Westminster Flight Team Competes at Nationals and Wins
Red Baron Sportsmanship Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Helen Langan
(801) 832-2680

May 4, 2005

SALT LAKE CITY - Westminster College's aviation flight team competed in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association's National Safety and Flight Excellence Conference at Kansas State University on April 26-30, 2005. Westminster was one of just 29 colleges in the United States that qualified for the national competition by placing high in regional events last year. The team won the "Red Baron Team Sportsmanship Award," which is presented to the school that demonstrates the most sportsmanship-like behavior.

NIFA is a nationwide organization aimed at developing aviation education and promoting safety in flight operations. Westminster College began competing in NIFA events in 2002, and this was the team's first invitation to the national competition. They will soon begin preparing for the next regional competition to be held at Metro State University in Denver, CO this October.

Many members of the Westminster aviation flight team also won individual awards. Westminster students Tyson Aoki and Justin Dhondt finished 3rd in the Crew Resource Management/Line Oriented Flight Training event, Ryan Davis placed 13th in the IFR Simulator event, Tyson Aoki came in 19th place in the Message Drop event and Mark West received the Outstanding Team Member Award.

Westminster College President Michael Bassis praised the team's performance and said, "We are very proud of our aviation program and delighted that NIFA recognizes the quality of our students and the excellent training they receive at Westminster."

The Westminster aviation program consists of more than 100 undergraduate students from across the country. Westminster's new Flight Operations Center is among only a few in the U.S. to be located at an international airport. The 22,500-foot facility includes a corporate hangar which houses 15 aircraft in a climate-controlled environment.