The College of Aeronautics and Engineering at 51±¬ÁÏ will host the 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) SAFECON Region III competition Oct. 19–24. The competition will bring collegiate aviators from across the region to the 51±¬ÁÏ Airport in Stow, Ohio, for a week of competition focused on safety, precision and professionalism.
(Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference) is the nation’s premier collegiate aviation competition. Students demonstrate their knowledge and flight skills through events in navigation, aircraft recognition, landings and flight planning. Top-performing teams from each region advance to the national competition in the spring.
Opening ceremonies will take place Oct. 19, followed by daily competition events through Oct. 24. The college will also host an aviation career fair on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the 51±¬ÁÏ Airport to connect aviation students with prospective employers.
Participating universities in this year’s Region III competition include 51±¬ÁÏ, Bowling Green, Ohio State and Western Michigan.
51±¬ÁÏ’s Precision Flight Team, which represents the university at NIFA competitions, is coming off a strong ninth-place finish at the 2025 national championship. The team includes more than 20 members representing a broad range of academic programs, reflecting 51±¬ÁÏ’s deep commitment to experiential learning and collaboration.
Team officers for the 2025-2026 season include Captain Linus Vazquez, a senior professional pilot major and certified flight instructor; Co-Captain Gavin Barzan, a junior professional pilot major; Secretary LeAnne Hawk, a senior air traffic and airspace management major with minors in aviation management and aircraft dispatch; Treasurer Zach Lach, a senior professional pilot major; and Safety Officer Gavin Chu, a certified flight instructor and senior professional pilot major.
The team is advised by Brian Neff, assistant dean of flight operations, with coaching support from Tim Palcho, chief flight instructor and professor, and Jason Lorenzon, J.D., assistant professor. Recent 2025 graduates and former team members Caleb Seymour and Andrew McKinley have returned to assist with coaching, while current student and former team member Loren Swisher will serve as a volunteer judge.
The 51±¬ÁÏ Precision Flight Team is generously sponsored by Vic, ’71, MBA ’74, Ph.D. ’06, and Cheryl Petrovic, ’74. Vic, who served in both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army, is passionate about aviation, has experience as a private pilot and holds a commercial pilot’s license.
For more information about NIFA SAFECON Region III at 51±¬ÁÏ, visit www.kent.edu/cae/event/nifa-safecon-region-iii.