In 1941, the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to assist members of The Ninety-Nines while honoring our first president. The scholarships are given once each year to 99s members in order to advance their aviation careers and education in aerospace and aviation. The AEMSF is unique in that the scholarship allows the recipient to complete the certificate or rating for which she applied, rather than being a fixed amount for each winner. Starting with one scholarship of $125 in 1941, the fund has grown in recent years to allow for as many as 17 scholarships of amounts ranging from $2,000 to $8,000.

A two-year member of the Ninety-Nines may apply for an AE Memorial Scholarship to complete an advanced pilot rating or certificate, such as multi-engine rating or airline transport certificate. If awarded, the scholarship pays the entire cost of flight training.

Ambassador Chapter members who have received this scholarship include Janet Patton (stinson9@juno.com), who was awarded a 1991 AE Memorial Scholarship to complete the Multi-Engine Instructor rating, and Wendy Paver (wpaver@yahoo.com), awarded a scholarship in 1993 to complete the Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. "It helped me get a job flying freight in a Convair - my first big airplane," Wendy says. "Besides getting funds for training, it was an honor to be chosen for the award." In 1998, Michelle Turner (aapilot1@worldnet.att.net) received an AE Memorial Scholarship towards completion of the B-737 Type Rating. "All the time I spent in the 737 simulator helped me in my simulator checkride at American Airlines, and was a direct contributor to me getting the job," she says.

In past years, United Airlines teamed up with the Ninety-Nines' AEMSF to offer scholarships to 99s for training towards a Type Rating in one of the several jet airliners the company operates. This scholarship will not be available in 2001.

Recipients of the AE - United Airlines Type Rating award include Ambassador Chapter members Jenny Beatty (1995) and Kelly Hamilton (1996), who together completed B-747 Type Ratings, and Janet Patton (1996), who completed the B-737 Type Rating. You may contact Jenny at aviatrix@compuserve.com, Kelly at ladyplt@aol.com, and Janet at stinson9@juno.com.

Eligibility Requirements and Applications

Ninety-Nines who have been members continuously for two years, aspire to a career in aviation or aerospace, and have financial need of the scholarship may apply for an Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship. The most accurate and up-to-date eligibility requirements and applications forms may be obtained from The 99s Headquarters.

Requests for an informational packet and application for AE Memorial Scholarships should be sent to the following address with a business-sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope:

The Ninety-Nines, Inc. International Headquarters
Box 965
Will Rogers World Airport
Oklahoma City, OK 73159-0965

DEADLINE: The application deadline for AE Memorial Scholarships is DECEMBER 31, 2001. Late submissions cannot be considered.

For more information, contact Ambassador Chapter Scholarship Chairman Michelle Turner (aapilot1@worldnet.att.net).

The Amerlia Earhart Scholarship Board of Trustees will give at least FIVE $1000 scholarships to Future Women Pilots each year. These funds may be used for flight training towards a Private Pilot certificate. The criteria for an applicant includes the following:

• Is a Future Woman Pilot member of the Ninety-Nines, Inc.
• Holds current medical certificate.
• Has logbook entries showing at least 20 hours of flight time.
• Has logbook entry and/or document showing she has soloed.
• Has proof of having passed the Private Pilot written test.
• Has financial need of the award.
• Agrees to use the funds for flight training by December 31, 2003.

Note that the applicant must be a Future Woman Pilot member of the Ninety-Nines, which includes affiliation with a 99s Chapter, and submission of a membership application and fee to 99s Headquarters. To apply for a FWP scholarship through the Ambassador Chapter, the FWP must be affiliated with our chapter.

Eligibility Requirements and Applications

Requests for an information packet and application for the FWP Scholarship should be sent to the following address with a business-sized, stamped, self-addressed envelope:

The Ninety-Nines, Inc. International Headquarters
Box 965
Will Rogers World Airport
Oklahoma City, OK 73159-0965

DEADLINE: The application deadline for FWP Scholarships is DECEMBER 31, 2001. Late submissions cannot be considered.

For more information, contact Ambassador Chapter Scholarship Chairman Michelle Turner (aapilot1@worldnet.att.net).

The AE Memorial Research Scholar Grant is given to provide a work environment in which an established scholar/scientist can add to the world's knowledge of women in aviation and aerospace. It is the desire of the Ninety-Nines, Inc. to contribute to:

• The documented history of woman's place in the development and furtherance of aviation and aerospace.
• Documenting and fostering the leadership role of women in all facets of aviation including social, economic, engineering, historical, political, etc.
• The expansion of human knowledge in areas of specific differences faced by women in aviation: as pilots, as engineers, as administrators, in military aviation, etc. Special disciplines applied to these problems could include, but not be limited to: history, sociology, psychology, biology, economics, business administration, human engineering, ergonomics, etc.

