OctoberWest Comes to a Close with Record-Setting AOPA Fly-In Gathering

Embry-Riddle's OctoberWest homecoming celebration came to a close with an outstanding aerial demonstration on Oct.1 and the largest Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) Regional Fly-In gathering of 2016.

The university’s campus in Prescott, Ariz., teamed up with AOPA for a one-of-a-kind homecoming event that featured the campus’ annual Wings Out West air demonstration, in addition to static aircraft displays by both organizations.

The event set a new attendance record for the AOPA Fly-In, with more than 6,300 people attending, according to the organization. Roughly 565 aircraft flew into Ernest A. Love Field for the event, which was supported by AOPA volunteers and Embry-Riddle students, alumni, faculty and staff. See article by AOPA, a video and photos from Embry-Riddle.

Adin Herzog was one of many student volunteers who helped with the event. In addition to assisting with logistical planning, the airport management intern for the Fly-In was part of a group of volunteers in charge of marshaling aircraft into parking spots.

“The AOPA Fly-In was an exciting opportunity to put to use many of the skills I’ve learned as a business major at Embry-Riddle,” said Herzog, who is majoring in aviation business administration. “I especially enjoyed being able to get an up-close and personal view into airport management as it pertains to planning special events.”

The aerial demonstration featured Embry-Riddle alumna Melissa Andrzejewski (‘13, PC) (formerly Melissa Pemberton), who performed aerobatics in her Zivko Edge 340, Skip Stewart, who piloted a Pitts S-2S biplane, and Bill Stein in an Edge 540. Following a demonstration by Embry-Riddle’s Golden Eagles national championship flight team in a Cessna 150, Andrzejewski and Stewart offered a stunning dual aerobatic performance.

One of the show’s highlights included Embry-Riddle’s Prescott Campus Alumni Hall of Fame member, Norm Knight (’90, PC), chief flight director for NASA, who held the center pole on the runway for the ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the show. Andrzejewski, also a member of the Prescott Campus Alumni Hall of Fame, flew by for an inverted ribbon cut.

“That’s what I call alumni involvement,” said Prescott Campus Chancellor Frank Ayers, of the ribbon cutting.

Ayers credited the "amazing OctoberWest weekend" in part to the efforts of Alumni Relations Director Michelle Day and the alumni who helped bring the AOPA Fly-In to Prescott, including Katie Pribyl (‘00, PC), senior vice president for communications at AOPA, and Dave Roy (’89, PC), director of safety and communications for Guidance Aviation.

“I think this Wings Out West Air Show is the best we’ve ever had,” Ayers said. “It was a hugely successful weekend. It makes me proud to be an Eagle.”

Alumni John Cox (’90, PC), Prescott Municipal Airport manager, and Tom Juliani (’88, DB), general manager of the Legend Aviation fixed-base operator at the airport, were also instrumental in bringing the AOPA Fly-In to Prescott.

“I’m proud of the alumni who dedicated their time to bring this amazing event to Prescott,” added Bill Thompson (’87, PC), executive director of Alumni Relations at Embry-Riddle. “This was a great collaboration of effort and teamwork for a greater cause. This is truly an example of the ‘Forever an Eagle’ spirit of our alumni.”

In conjunction with OctoberWest, Embry-Riddle hosted an Industry/Career Expo on Sept. 29, with more than 80 companies and organizations looking to hire students and alumni. Participants included regional businesses such as the City of Phoenix/Sky Harbor Airport and the Prescott Valley Police Department, in addition to military (Navy, Marines, Army), government (FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Postal Inspection Service), as well as airlines and commercial space and aerospace leaders such as The Boeing Company and Honeywell.

The Industry/Career Expo scheduled for Oct. 6 at the Daytona Beach Campus was postponed, due to Hurricane Matthew. The event has been rescheduled for March 1, 2017.

OctoberWest also featured various alumni activities that attracted about 550 alumni registrants and guests for events such as eagleNIGHT and the Prescott Chancellor’s Alumni Hall of Fame Dinner. The awards event, which sold out with 150 attendees, recognized alumni achievement in careers, service to the university and community and/or to the aviation/aerospace industry. The honorees included Cheryl Giuffre (’84, PC), Ray Jancso Jr. (’91, PC), Lt. Col. Aaron Jelinek (’01, PC), and Lt. Col. J.R. Williams (‘01, PC).

OctoberWest festivities planned by the Office of Student Engagement also featured student homecoming celebrations with a Friday Night Fair on Sept. 30 with food trucks and carnival rides. The night was capped off by a comedy show featuring hypnotist Bruce MacDonald and fireworks. Embry-Riddle Eagles also had plenty to celebrate on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1, with clean sweep performances by the women’s volleyball and soccer teams, in addition to the men’s soccer team.