ATLANTA - Jan. 10, 2020 - Sisters of the Skies (SOS), the nonprofit international aviation organization, and Alaska Airlines Present the "Phenomenal Firsts Scholarship Gala." The second annual fundraiser will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 1333 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame CA at the San Francisco Airport on Saturday, February 8 at 6 p.m.
The purpose of the gala is to seek to improve the current number of black women pilots, which stands at 150 in the United States, holding Airline Transport Pilot, Commerical, Military and or Certified Flight Instructor licenses.
The first gala was held in February 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia honoring the first All African American Female Flight Crew. This year SOS brings the fundraiser to the West Coast again recognizing black women who are first in their aviation careers.
The keynote speaker is SOS Advisor Dr. Sheila Chamberlain, the first African American female U.S. Army Combat Intelligence Pilot. She grew up in West Germany and received her B.A. degree from Spelman College in Atlanta Ga and a postgraduate degree in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Chamberlain earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law.
Pam Moore, Anchor at KRON 4 is the Emcee.
The dress is formal and pilots are asked to wear their uniforms. Tickets are $165 and can be purchased at sistersoftheskies.org/events. For more information contact SOS at info@sistersoftheskies.org or call 855SOSFlys.
Sponsored by Alaska Airlines and Wings Financial Credit Union, two scholarships will be presented during the gala. One, the SOS flight training scholarship and the second the Rashanda Nicole Lee Memorial Scholarship.
Rashanda Nicole Lee passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2019. She was one of the 1st All Female African American Flight Crew Scholarship recipients. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Science from Kent State University and was working on her instrument rating. Through ExpressJet Airlines' Career Pathway Program, she received a conditional job offer as a First Officer.
Sisters of the Skies Inc.is a 501.c3 International Aviation Organization comprised of women of color cultivating and promoting minority women in the industry through scholarship, mentorship, and support.
SOS signature program Girls Rock Wings will be held twice in 2020 in April in Houston TX and November in Miami Florida. The program is a one day STEM/Aviation outreach program for girls 10-18 years of age.
Media Contact
Diane Larche'
