Embry-Riddle Makes Boy's Dream of Being a Pilot Take Flight

A 3-year-old boy who wished to be a pilot for a day recently had his dream become a reality, thanks to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Through a collaboration with the Make-A-Wish of Central and Northern Florida, the university’s College of Aviation welcomed Kryzian Santos and his family to the Daytona Beach Campus to make his dream take flight.

The Santos family, from Kissimmee, Florida, and Make-A-Wish Coordinator Kiera McKeever arrived Tuesday morning at the Flight Line, where they were greeted by faculty, staff and flight students ready to cheer Kryzian on. The agenda was tailored to give the boy a behind-the-scenes look into the world of aviation.

He started with a guided tour of the Flight Line, exploring the cockpits of a Cessna 172 and a Diamond DA42.

The group then visited Embry-Riddle’s state-of-the-art Advanced Flight Simulation Center. In the XR lab, Flight student Allison Booher sat with him while he donned virtual reality goggles and took hold of the controls.

And finally, Kryzian finished the day with a special ice cream celebration and an award ceremony in the Flight Line Conference Room. He was recognized as an honorary pilot — complete with a certificate to commemorate his incredible day.

The boy’s parents and grandparents soaked up the special moment.

"Our heart is overflowing with gratitude! My son's biggest dream of exploring aviation came true, thanks to the incredible Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida and the amazing Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University,” said Rowena Santos, Kryzian’s mom. “He had the most unforgettable experience!"

The unique “pilot-for-a-day experience” was brought to fruition by a dedicated team of Embry-Riddle staff, including Keith Deaton, director of Philanthropy for the College of Aviation; Kathryn Nagib, senior director of Philanthropy for Daytona Beach Athletics; and Raul Rumbaut, manager of the Advanced Flight Simulation Center.

“It was our absolute joy to share the spirit of aviation with Kryzian Santos and his family,” Deaton said. “This day wasn’t just about planes and simulators — it was about joy, hope and showing a young dreamer that the sky really is not the limit.”