Welcome to Alpha Eta Rho - Class ABK

Last night brought with it one of my favorite biannual events in college. After an entire semester of tasks, trials, and a host of knowledge gained in addition to that required by the University, those who actively sought to be a part of AHP became members. Forgoing the intimate details of the night, it's always wonderful to see the swarm of alumni who fly or drive in to be there for the occasion. It's also nice to see the newly initiated in a context with no pretenses or stress drawn from the pledging process. You can always see how proud each of them are of such an achievement. I, too, am proud of each new member who joined the rest of us aviation nerds on our quest to promote our own knowledge of aviation, the public's knowledge of its safety, and provide community service to the surrounding airports.

So on behalf of the Hanger at Lewis University, I'd like to officially welcome the new members of the Alpha Beta Kappa pledge class to Alpha Eta Rho. Since I had been inactive the last three semesters due to work, family, and school obligations, your class was only the second that I had the pleasure of watching progress through the entire process full of challenges and ultimate emerge successful. Below is a picture of a fortune from the last meal I had with my family before leaving my profession back in Maryland to come and learn a new one in Illinois. I kept it, reinforced it with some tape, and it continues to remind me that while you sometimes get to pick your battles, you must also have the courage to see them through. You'll find that most of which rewards you in life is also filled with challenges that aim to derail your attempts to succeed and it's up to you whether you allow that to happen or not. You've all done very well and I wish you the best.

To those reading this who might be unfamiliar with what Alpha Eta Rho is, it's an "international professional college aviation fraternity that serves as a contact between the aviation industry and educational institutions. The fraternity strives to foster, promote, and mentor today's college students towards successful careers in aviation, aeronautical engineering, and aerospace sciences. Alpha Eta Rho serves to actively associate interested students of aviation with leaders and executives in the industry. This close association, strengthened through the bonds of an international aviation fraternity, establishes opportunities for all members in their relation to aviation and inspires interest and cooperation among those in the profession who are also members of Alpha Eta Rho". Below is a promotional video made by members to attract those interested aviation students.

"Aeronautics was neither an industry nor a science. It was a miracle." - Igor Sikorsky