Students Place Nationally at Aviation Competition

OMAHA – The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) has some of the top competitive flight students in the country following the results of a national competition held last week.

In its sixth straight year of making it to the National Intercollegiate Flying Association championships, the UNO Flying Mavs placed six students in the top 20 nationally.

In many categories, students were competing against dozens of the best student pilots in the country, having advanced from regional competition back in October 2014.

The following students placed highly in their respective categories:

Crew Resource Management and Line Oriented Flight Training
Eighth Place – Nick Lynam and Blake Zessin

Navigation
10th Place – Kyle Broich and Brandon Perkins

Message Drop
13th Place – Broich and Emi Wolfe
18th Place – Caleb Ullman and Perkins

Instrument Flight Simulation
15th Place – Lynam

In addition to his results in the Message Drop, Ullman received the team’s Most Outstanding Team Member award for 2015.

In total, UNO had 8 students earn rankings at this year’s competition. Also receiving points were Daniel Anding, and Keaston Stengel.

“Being part of the Flying Mavericks has been a great experience for me. I have seen myself grow on this Flight Team from a young freshman who didn't know how to work a manual flight computer to a four-time national competitor and team captain,” explained Zessin. “It has been an honor to be a part of this team and watch those alongside me grow as I have.”

Just starting her career as a Flying Mav is Emi Wolfe, who placed nationally during her first year of competition.

“Being a part of the UNO Flight Team was a great way, as an incoming freshman, to meet new people and to get involved on campus,” she explained. “I have met some great individuals by being a part of the team and I would strongly recommend flight team to anyone from any major.”

This past October, UNO placed third in its region, which includes Oklahoma State, Kansas State and University of Oklahoma, among others.

In total, there are 10 regions across the country with the top three teams from each region competing in the national competition. UNO has made the championships each year since the 2009-2010, including a string of first-place regional finishes from the ’09-’10 season to the ‘11-’12 season.

This year’s national tournament was hosted by Ohio State in Columbus, OH.

About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Located in one of America’s best cities to live, work and learn, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) is Nebraska’s premier metropolitan university. With more than 15,000 students enrolled in 200-plus programs of study, UNO is recognized nationally for its online education, graduate education, military friendliness and community engagement efforts. Founded in 1908, UNO has served learners of all backgrounds for more than 100 years and is dedicated to another century of excellence both in the classroom and in the community.

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