These awards are presented at the annual International Conference of The Ninety-Nines.
AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT — ELLEN NOBLES HARRIS.jpg)
Ellen Nobles-Harris exemplifies those qualities cherished in The Ninety-Nines: commitment to the advancement of aviation, mentoring fellow pilots and support to women in aviation. Her exceptional organizational skills and excellent leadership abilities have benefited The Ninety-Nines at the Chapter, Section and International levels.
A member since 1991, Ellen served as Mid-Atlantic Section Governor for two terms beginning in 2000 and is currently the Section’s Membership Chairman. Serving as the Treasurer for the Delaware Chapter and the Section Treasurer, she monitored their fiscal soundness.
Ellen’s contributions at the International level include her more than six-year membership on the Building Maintenance Committee and, as International Airmarking Chairman, rewriting the Air Marking Guide. Seeing a need to assist those Chapters that file tax forms, Ellen produced instructions, which are available on our website, for filing the IRS Form 990-N (e-postcard).
As a FAA Safety Team Representative, Ellen authored several instructional guides, including “Registering for FAA Online Courses for WINGS Credit,” “WINGS Made Easy for Participants” and “WINGS Made Easy for Flight Instructors and FAASTeam Representatives.” cognition of her outstanding work and dedication to improving safety resulted in her selection as the FAASTeam Representative of the Year 2008, Eastern Region. Her nomination has been forwarded for national competition.
AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT — SUSAN LIEBELER
Susan is being recognized for the originality of her ideas, her hard work, the benefit of the funds she has raised for her Chapter, Section and International, plus her willingness to share the success of these fundraising methods with other Chapters.
She initiated and developed a very successful program for the Ventura County Chapter. The Pilot Proficiency Classes cover everything from educating the nonpilot partner all the way through advanced IFR techniques. Susan also started an annual Silent Auction that the Ventura County Chapter hosts at the annual Air Expo organized by a local chapter of the EAA. No one but Susan was sure that air show attendees would be interested in a silent auction, but with the multitude of items she procures for pilots and non-pilots alike, it became an instant hit.
Due to the success of these ventures and the effort she puts in to publicize them, the Ventura Chapter no longer needs to engage in high effort/low return activities to raise funds. The success of the classes and auction has allowed the Chapter to fund a $20,000 AEMSF Perpetual Scholarship. Last year they raised $40,000 in a “Raise the Roof Challenge” by matching contributions from any other Chapter or individual in the Southwest Section. This money went to repairing the leaking roof at International Headquarters in Oklahoma City. Locally, the funds have substantially increased the number and amount of the scholarships the Chapter is able to
fund for women student pilots.
Susan was asked to be Fundraising Chairman for the entire Southwest Section, and several Chapters are now putting on their own series of classes or planning silent auctions.
GEORGE PALMER PUTMAN AWARD — HAMPTON HOTELS
In April 2000, Hampton Hotels launched Hampton Save-A-Landmark, a community outreach campaign dedicated to refurbishing historical, fun and cultural landmarks along our highways.
Since then, the program has provided thousands of hours and more than $2 million toward the research and preservation of roadside landmarks for future generations. In 2006, the Save-A-Landmark program was honored with the 2006 Preserve America Presidential Award — the first hotel chain ever recognized by a U.S. president for its preservation efforts.
In 2008, Hampton Hotels’ theme was Legends, and Amelia Earhart was chosen as one of the four Legends for the year. On July 24, 2008, more than 50 volunteers from Hampton Hotels’ Save-A-Landmark program spent an estimated 200 hours at the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum in Atchison, Kansas. Volunteers worked to clean, prime, paint and repair both the interior and exterior of the landmark as well as install new stained glass windows and replace the existing roof of the museum. Additionally, Hampton Hotels contributed $20,000 towards the refurbishment of this national treasure as well as its continued care.
After the project was completed, Hampton Hotels furnished The Ninety-Nines and employees with a hardback book of pictures taken during the refurbishment. Thanks to Hampton Hotels’ program, aviation history — and one of The Ninety-Nines treasures – was preserved.
