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The Stinson Trophy was created in 1997 by NAA to honor the\naccomplishments of two sisters \u2013 Katherine and Marjorie Stinson. These sisters\nwere among the first 11 American women to be certified as airplane pilots\nthrough the Aero Club of America (the predecessor of NAA). Their flying school\nhelped numerous U.S. and foreign pilots to earn their Aero Club licenses, the\nprecursor to FAA pilot certificates. The trophy recognizes a living person for\n\u201c\u201c\u2026an outstanding and enduring contribution to the role of women in the field of\naviation, aeronautics, space, or related sciences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simi is being recognized for \u201c\u201c\u2026 her accomplishments as a\nsuccessful and passionate aviation professional and for dedicating over 25\nyears to opening minds and doors for women in pursuit of aviation opportunities\nof every kind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A love and passion for aviation as a young girl led her to\npursue an aviation management and flight operations education at Delta State\nUniversity, where she earned her degree and began her flight training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simi was preparing for a career that would lead her from an\ninitial post at Federal Express while in college to an impressive resume of\nimportant and exciting senior executive positions with the General Aviation Manufactures\nAssociation, (GAMA), Adam Aircraft, Jeppesen, Boeing Digital Aviation, Aurora\nFlight Sciences and most recently with the National Association of State\nAviation Officials (NASAO), where she served as president and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simi\u2019s enthusiasm was demonstrated in the early 1990s when\nshe volunteered her time, effort and experience to help initiate the creation\nof a much-needed movement to encourage and promote a stronger female\nparticipation in the aviation marketplace. That four-year, start-up movement\nwas the testing period for what would become Women in Aviation, International\n(WAI), and because of her dedication to the cause, she was asked to become a\nfounding director in 1995. Today, WAI continues to be the fastestgrowing\naviation organization in the world with over 14,000 members and 131 chapters in\n20 countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For 20 years, Simi worked closely with founder Peggy\nChabrian, taking on numerous committee positions focused on creating a more\npositive image and inviting environment for women of all ages and backgrounds\nto pursue educational and career opportunities in aviation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, Simi helped establish the aerospace clearing\nhouse group as a co-founder and past chairperson of the National Coalition for\nAviation and Space Education (NCASE), which provides teachers with aviation\nresources to help attract and encourage young men and women to consider careers\nin aviation; she also worked to enhance the GAMA Learn To Fly curriculum, which\nwas distributed to thousands of teachers nationwide. Simi was integrally\ninvolved with the industry efforts to pass the<\/p>\n\n\n\n
General Aviation Revitalization Act in 1994, which created\nnew opportunities for women seeking careers in aviation. She worked on the\ndevelopment and promotion of major industry growth initiatives over the years,\nincluding Be A Pilot, Learn to Fly, GA TEAM 2000 and No Plane. No Gain.,\npromoting awareness of programs offering career opportunities for both men and\nwomen in aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simi is a founding member of the Aviation Communications\nCoalition of Washington, membership chair of the Royal Aeronautical Society,\npast President of the Aero Club of Washington, a trustee and membership chair\nof the University Aviation Association, and past board member of the NAA. She\nhas been inducted into the WAI Pioneer Hall of Fame, she is a recipient of the\nUniversity Aviation Association Estridge Award for her dedicated service to\naerospace education, and she has been honored with the NCASE Strickler Aviation\nEducation Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions to aviation education.\nThese awards recognize and credit Shelly\u2019s countless contributions and efforts\nin encouraging women of all ages and backgrounds to follow their desires to be\ninvolved in the world of aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve rarely known anyone with the passion for aviation\nShelly Simi brings to all she does,\u201d said NAA President Greg Principato. \u201cShe\nalways looks beyond what is required. From her work encouraging kids to be\ninvolved in aviation to her efforts in getting Women in Aviation off the\nground, Shelly goes above and beyond. She is a most appropriate recipient of an\naward named for Katherine and Marjorie Stinson, two women who embodied the same\npassion and determination Shelly demonstrates daily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Stinsons set a great example in creating a pathway to\nflight so others could join in the amazing world of aviation. I have been\nblessed to be a part of such a dynamic industry and worked alongside legends\nthat have truly shaped how aviation is used today,\u201d Simi said. \u201cI am honored to\nbe this year\u2019s recipient and share this with all of those who have served as\nmentors, promoted their passion and led the way for others to be a part of all\nthe things aviation brings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Members of the Selection Committee were Lt Col Dana Bochte,\n2018 Stinson Trophy Recipient; Pete Dumont, Air Traffic Control Association and\nmember of the NAA Board of Directors; Trish Gilbert, National Air Traffic\nControllers Association and member of the NAA Board of Directors; and Lt Col Christine\nMau, 2016 Stinson Trophy Recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n