Washington, April 9, 2002—The Air Transport Association (ATA) recently named Marion G. Mistrik as the first recipient of its Nancy L. Cunningham Award of Excellence, established in 2001 by the ATA Board of Directors in memory of Nancy L. Cunningham (1941-2001) who served the aviation community as a dedicated employee of the Air Transport Association for 37 years. The award and accompanying stipend recognizes annually those ATA employees who best exemplify Ms. Cunningham`s traits of loyalty, professionalism, trustworthiness, dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

ATA employees joined ATA President and CEO Carol Hallett in honoring Ms. Mistrik. “For nearly three decades, Marion Mistrik has served as our association librarian, providing professional research and outstanding information management services to our employees, our members, analysts, authors, researchers, the media and the academic community,” said Hallett. “Her professionalism, trustworthiness and loyalty have always been supported by an outstanding work ethic and keen understanding of the complexities of the aviation industry. Marion`s service to the industry and contributions to our collective body of knowledge are truly remarkable.”

Mistrik joined ATA on July 14, 1975, having previously been employed by the American Institute of Architects library, the DC public library system, the Bank of Montreal Head Office and the Mechanics` Institute of Montreal. Ms. Mistrik received her BA from the University of Montreal and her graduate degree in library science from the prestigious McGill University in Montreal.

The Air Transport Association is the nation`s oldest and largest airline trade organization with 22 U.S. and four international members. ATA member airlines transport over 95 percent of all passengers and cargo traffic in the United States.

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