Darline "Dottie" Sanders, born in 1918 in Buffalo, NY, and later a resident of Lemon Grove, CA, earned her private pilot license on May 1, 1949. She and her husband owned a 1950 Cessna 140A. Joining the San Diego Chapter of "The Ninety-Nines" in 1949, Dottie served as secretary, vice-chairman, and chairman. She founded and chaired the El Cajon Valley Chapter in 1961 and held roles as Southwest Section governor and International membership chairman. Dottie competed in the All-Women Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby) 20 times, placing first in 1972. She also participated in other races, served on the Pacific Air Race board, and was treasurer and chief timer. From 1964 to 1992, she represented the El Cajon Valley Chapter on the El Cajon Chamber of Commerce aviation committee. An original member of the San Diego Aerospace Museum, Dottie was awarded the Gillespie Field Achievement Award in 1978 and inducted into the International Forest of Friendship in 1985. She passed away in 1999.

The 99s San Diego Chapter honors her with the Dottie Sanders Memorial Flight Scholarship, supporting female pilots in Southern California.

To be eligible for the Dottie Sanders Scholarship, the applicant must:

• Be a female

• Reside in San Diego, Riverside, Orange or Imperial counties or be a member of any chapter of the Southwest Section of the Ninety-Nines

• Private Pilot students must have passed their written test and soloed

• Applicant must hold a Private Pilot certificate if applying for an advanced rating/certificate. Funds can be used for Private Pilot training or, if already certified, for Instrument, Commercial, Multi-Engine, or Flight Instructor certificates.

• Must apply funds towards training within 90 days

$1,000

TBA