Embry-Riddle Flight Team Wins 24th Consecutive Regional Championship
Golden Eagles Dominate Intercollegiate Flying Association Competition in San Diego
Prescott, AZ, November 20, 2009
The Golden Eagles Flight Team of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University captured its 24th consecutive regional championship title at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Region II Competition. NIFA was formed for the purpose of developing and advancing aviation education; promoting, encouraging and fostering safety in aviation; promoting and fostering 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, Prescott traveled to San Diego, California for the NIFA Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) Regional Competition held November 11-15, 2009. Teams competed for qualifying positions to attend the National Conference to be held May 17-22, 2010 in Terre Haute, IN. Some of the teams that competed include Cypress College, Mt. San Antonio College, San Diego Christian College, San Jose State University, and the US Air Force Academy.
Embry-Riddle's Golden Eagles decisively won the event, earning a total of 357 points, which is more than twice the 149 points earned by the second place finisher.
"This team wanted to make a statement this year and they set very high goals for the competition," said Matt Waterhouse, Golden Eagles Head Coach. "I think members will stay focused on areas to improve individually and as a team which will help them stay motivated for the National Competition in May 2010. The team's goal is to bring back the National Championship." The Golden Eagles won the national Championship in 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008.
At the NIFA SAFECON Regional Competition, Embry-Riddle's team won several honors. William Jacobson was named the competition's Top Pilot; Kisa Wiley was named Top Female Pilot; and Ian Hummell was voted the Outstanding Team Member by his teammates. Embry-Riddle also brought home the Team Navigation Trophy and the Team Safety Trophy.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, is a nonprofit, independent institution offering more than 40 baccalaureate, master's and Ph.D. degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business and Engineering. Embry-Riddle educates students at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., and through the Worldwide Campus with more than 150 locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, Canada and the Middle East. The university is a major research center, seeking solutions to real-world problems in partnership with the aerospace industry, other universities and government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.embryriddle.edu, follow us on Twitter (@EmbryRiddle) and facebook.com/EmbryRiddleUniversity, and find expert videos at YouTube.com/EmbryRiddleUniv.
