The Western New York Chapter of the Ninety-Nines is pleased to announce the establishment of the Melanie Georger Memorial Scholarship, funded by the Georger Family in memory of Melanie Georger, a young aviatrix and 99s member whose passion for flight and aeronautical sciences left a lasting impact on those around her. This scholarship honors her dedication, ambition, and love of aviation by supporting women who are actively pursuing their own aviation goals.
The scholarship will award a minimum of one recipient annually, with individual awards up to $15,000 in total scholarship funds per year. Funds may be used for primary or advanced flight training, including flight hours and check ride preparation, with eligible expenses incurred between June 1, 2026 and May 31, 2027.
Applicants must be female pilots or student pilots, at least 18 years of age, current members of the Ninety-Nines, and living and training in Western New York. Eligible counties include Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Niagara, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates.
Applications, including a completed application form, personal essay, and two letters of recommendation by April 1, 2026. For additional information or application details, interested applicants may contact the Western New York Chapter of the Ninety-Nines at 99swnyscholarship@gmail.com.
Lightspeed Delta Zulu ANR Headset Winner
06/01/2026
Congratulations, Jenny!
We're excited to announce that Jenny Dixon, Bay Cities Chapter, is the winner of our quarterly Lightspeed Delta Zulu ANR headset giveaway!
Jenny now joins the growing list of Ninety-Nines members and Friends of The 99s who wear the most advanced aviation headsets from Lightspeed — combining safety, innovation, and comfort in the cockpit.
Thank you to our partner Lightspeed Aviation for supporting The Ninety-Nines and helping us keep women pilots in aviation soaring higher every day!
Stay tuned — our next quarterly drawing is just around the corner.
Clear the runway - it’s time to celebrate Amelia’s birthday and YOU are invited!
BIG BIRTHDAY NEWS: In honor of Amelia Earhart’s birthday, an anonymous pledge has been made to match every gift dollar for dollar up to $5,000—which means your donation can have twice the impact! But this matching gift opportunity ends July 31st, so please make your gift today and help Amelia’s legacy keep soaring. Thank you so very much for your thoughtfulness with your past giving.
Amelia’s birthday on July 24th is more than a date on the calendar—it is a moment to celebrate a woman who launched imaginations, shattered expectations, and continues to inspire dreamers of every age to aim higher.
The Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum preserves not just a house, but a legacy. Every school group that walks through those doors, every exhibit we restore, every program we create for young visitors, it all depends on people like you who believe Amelia's story still matters.
Will you help us celebrate Amelia’s 129th birthday with a gift that keeps her fearless spirit flying?
Please consider making a one-time birthday gift of $100, $250, $500, or any amount that feels meaningful to you. Thanks to the matching pledge, your generosity can go twice as far to preserve Amelia’s childhood home, support educational programs, restore exhibits, and keep the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum open and inspiring for the next generation of bold dreamers.
Donations can be made through the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum website or mailed to 223 N. Terrace Street, Atchison, KS 66002.
Amelia never stopped pushing forward. With your help, neither will we. Thank you for your consideration.
With gratitude,
Your Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum Team
Jan McKenzie, Board Chair Ashley Gill, Director
In Memory of Wally Funk
Wally Funk Memorial Service
September 1st
1:00pm
White’s Chapel Methodist Church
Southlake TX
Reception following.
Notable persons expected to take part in service are Astronaut Eileen Collins, Bezos Blue Origin representatives, Mayor of Grapevine.
In Memory of Wally Funk
February 1, 1939 – 2026
The Ninety-Nines mourn the passing of one of aviation’s most inspiring pioneers, Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk—a woman whose courage, determination, and love of flight changed the course of history for women in aviation.
Wally was more than a celebrated aviator. She was one of us.
As a longtime member of The Ninety-Nines, Wally embodied Amelia Earhart’s spirit of adventure and the unwavering belief that women belong in every corner of aviation. She spent more than six decades proving that talent, perseverance, and passion know no gender.
Long before the world knew her name, Wally was breaking barriers. In 1961, she became one of the Mercury 13 women who successfully completed the same rigorous physical testing as the male astronauts selected by NASA. She outperformed many of her male counterparts, yet was denied the opportunity to fly in space simply because she was a woman. Rather than allowing disappointment to define her, Wally devoted her life to aviation—earning thousands of hours in the cockpit, instructing countless pilots, serving as the first female FAA inspector and the first female NTSB air safety investigator, and inspiring generations through her enthusiasm and generosity.
Then, at the age of 82, the dream she had carried for sixty years finally came true. On July 20, 2021, Wally flew into space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard, becoming the oldest woman to reach space. It was a moment celebrated around the world—not simply because she had reached space, but because justice, though long delayed, had finally caught up with determination.
Those fortunate enough to know Wally remember far more than her extraordinary accomplishments. They remember her infectious smile, boundless energy, unmistakable laugh, and genuine joy every time she climbed into an airplane or encouraged another person to chase their dreams. She never lost the excitement of a young girl who looked skyward and believed she belonged there.
For The Ninety-Nines, Wally represented everything our founders envisioned. She opened doors she was never invited to enter, then held those doors open for every woman who followed. She showed us that perseverance can outlast prejudice, that excellence speaks louder than barriers, and that dreams have no expiration date.
As we remember our friend and fellow Ninety-Nine, we celebrate a life lived boldly and without compromise. Wally often said she intended to keep flying for as long as she lived. She did exactly that.
Blue skies and tailwinds, dear Wally.
Your journey has inspired generations of women pilots, and your legacy will continue to lift every young girl who looks to the sky and dares to believe, “I can do that too.”
You will forever have a place in the hearts of your Ninety-Nines sisters.
