Brother and Sister Act

Brandon Branch, sophomore, aerospace studies, and Ashley Branch, junior, global security and intelligence studies; Prescott campus.
They’re from Houston, Texas.

Brandon: We were both home-schooled. When I was taking aviation classes at a community college, I researched Embry-Riddle. I went to an orientation the university gave, and I was sold.
Ashley: I started at the University of Houston, majoring in interior design, but I was iffy about it. I always thought I’d like to work for the CIA or FBI. Dr. Bloom, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said my creative studies background would help me think outside the box.
Ashley: I hardly ever see my brother. Sometimes we go to movies together. I live off campus.
Brandon: For fun I like to work out, play video games, go hiking and rock climbing at Thumb Butte nearby.
Brandon: I check out her boyfriends. She doesn’t listen to me, but I still do it.
Ashley: He says, “If you need some muscle, you let me know.”
Brandon: It’s good to have a family member at the same college. You don’t feel quite as alone, not as homesick.
Ashley: If I need someone to hang out with, I can ask him. We car-pool to church.
Brandon: It’s really quiet here, good for studying. I like the scenery. It’s nothing like Houston. You can see mountains in the distance – I’m looking at a mountain right now – and houses perched on rocks.
Ashley: I love the mountains, the wind, the altitude. Since there’s not a lot to do you can study, and that’s important because I have Mandarin Chinese this semester.

Krystal Puga, senior, engineering physics, Francisco Puga, sophomore, aeronautical science; Daytona Beach campus. They’re from Visalia, Calif.

Krystal: We are from across the country so it’s nice to have family here. Franco knows what I’m up to most of the time, so he can call home for me.
Krystal: His freshman year here, I think we saw each other five times. This year, I’m the lab assistant for his Physics 1 lab, so I get to see him every week.
Krystal: I am running a marathon in January, and Franco supports me by waking up early on Saturdays to train with me. I also help him out with his homework in math and physics.
Francisco: An advantage of going to college with my sister is that she knows what’s going on and teaches me how to get things done. The drawback is that I have to act proper in front of her.
Krystal: Our parents like us going to college together, because I can help him out with stuff like registration and financial aid. At times, though, they think that I help out too much and I should let him make his own mistakes like I had to.
Krystal: I decided to go here first in 2003, because Embry-Riddle offers engineering physics with a concentration in space and spacecraft. I have always wanted to design satellites/spacecraft and eventually be an astronaut, and this is the best place for that.
Francisco: I came here because Embry-Riddle has one of the best flight programs in the country.
Krystal: I love the shuttle launches [at Cape Kennedy]. On campus, the place I hang out the most is the engineering physics design lab, because I always have so much work to do.
Francisco: My favorite thing is that the campus is really close to the beach.

Josh Taylor, senior, aerospace engineering (propulsion), and Stephanie M. Taylor, senior, communication (minor: human factors); Daytona Beach campus. He’s from Titusville, Fla.; she’s from Havelock, N.C.

Josh: I came here first because I graduated earlier and Embry-Riddle has the best aerospace engineering program at a school without a Ph.D.
Stephanie: I chose Embry-Riddle due to the reputation of the soccer program [she’s on the women’s team] and the opportunity to get an excellent education.
Stephanie: In past years, we saw each other more often, but this semester he is commuting from our parents’ house and our schedules conflict. Now I see him probably once every two weeks.
Josh: We have different majors and different friends, so we don’t see each other a whole lot. I go to her soccer games and see her out sometimes.
Stephanie: During the first soccer pre-season I wasn’t completely out of my comfort zone, because I had a piece of home and someone I could relate to. Josh has filled that role of protecting his little sister – from nights on the town to making sure academia and soccer were in check, to bringing me my keys when I locked myself out of my car.
Josh: Our parents treat it as if we’re going to different schools. It helps that we get **the family discount though.
Stephanie: They never made us live together or forced us to hang out.
Josh: It’s close enough to home where I can go home if I need to and far enough away that I feel like I’m away from home.
Stephanie: My favorite aspect is the relationships built and maintained through our soccer program. The beach is also a necessity in my life. I’ve never lived more than 20 minutes from a decent beach.

Christopher Sanders, senior, air traffic management, and Mary Sanders, senior, air traffic management (minor: aviation weather); Daytona Beach campus. They’re from Elkton, Fla.

Christopher: We’ve always been close, so it’s nice being able to see her just about every day. She also keeps me on track.
Mary: We hang out a lot. We go to parties and the beach, play games, and golf together.
Christopher: Yes, I check out her dates. Who wouldn’t want to make sure his sister is dating someone who isn’t going to be trouble? Thankfully, she has made good choices, and we haven’t had to deal with that yet.
Christopher: Our parents like having us in the same spot so they can tell who is playing hooky.
Mary: They also like **the family discount.
Christopher: I decided to go to Embry-Riddle first. She knew I was having a great time at school, so she decided to join the party.
Mary: I like how the campus and the classes are small. I like to go to the Daytona Cubs [minor league baseball team] games and the Rolex 24-hour race [at Daytona International Speedway].
Christopher: My favorite thing on campus is the University Center because at just about any time you can do or find anything there. And the beach isn’t too bad for spring break.

Kelly Billon, senior, communication and meteorology, and Timothy Billon, senior, aeronautical science and meteorology; Daytona Beach campus. They’re from McHenry, Ill.

Kelly: We have a lot of the same friends and interests. It’s nice to have your big brother here in case you need anything.
Timothy: Only problem is, I’m constantly watching over her because of all the guys here. But I approve of her boyfriend. He takes good care of her, and that’s what I like to see.
Kelly: Freshman and sophomore year we saw each other a lot. We didn’t know it, but the Honors Program students live on the same floor. It was funny when we got our keys. I don’t think he was happy that his little sister would be across the hall from him in college. It was a lot of fun, though. This year I don’t see him as much because I’m a resident advisor, and he moved off campus.
Timothy: I decided to go to Embry-Riddle first, wanting to be a pilot and knowing its reputation in the airline industry.
Kelly: We’re super competitive in sports and academics; we have a fun sibling rivalry. When I graduated high school a year ahead with his class, I joked that I was going to Embry-Riddle, too. The joke was on me because I found a program that fits my interests perfectly – the communication degree, combining science and aerospace with writing and media.
Kelly: I like the sense of community at Embry-Riddle. My favorite thing about the area is the great weather and beach.
Timothy: I like being 10 minutes from the beach, and I like the view of Daytona Beach from the air every time I get up flying.

Felix Morales, sophomore, mechanical engineering, and Sheila Morales, senior, engineering physics; Daytona Beach campus. They’re from Managua, Nicaragua, and now Los Angeles, Calif.