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Embry-Riddle Flight Teams Impressive at NIFA SAFECON Competition

Prescott Team Wins Judges Trophy; Daytona Beach Team Finishes Sixth Overall

Prescott, Ariz., May 22, 2006 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Golden Eagles Flight Team from Prescott, Ariz., earned second place in the National Championship ranking and won the Judges Trophy at the NIFA SAFECON (National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference) held May 8-13 at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

While the National Championship Trophy is awarded by giving points to the competitors who finish in the top 20 places in each event, the Judges Trophy is determined by giving points to each competitor in each event, not just the top 20 places.

The Golden Eagles competed against the top 29 flying teams from 11 regions around the country. The team placed second overall with a score of 336 points behind the University of North Dakota with 366 points. Previously, the Golden Eagles were NIFA SAFECON National Champions in 2005, 2003, 1999, 1997, and 1993.

The Eagles Flight Team from Embry-Riddle’s campus in Daytona Beach, Fla., took second place in the American Airlines Safety Trophy, fourth in the Judges Trophy and ground events, sixth in the National Trophy, and 10th in the flight events.

Each team earned its way to the national NIFA competition by competing at the regional level, where some 130 schools competed across the country. Embry-Riddle’s Prescott campus has won every regional competition since 1986, a total of 19 consecutive years.

Twenty-eight Golden Eagles traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to compete. The Golden Eagles Flight Team competitors included Billy Bayliss, Paul Bing, Jordan Bonner, Glenn Bride, Ian Burton, Grant Culver, Chris Eberly, Andrew Garret, Peter Grey, Brad Hoganson, Joseph Hutchinson, Kevin Jenkins, Kevin Josenhans, Kana Kobayashi, Sascha Korzep, Jake Lindvig, David Moore, Cassie Nagle, Kevin Pewe, Everett Quivey, Austin Richey, Jeff Sieradzki, Jake Thibeault, Andrew Tone, Ari Waldman, Matt Waterhouse, and Greg Wiskus.

Embry-Riddle alumnus Jared Testa is the Golden Eagles’ head coach. Brian Brantner, Chris Dolly, Brian Heil, and Tim Stearns are assistant coaches. David Murray serves as the team’s advisor.

Members of the Golden Eagles who placed particularly well in the competition were Jake Lindvig, who placed first in the aircraft identification event; David Moore and Kevin Pewe, who placed first in the message drop competition; and Kevin Pewe, who placed first in the power-off landing competition. Peter Grey was awarded the Craig Morrison Award for scoring the most combined points in the computer accuracy event, the simulated comprehensive aircraft navigation event, and the pre-flight event.

Matt Waterhouse was voted Outstanding Team Member by his fellow Golden Eagles.

“I’m very proud of all of our contestants,” said head coach Jared Testa. “Each and every one of these students did an exceptional job at training all year.”

Randy Rehbach, chair of the Flight Training Department at the Prescott campus, commented on the team’s accomplishments, “It was such a close competition and the flight team did an outstanding job. We are extremely proud of our team’s accomplishments and their professionalism during and after the competition.”

Competing on the Eagles Flight Team from Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus were students Sean Boivin, Liam Broderick, Joe Daniel, Moraima Egurbida, Greg Gilger, Patrick Herrmann, Alex Kim, David Krochmal, Spencer Marker, Dustin Mullins, Schuyler Nachod, Natsu Okiyama, Jon Ralston, Chris Rivera, Philip Siess, Eric Speckman, Daniel Thurber, Nathan Vanagas, Michael Veiht, and Zack Welsh.

Eric Speckman was the top-scoring male contestant from the team at fifth place; he took first place in the ground trainer and IFR simulated flight events and second in the computer accuracy event. Natsu Okiyama was the top-scoring female contestant from the team at 11th place. Others who did particularly well were Spencer Marker, second in aircraft recognition, and Dustin Mullins, third in computer accuracy.

David Zwegers, manager of the Flight Training Department at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach campus, is the team’s head coach, with faculty members Bill Baker and Les Westbrooks serving as assistant coaches.

“This year our team doubled its score compared to 2005,” said Zwegers. “What made the difference was a high level of experience among the students, a very structured practice schedule, and the support of everyone at Embry-Riddle.”

The Embry-Riddle flight teams are members of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association. NIFA was formed to develop and advance aviation education; to promote, encourage, and foster safety in aviation; to promote and foster communications and cooperation between aviation students, educators, educational institutions, and the aviation industry; and to provide an arena for collegiate aviation competition.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates more than 32,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., through the Extended Campus at more than 130 centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, and through distance learning.