American Airlines Executive Peggy Sterling Honored by Paul Quinn College With Ongoing Award in Her Name

FORT WORTH, Texas, May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Peggy Sterling, Vice President-Safety, Security and Environmental at American Airlines, has been honored by Paul Quinn College with establishment of the American Airlines Peggy Sterling Trustee of the Year Award. The College created the ongoing award to honor Sterling's eight-year tenure on the college's board of trustees and her long-time support of the institution. The surprise announcement was made today by Michael Sorrell, Paul Quinn College President, at a reception for Sterling at the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum.

"When we look back on the chain of events that resulted in the transformation of Paul Quinn College, history will show that perhaps the most significant ones occurred during the tenure of Peggy Sterling," said Sorrell. "Peggy's intelligence, passion, outspokenness and absolute dedication to excellence helped transform Paul Quinn into a first-class institution and chart us on a course toward success and greatness."

"Really, when you have a trustee like Peggy Sterling, there are only two words that are ever appropriate to say. And those are simply, thank you."

"It is a pleasure to congratulate Peggy on this wonderful recognition," said Bob Reding, Executive Vice President - Operations at American Airlines. "We value her leadership skills and sincerity, and truly cherish her 30 years of dedication to this company and the industry. She has been a mentor, role model and inspiration to many, and I am very proud to work with such a respected and dedicated individual."

Sterling, who has more than 30 years in the aviation industry, originally joined American Airlines as a flight attendant in New York, subsequently moving into positions of increasing responsibility including Manager-Services at Washington Dulles and General Manager for LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports. She was the first woman to become a line operations vice president when she was named to that position at American's Chicago hub. She was appointed Vice President of American's largest hub, Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, in 1997.

Sterling has been recognized as one of the "200 Most Powerful Women in Travel" by Travel Agent Magazine and has been inducted into the New York Academy of Women Achievers. The Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners has honored Sterling with a Women of Achievement Award. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Paul Quinn College in 2004.

About American Airlines

American Airlines is the world's largest airline. American, American Eagle and the AmericanConnection(R) airlines serve 250 cities in over 40 countries with more than 4,000 daily flights. The combined network fleet numbers more than 1,000 aircraft. American's award-winning Web site, AA.com, provides users with easy access to check and book fares, plus personalized news, information and travel offers. American Airlines is a founding member of the oneworld(R) Alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business, enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. Together, its members serve nearly 700 destinations in over 140 countries and territories. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AmericanAirlines, American Eagle, AmericanConnection, AA.com and AAdvantage are registered trademarks of American Airlines, Inc. .

About Paul Quinn College

Paul Quinn College is a four-year private liberal arts institution. Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1872, by a small group of African Methodist Episcopal Church ministers, the College is the oldest historically black college west of the Mississippi River. Paul Quinn is fully accredited by The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is one of the 39 member institutions of The United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

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