Campus News

Second Westminster College Aviator Earns Prestigious National Achievement

Lance Vaculin is the top .7% of Certified Flight Instructors nationwide

SALT LAKE CITY – Only four Utah flight instructors can boast acquiring the national “Master” title for Certified Flight Instructors (CFI), and two of them are right here at Westminster College.

On July 1, Westminster and the National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) announced that a second Westminster flight instructor, Lance Vaculin, was accredited as a Master CFI by his professional aviation education association.

Last month, the college announced that Julie Paasch had also accomplished this significant achievement. To put these accomplishments into perspective, there are approximately 91,000 CFIs in the U.S., and fewer than 600 of them have achieved the “Master” distinction thus far – which means both Vaculin and Paasch are the top .7% of Certified Flight Instructors nationwide. They are also two of only four Utah aviation educators to earn this prestigious Master title.

The Master Instructor designation is the only industry professional education accreditation recognized by the FAA. It is earned by candidates through a rigorous process of continuing professional activity and peer review. Much like a flight instructor's certificate, it must be renewed biennially. This process parallels the continuing education regimen used by other professionals to enhance their knowledge base while increasing their professionalism. Simply put, the Master Instructor designation identifies those outstanding aviation educators, those "Teachers of Flight," who have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to excellence, professional growth and service to the aviation community.

NAFI is dedicated to providing support and recognition for America's aviation educators while helping them raise and maintain their level of professionalism. It is also committed to providing a safe and effective learning environment for student pilots. The Association was founded in 1967 and affiliated with EAA in 1995. For more information on NAFI, visit www.nafinet.org.

Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information visit www.westminstercollege.edu.