The grant may be used in conjunction with other research activities such as: completion of research requirements for an advanced degree or matching funds with other grants to fund a program larger than either grant could sponsor independently.

Information on the AEMSF Research Scholar Grants, including eligibility requirements, application process, and deadlines, may be obtained from:

Dr. Jacqueline Boyd
Chairman, AEMSF Research Scholar Grants
155 Aviator Drive
Ft. Worth, TX 76131 USA
Phone: 817-439-1810
Email: jacqueboyd@compuserve.com

Completed applications for the AE Memorial Scholarship and the FWP Scholarship should be sent by DECEMBER 31, 2001 to:

Janet Patton
Ambassador Chapter Chairman
748 Creek Trail NW
Kennesaw, GA 30144-2132

DEADLINE: December 31, 2001. Late submissions cannot be considered.

Each Chapter may forward one application per 25 members, or part thereof, to the next level. With our current membership of over 70 we are able to forward three scholarship applications to the South Central Section. The Section Scholarship Committee then reviews all applications, and sends its quota on to the AEMSF Trustees. Last year, the SC Section's quota was five applications (of those, four were scholarship recipients). This year, the Trustees determined that Sections may submit additional strong applicants.

The AEMSF Trustees determine the approximate number of scholarships which may be allotted that year, which is a function of available monies. That number of applications, plus a few more, are sent to the final Judges. The Board of Trustees asks four people from outside the organization, chosen for their prominence in aviation or sincere interest in the advancement of women pilots, to act as Judges. The scholarship winners selected by the Judges are notified as soon as the results are received by the Trustees, and training may begin at that time. At the annual 99s conference, a banquet is dedicated to the scholarship winners, at which time they receive a certificate. A medal is given upon completion of training.

Funds for the AEMSF are obtained from donations by members, chapters, friends, memorials, and corporations. Donations earmarked for the AEMSF should be sent to:

Charlene Falkenberg
Permanent Trustee
618 South Washington Street
Hobart, IN 46342-5026

Many Chapters of the Ninety-Nines individually offer a wide range of scholarships to girls, women, non-pilots, students, and/or licensed pilots. The amount and eligibility criteria vary from chapter to chapter. Sometimes these scholarships are limited to girls or women who reside or study within a certain geographical proximity to the Chapter's location, or who are studying or training at a certain level. Some scholarships are for attendance at a summer aviation camp or Space Camp, higher education, a private pilot certificate or basic pilot ratings, or advanced ratings. Since these vary considerably from chapter to chapter and from year to year, the best place to review the list is on the main Ninety-Nines website: www.ninety-nines.org/scholar.html.

In 1986 the Michigan Chapter awarded the Mary von Mach Scholarship to Janet Patton for attendance at a Civil Air Patrol Michigan Wing Flight Encampment. In 1994 the Eastern New England Chapter gave Jessica Daisy a scholarship of $1000 and the Anne Baddour Scholarship of $1500. "I used both in combination to get my ATP and MEI ratings, which helped tremendously in building multi-engine time!" Jessica says. Both Janet (stinson9@juno.com) and Jessica (skyrj@aol.com) are members of the Ambassador Chapter now.

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) offers several scholarships for the children of ALPA members who are disabled or deceased. Contact the ALPA Scholarship Monitor, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC, 20036 USA or email govbod@alpa.org.

Many scholarships are available through the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) and the AOPA Air Safety Foundation. Contact Drew Steketee at drew.steketee@aopa.org or (301) 695-2156 or click to www.aopa.org.

The Judith Resnick Award, named for the Space Shuttle astronaut, is offered by American Flyers, a nation-wide flight training school. This scholarship is for women pilots with the commercial certificate. For more information, contact Sherry Magno at 954-473-0097.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) has many scholarships, including the Timken Aviation Internships, which provide training opportunities for women. Contact the Resident Education Office, EAA Aviation Foundation, P.O. Box 3065, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065 USA, phone 1-888-322-3229, or email education@eaa.org.

