Class Notes

Mary Montague “Monti” Hudson Sikes’daughter, Alicia,was one ofmore than 100 women in June’s all-female Air Race Classic, designed to encourage women to work as pilots. Alicia and her teammate flew 2,810 miles, from Concord, California, to New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, in three days. Alicia started flying lessons while at the University of South Carolina Honors College. She earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in computer science and received her private pilot’s license. She began her career as an instructor, then went to TWA, where she flew the Boeing 727. Monti said Alicia, an American Airlines MD-80 captain, is among only 400 female captains in the world. Alicia inspired sister Allison to get into aviation. Allison earned a private pilot’s license while earning a Ph.D. in polymer science at the University of Southern Mississippi.

My caregiving responsibilities for my husband, who suffered a traumatic brain injury more than 16 years ago, have increased, so I’m resigning as class agent and asking someone to take over. Don’t let it stop with me!