AWARD OF MERIT— RITA CREIGHTON 
Rita Creighton was an active member of the local community throughout her entire life. She was dedicated to education and was a tireless advocate for students and parents. She loved working within the aviation industry as the Community Relations Director for King County International Airport in Washington State, a position which allowed her to combine her love of aviation with her quest to ensure that the educational system provided a relevant and rigorous education for all students.
During Rita’s 12-year tenure with the King County International Airport (also known as Boeing Field), she helped develop and implement a vision that is now known as Aviation High School, and her legacy is one of amazing accomplishments and benefits to both the education and aviation communities.
Rita’s plan was based on her belief that students will learn when they are passionate about a subject; Students need to use their heads, their hearts and their hands to solve problems that are encountered in the workplace each day; aviation is the application of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and is grounded in the humanities; and Seattle is the birthplace of modern aviation.
Rita believed that combining the best practices of vocational education and academia in a theme-based learning environment around aviation would solve some of the challenges in education as well as in the aviation workforce. Creating Aviation High School was a 7½-year labor of love for Rita. She and the school’s principal gained $600,000 initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and $16 million from the Port of Seattle. Five years after opening their doors in 2004, the school has gained local, state and national recognition as a premier learning institution in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Many students are earning their pilot certificates, and members of The Ninety-Nines and other aviation-related organizations and businesses are on campus almost every day, mentoring students, assessing student work and giving feedback, serving as guest speakers and helping develop a new aviation course.
Aviation High School students are scoring in the top two percent in the state on standardized tests in reading, writing, math and science and are exceeding state and national test scores in the same areas. Students in the inaugural class are now enrolled in Embry-Riddle and other aviation-focused universities And training programs in which they are further preparing for entry into aviation and aerospace careers.
Rita passed away on March 16, 2008, four years after Aviation High School welcomed its first students on campus. Due to her impact on both the education and aviation communities, the Award of Merit is presented posthumously to Rita Creighton.
AWARD OF INSPIRATION — EILEEN COLLINS 
Colonel Eileen Collins, USAF, RET., has been chosen by the Board of Directors as the 2009 recipient of the Award of Inspiration.
As a young woman, Eileen read about space flight and gained her inspiration from the Mercury Astronauts. After high school, she attended college and earned her Master of Arts degree in Space Systems Management from Webster University.
Having logged over 6,750 hours in 30 different types of aircraft, she became an astronaut in July 1991. She served as pilot on STS-63 in February 1995 and STS-84 in May 1997. She served as the Shuttle Commander on STS-93 in July 1993 and STS-114 in July/August 2005.
As a veteran of four space flights, she logged over 872 hours in space. With her shuttle mission in July 1993, she became the first female Shuttle Commander. Eileen also commanded the “Return to Flight” mission, the first mission after the Columbia tragedy in 2002.
When asked about being the first and only female Shuttle Commander, her answer was, “Hopefully not for long!” She looked forward to losing the title of the “only” female commander, and in 2007, the “only” was lifted from her title when Pamela Melroy served as Commander of STS-120.
Eileen has received the Defense Superior Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for service in Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury, October 1983), French Legion of Honor, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Space Flight Medals, Free Spirit Award and the National Space Trophy.
Eileen retired from NASA in May 2006. She now serves on the NASA Advisory Council as Chairman of the Space Operations Committee and is busy as a professional speaker and consultant. She and her husband, who is a pilot for Delta Airlines, raise two children in Houston and are planning a move to San Antonio next summer to be closer to family and Eileen’s current employer.
Those who have met Eileen are immediately charmed and disarmed by her down-to-earth approach to life and her interest in the world around her. A pilot, wife, mother and career woman, she continually inspires those she meets.