The International Society of Women Airlines Pilots (ISA) offers scholarships to aspiring women airline pilots. The International Career Scholarship and the Fiorenza de Bernardi Merit Scholarship pay for advanced flight ratings or international equivalent. The Grace McAdams Harris Scholarship funds any ISA scholarship for an applicant who demonstrates "exceptionally spirited and ingenious attitude under difficult circumstances in the field of aviation." The Holly Mullins Memorial Scholarship is offered to a single mother and aspiring airline pilot. In addition, ISA's Airline Scholarships, donated by major airlines, offer training towards a jet Type Rating or Flight Engineer Certificate. Click on www.iswap.org.

The Organization of Black Airline Pilots offers a Fellowship Program to assist members by paying one-half of costs for advanced flight training, or of expenses for coaching and simulator training in preparation for a job interview. OBAP also offers Airline Type Rating Scholarships donated by major US airlines. Contact OBAP at 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 126, Silver Spring, ND 20910 USA, or call 1-800-JET-OBAP, or check their website: www.obap.org.

The Kolstad Scholarship, offered through the Soaring Society of America (SSA), is available to young women glider pilots between the ages of 14 and 20 meeting certain soaring experience criteria. Request an application from the SSA, P.O. Box 2100, Hobbs, NM 88241-2100 USA.

Five scholarships are given annually by the Whirly-Girls, International Women Helicopter Pilots. The Men's Auxiliary gives a female fixed-wing, glider, or balloon pilot money towards training for a helicopter rating. The International Whirly-Girl Scholarship is offered to a female fixed-wing, glider, or balloon pilot towards training for a helicopter rating, or for a non-US female helicopter pilot to upgrade her present ratings. The Doris Mullen Scholarship helps a Whirly-Girl earn an advanced helicopter rating. The Bell Helicopter-Textron Company provides a Whirly-Girl turbine transition training at the Bell factory. Flight Safety International offers an instrument-rated Whirly-Girl an Instrument Refresher. For information about all Whirly-Girl scholarships, contact Betsy Johnson, Scholarship President, Box R, Scappoose, OR 97056 USA, phone 503-543-4200, or email twa@triax.com

The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) fund a scholarship for young women, administered through the EAA Education Foundation. Contact the Resident Education Office, EAA Aviation Foundation, P.O. Box 3065, Oshkosh, WI 54903-3065 USA, phone 1-888-322-3229, or email education@eaa.org.

Women in Aviation, International (WAI) coordinates scholarships to women in many career fields of aviation and aerospace. Numerous scholarships, sponsored by major airlines and corporations, provide for training in aircraft maintenance, controllers, gliders, fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft, and corporate and airline jet type ratings, as well as funds towards higher education. For more information, contact WAI at P.O. Box 11287, Daytona Beach, FL 32120-1287 USA, phone 904-226-7996, or click on www.wiai.org.

Women in Corporate Aviation (WCA) offers business aviation or corporate career scholarships. These are administered by WAI at P.O. Box 11287, Daytona Beach, FL 32120-1287 USA, phone 904-226-7996,, or click on www.wiai.org.

The Women Soaring Pilots Association (WSPA) has two scholarships for women glider pilots. The Briegleb Scholarship helps offset the travel costs of attending WSPA's annual soaring seminar. The Sky Ghost Scholarship is for young female students. For more information, contact Gloria Dalton, WSPA Treasurer, 4826 Westridge Drive, Charlotte NC 28208 USA.

The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) also has an online resource at www.aopa.org linked through the learntofly/startfly/whycollege.html pages. Or call AOPA at 1-800-872-2672.

There are several websites with comprehensive databases of scholarships and financial aid in aviation and aerospace. Check out Aviation Scholars at www.avscholars.com, FASTWeb at www.fastweb.com, and Financial Aid at www.finaid.org. Check out Fresh Info at www.freschinfo.com, then use the browser, click on "Area of Study/Major", then "Engineering and Related Majors", then Aviation or Aerospace.

Look for the Directory of Financial Aid for Women, 1997-1999 or the Gale's Research Directory in the reference section of your local library.

NASA's Resources for Educators has much information for teachers and students of aviation and aerospace, including financial support, apprenticeships, internships, and research opportunities. Click on spacelink.nasa.gov.

The University Aviation Association (UAA) provides comprehensive information on student internships, jobs, and scholarships. Contact UAA at 3410 Skyway Drive, Auburn, AL 36830 USA, phone 1-334-844-2434, email uaa@auburn.edu, or click on uaa.auburn.edu.

Woman Pilot magazine posts information for aspiring pilots on their website: www.womanpilot.com.