstrips. |
Previous: Northwest Section Scholarship
The Northwest Section Scholarship was combined with the Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship in January 2024. The Northwest Section Scholarship fund was created in 2013 from funds that the Section held in investment accounts. The scholarship was awarded annually for $1,000 or the amount requested, whichever was less, for training such as flight review, emergency maneuver training, ground school, components of student pilot training, floatplane rating, instrument proficiency check, or tailwheel instruction.
Previous: Northwest Section Scholarship Application
Past Recipients of the Previous: Northwest Section Scholarship:
| 2023: | Stacy Uebelhor |
Stacy, past chair of the Greater Seattle 99s, plans to use the scholarship toward her CFI rating. |
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| 2022: | Jenna Breen |
Jenna, a Greater Seattle 99s chapter member, will use her award towards her Commercial rating. |
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| 2021: | Sheri (Sharki) Kontra |
Sharki of Idaho chapter plans to use the scholarship to pay for her CFII. Before she completed her private pilot license, chapter member Sherry Kandle interviewed her. |
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| 2020: | Mandy Schmidt |
Mandy, a Columbia Cascade chapter member, trained for and completed her private pilot license. |
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| 2019: | Karen Didisse |
Karen Didisse of Idaho Chapter trained for and received her private pilot license. |
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| 2018: | Cindy Repp |
Cindy Repp of Intermountain Chapter will fly her initial cross country flight for the private certificate. |
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| 2018: | Cindy Fritz |
Cindy Fritz of the Idaho Chapter will train for her instrument rating. |
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| 2017: | Candyce Goudey |
| Candyce Goudey of the Intermountain Chapter will train for her CFI rating. | |
| 2017: | Laura Lloyd |
Laura Lloyd of Columbia Cascade Chapter used her scholarship for an instrument rating. She achieved this on September 15, 2017 and is still going strong: on October 25, 2017 Laura earned her commercial certificate! |
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| 2016: | Li Yang |
Li Yang of the Columbia Cascade chapter planned to use her scholarship for floatplane training. She currently flies for SkyWest and actively mentors other pilots. |
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| 2016: | Miranda Edwards |
| Miranda Edwards of the Montana chapter used her scholarship for training for her instrument rating. | |
| 2015: | Vanessa Nelson |
| Vanessa Nelson of the Oregon Pines chapter was the recipient of our first Northwest Section Scholarship. She flies the J3 Cub that belonged to her dad, which she restored in 2011. Vanessa will use her scholarship for skiplane instruction. |
Previous: Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship
The Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship was combined with the Northwest Section Scholarship in January 2024. In honor of Patty Mitchell, the purpose of this annual scholarship was to support women pilots in the continued pursuit of aeronautical skills, both professionally and recreationally.
Previous: Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship Application
Past Recipients of the Previous: Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship:
| 2023: | Gina Wilke |
Gina Wilke is a student pilot member of the Columbia Cascade chapter. She says: "It is with a heart of gratitude that I accept the Patty Mitchell Scholarship Fund to complete my Private Pilot License, which I began in April. I expect to finish my training in September. I am working at a good pace, training three times a week. I plan to use my scholarship winnings to pay for my lessons over the next week or two." |
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| 2022: | Boo Carter |
Boo Carter has been a member of the Idaho Chapter of the 99s since late 2017. After receiving this year's Patty Mitchell Memorial Scholarship, she signed up with Silverhwawk Aviation in Caldwell, Idaho (KEUL) to get her CFI rating. She had taken all the CFI tests during the Covid shutdown in 2020, but they have expired and she will start over again. Since this is a school, she says, "I can go as fast as my life will allow." |
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