Blue skies, Wally. We’ll take it from here.My condolences to you and to the entire Ninety-Nines family. Wally’s passing marks the loss of one of the last living links to the pioneering generation that transformed opportunities for women in aviation, but her influence will continue to be felt every time a woman takes the controls of an aircraft.
Just days into my term as International President, I couldn’t be more excited about the direction of The Ninety-Nines.
Your International Board of Directors has wasted no time rolling up our sleeves and getting to work. In our first week, we reactivated the Flying Activities Committee and launched our first international flying event—the Aerial Scavenger Hunt. We established our Centennial Committee to begin planning the celebration of our 100th Anniversary in 2029, reinstated the Oral Histories Committee to preserve the remarkable stories of the women who came before us, and created the Council of Past Presidents to help preserve the institutional knowledge that will guide us into our second century.
But these accomplishments are only the beginning.
This week, many of us are gathering at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, where we have the privilege of sharing the story of The Ninety-Nines with thousands of aviation enthusiasts from around the world. Whether welcoming prospective members, reconnecting with longtime friends, or celebrating women in aviation, every conversation is another opportunity to strengthen our organization.
As we move forward, I encourage each of you to become part of the journey. Attend a chapter event. Volunteer for a committee. Invite another woman pilot to join us. Participate in one of our new flying activities. Every member has something valuable to contribute.
Every successful flight has a destination, a flight plan, and a crew working together. Our destination is clear, our flight plan is underway, and I hope you’ll be an active member of the crew as we fly toward our Centennial and beyond."
Have you given an outstanding presentation to your Chapter, Section, or other aviation group that you would like to share at the Ninety-Nines International Conference? We are looking for dynamic presenters for the 2027 International Conference to be held September 10-11 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. We invite you to share your aviation knowledge and expertise with Ninety-Nines members and guests. Presentations should be approximately one hour, including time for questions and answers. If interested in presenting, please submit:
Send to 99scallforpresenters@gmail.com by September 15, 2026. Selected speakers will be notified by November 15, 2026. If selected, you will be asked to submit a photo for publication in The Ninety-Nines Magazine and International Conference Program. Please note: Participation is on a volunteer basis. Membership in The Ninety-Nines is not a requirement, but preferred. Each presenter is responsible for his or her own transportation, lodging, meals, registration, and parking. This is not a venue for promoting products or services.
| National Aeronautic Association Announces Kelly L. Adams as the Recipient of the 2026 Katharine Wright Trophy |
| NAA honors Air Force director for two decades of service mentoring thousands of military medical professionals. |
| WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30, 2026 - The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) announces Kelly L. Adams, Program Director for the Air Force Institute of Technology Civilian Institution Health Professions Scholarship Program, as the recipient of the 2026 Katharine Wright Trophy. Established in 1981 by the Gates Learjet Corporation and awarded annually in partnership with the Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots, the Katharine Wright Trophy recognizes individuals who have contributed to the success of others or made a personal contribution to the advancement of aviation and space over an extended period. “Katharine Wright’s legacy is defined by steadfast support that enables others to reach extraordinary heights,” said Amy Marino Spowart, President and CEO, NAA. “Kelly Adams embodies that exact spirit. For over two decades, she has served as a vital anchor for military medicine, ensuring those who safeguard our Airmen are supported, equipped, and inspired to lead.” Adams is recognized for her 23-year civil service career leading the Department of the Air Force's largest health professions accession pipeline. At Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, she has guided nearly 12,000 future physicians, nurses, and aerospace medicine specialists into military service, strengthening military healthcare readiness and mentoring generations of female Air Force medical leaders. "I am extremely honored and humbled to join the ranks of this illustrious group of Katharine Wright Trophy recipients," said Awardee Kelly Adams. "Being from the Dayton, Ohio area, known as the 'Birthplace of Aviation' and surrounded by Wright Brothers family history, makes this association even more meaningful. I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given to work with the amazing and talented Air Force men and women to help them realize their dreams of becoming United States Air Force Aerospace Health Professional Officers." The 2026 Katharine Wright Trophy will be formally presented during the NAA Fall Awards Dinner on November 5, 2026, in Washington, D.C. For event tickets and more information, visit naa.aero. |
We’re excited to share that the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum is participating in All Aboard Atchison Match Day on Friday, August 14!
This annual day of giving is an opportunity to invest in the place where Amelia Earhart’s remarkable journey began.
Our goal is to raise $10,000 to help preserve Amelia’s childhood home and support the ongoing care of this National Historic Site.
You can give in many ways:
Together, we can preserve Amelia’s legacy and inspire future generations. Thank you for your support.
Thank you,
Ashley Gill
Director
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum
Courtesy of Oklahoma Civil Air Patrol Wing Facebook Post
Fewer than 0.5% of Civil Air Patrol cadets across the nation ever reach the rank of Cadet Colonel—and today, Cadet Col. Gabriella Cassetari has officially joined that elite group!
Earning the General Carl A. Spaatz Award isn't just an honor; it’s the culmination of years of relentless effort. To achieve this, Cassettari completed a rigorous four-part exam covering Leadership, Aerospace Education, physical fitness, and a Comprehensive Essay Evaluation.
From leading unit missions and mentoring junior cadets to countless hours of study and drill, Cassettari exemplifies CAP’s core values: Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect.
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Cathleen (Cathy) SteeleI have been an active CFI since 1998 and have accrued over 6000 of dual given. Previously I have been the Chief Flight Instructor at a Part 141 flight training school located at KBWI and also served as the Chief Flight Instructor at the first flight training academy in Nepal. Currently I am an independent Cirrus Instructor pilot with Platinum status.
Instructor Ratings: CFI, CFII
Location: Baltimore, MD, United States 
Contact InstructorTo: Cathleen Steele
Location: Baltimore, MD, United States