KATHERINE B. WRIGHT AWARD — DONNA SHIRLEY 
As a child of Chickasaw descent growing up in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, Donna Shirley was fascinated by science fiction and dreamed of exploring Mars. With her parents’ support, Donna started flying lessons at age 15 and soloed at age 16. Valedictorian of her high school class, Donna entered the University of Oklahoma (OU) and continued her flying. There she achieved a commercial pilot certificate with airplane, single and multi-engine land and seaplane ratings and a flight instructor certificate. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in professional writing, and her first job at the McDonnell Aircraft Company was writing specifications for the Gemini spacecraft that carried two astronauts into orbit. But a writing job didn’t do it for her. Donna later returned to OU for a second Bachelor’s degree in aerospace/mechanical engineering. Still space-struck and going for more, she went on to acquire a Master’s in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California.
Donna entered a fulfilling 32-year career with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, starting as the only degreed female among 2,000 engineers. She was involved in some three dozen projects and soon became the first woman to manage a NASA program as project manager of the Mariner 10 mission to Venus and Mercury. She headed up the team that built Sojourner, the Microrover lander of the Mars Pathfinder Project, which landed successfully on the surface of Mars on July 4, 1997. She also served as the official spokesperson for the White House Mars Millennium Project, a worldwide effort to involve children in their design of a 100-person colony on Mars. Donna’s most unique talent turned out to be the ability to gather and nurture people of inquisitive minds, technical knowhow and limitless vision into a team to take this country to the planet Mars. Two books resulted from this unique talent, an autobiography Managing Martians and her online book Managing Creativity. Donna subsequently returned to Norman, Oklahoma to serve as assistant dean and an instructor of aerospace/mechanical engineering at Oklahoma’s College of Engineering. She was awarded five honorary doctorates and became a popular speaker and consultant. As a youngster, Donna had devoured science fiction books, which came home to roost with Paul Allen’s new Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle. Donna became its first director. While serving the museum, Donna developed a brain tumor and resigned her position to tackle this newest challenge.
She has recovered her health and is enjoying grandmotherhood and takes great pleasure in traveling the country lecturing, teaching and consulting Donna Shirley has been installed in the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Air & Space Hall of Fame. She’s also received NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal and the National Space Society’s Wernher Von Braun Memorial Award, among many honors.
PRESIDENT'S AWARD — VIRGINIA HARMER 
The love of flight developed for young Virginia Harmer when she flew as a passenger in a shuttle helicopter. However, like many 99s, her dream of flying was put aside while she attended college and subsequently raised a family. Her interest in aviation was rekindled when Virginia met Sheryl Sandhagen, a broker in husband Dennis’ office and a pilot. Sheryl invited Virginia to her first 99s meeting with the San Gabriel Valley Chapter. The flames fanned higher as a friend dared her to learn to fly. Dennis even offered to buy her a plane if she got her certificate. With that she was on her way without as much as a glance over her shoulder.
Virginia began her flight lessons in August, 1991 and received her private pilot certificate in May, 1992. She joined the San Gabriel Valley Chapter one month later. Joining The 99s was the start of a busy future for Virginia. She began attending Southwest Section meetings shortly after joining, holding offices at the Chapter and Section level and is currently serving her second term as a Director on the International Board. When the Museum of Women Pilots went in search of a Southern California pilot to bring historical outfits to Oklahoma City in anticipation of the 1999 Grand Opening, Virginia stepped up and offered to fly them to OKC in her Piper Cherokee. Once there, she worked tirelessly to help prepare the Museum for its big day. She has also spent countless hours volunteering at the Oklahoma City Headquarters. Her latest project is the organization of member files, current and past. She has spent no less than three full weeks each year at Headquarters since taking on the project. She has taken widely dispersed past member records and organized them so they can be found on demand.
Virginia serves as a judge for the National Intercollegiate Flying Association, once again working tirelessly at local, regional and national Safecons every year. She serves on the Cable Air Show Committee, and is active with the Pomona Valley Pilots Association and EAA. She also flies Young Eagles and leads airport tours.
Virginia’s dedication to The 99s, in particular her focus on youth in aviation and the membership files at the OKC Headquarters, makes her the perfect recipient of the 2009 President’s Award.
Updated 8/11/09
