Exceptional Performance Award presented to Captain Cheryl De Alwis for becoming the first Sri Lankan female commercial pilot. Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Cheryl excelled in track and field and represented the Ceylonese track and field team against Pakistan and India and won the 100 meters and came second in 200 meters.

She moved to the US in 1974 and was a member of Golden Valley Lutheran College relay team that broke the Junior College State record in 1976. She was hard worker working at two jobs to put herself through flight school and college. In 1983 her hard work paid off when she received her commercial pilot license. Later she was hired by American Trans Air to Copilot a Boeing 727 where the Captain and the Flight Engineer were all female. In 2000 she was promoted to Captain by America West flying Airbuses 8320 & 319.