I recently found out that I was selected as a recipient of an Amelia Earhart Memorial Fund FLY NOW Award. I will be writing a series of blogs as I progress, but I wanted to begin by paying tribute to the organization which is so generously sponsoring my education.
Earlier this year, I attended a Ninety-Nines meeting where our Chairwoman started off with a little blurb saying she was absolutely enthralled at the idea of being a member of a group that was started by AMELIA EARHART herself. Something about this idea resonated, and continues to resonate, with me. Of course, when I found out that I was the recipient of a scholarship in Amelia Earhart's memory, I felt a similar sense of deeply inspiring, nostalgic pride (and also felt even more than ever that failure is absolutely not an option!).
The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund (AEMSF) has propelled the dreams of over 400 women all over the world since 1940. Women in six different countries have benefitted from the fund thus far. Can you even imagine what 400 female pilots look like?! The fund awarded its first $125 scholarship in 1941, and has since grown to house over five million dollars in funding for women in aviation and aerospace. The success of the fund can only be attributed to the keen planning and genuine passion of the Trustees who are responsible for the fund. Additionally, The United Parcel Service Foundation (UPS) and the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation have given generously and remained committed to the purpose of the fund.
A number of different awards are available for female student pilots and/or licensed pilots who are members of the Ninety-Nines. The FLY NOW Awards, like the one I received, are for student pilots working on their Private Pilot license. There are many additional awards available, including awards for research, technical training, and jet ratings.
If you are interested in a scholarship through the AEMSF, you do have to become a member of the Ninety-Nines. However, scholarship or not, I recommend membership to any and all female pilots! The Ninety-Nines have provided me with such a receptive group of supporters as a pilot. I cannot express enough my gratitude to the Ninety-Nines and the AEMSF Trustees-- and of course, to Amelia herself!
Earlier this year, I attended a Ninety-Nines meeting where our Chairwoman started off with a little blurb saying she was absolutely enthralled at the idea of being a member of a group that was started by AMELIA EARHART herself. Something about this idea resonated, and continues to resonate, with me. Of course, when I found out that I was the recipient of a scholarship in Amelia Earhart's memory, I felt a similar sense of deeply inspiring, nostalgic pride (and also felt even more than ever that failure is absolutely not an option!).
The Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund (AEMSF) has propelled the dreams of over 400 women all over the world since 1940. Women in six different countries have benefitted from the fund thus far. Can you even imagine what 400 female pilots look like?! The fund awarded its first $125 scholarship in 1941, and has since grown to house over five million dollars in funding for women in aviation and aerospace. The success of the fund can only be attributed to the keen planning and genuine passion of the Trustees who are responsible for the fund. Additionally, The United Parcel Service Foundation (UPS) and the Lightspeed Aviation Foundation have given generously and remained committed to the purpose of the fund.
A number of different awards are available for female student pilots and/or licensed pilots who are members of the Ninety-Nines. The FLY NOW Awards, like the one I received, are for student pilots working on their Private Pilot license. There are many additional awards available, including awards for research, technical training, and jet ratings.
If you are interested in a scholarship through the AEMSF, you do have to become a member of the Ninety-Nines. However, scholarship or not, I recommend membership to any and all female pilots! The Ninety-Nines have provided me with such a receptive group of supporters as a pilot. I cannot express enough my gratitude to the Ninety-Nines and the AEMSF Trustees-- and of course, to Amelia herself!