SLU's Flying Billikens Taking Off for 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Competition
ST. LOUIS - A team of aviation science students from Saint Louis University’s School of Science and Engineering are heading to Oshkosh, Wisconsin this weekend for the 2025 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Competition.
The 2025 Flying Billikens team will compete in the National Intercollegiate Flying Association competition. Submitted photo.
The Flying Billikens from SLU’s Oliver L. Parks Department of Aviation Science secured their national spot last fall in the Region VI SAFECON event.
“We’re very excited to have earned an invitation back to the national competition for another year in a row,” said coach Jack Schwarz. “This team loves the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills, motivated by their competitive spirit, year-round — and this provides such a great opportunity for just that. We are proud to represent SLU at the highest level of collegiate aviation competition.”
SLU will be one of 30 teams competing in various aviation exercises. The nearly 400 competitors will be challenged in navigation, short-field landing, power-off landing, message drop, ground training, aircraft recognition, computer accuracy, and instrument flight rule events.
The Flying Billikens are led by executive board members Brendan Stoll, Sydney Nimerick and Sehwan Park. Additional competitors include Peter Belmonte, Finn Ceyssens, Harman Chauhan, Troy Ettenson, Jack Ingebretsen, Gavin Monthye, Gavin Nieters, Timothy Pipal and Xavier Supersad.
The National Intercollegiate Flying Association was formed to develop and advance aviation education; promote, encourage and foster aviation safety; promote and foster communications and cooperation between aviation students, educators, educational institutions and the aviation industry; and provide an arena for collegiate aviation competition.
The national competition will begin Monday, May 12, and run through Saturday, May 17.
About the School of Science and Engineering
Saint Louis University formed the School of Science and Engineering in 2022 to better meet the future needs of its students and faculty. The school brings together select departments from the College of Arts and Sciences — chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, and physics — with the former Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. To learn more about the School of Science and Engineering, visit slu.edu/science-and-engineering.
Latest Newslink
- SLU Doctoral Student and Augustinian Friar Shares Memories of Time Spent with Pope Leo XIVWhen Cardinal Robert Prevost stepped out onto the balcony in St. Peter’s Square as Pope Leo XIV on Thursday, Saint Louis University doctoral student Fr. Jack Tierney O.S.A. cheered along with the rest of the world’s Catholics. Tierney is a member of the Midwest Augustinians, the same religious Order that produced Pope Leo XIV. Their paths frequently crossed as brother friars.
- Lawrence F. Barmann, Ph.D.: 1932-2025Lawrence Francis Barmann, Ph.D., emeritus professor of American Studies, died April 25, 2025. He was 92.
- Patricia L. Monteleone, M.D.: 1935-2025Patricia L. Monteleone, M.D., dean emerita of the Saint Louis University School of Medicine, died Sunday, May 4, 2025. She was 89. A true trailblazer, Monteleone was the first female dean of Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
- SLU to Serve as Regional Summit Hub Host Site in National Event Around Health Care Workforce ReadinessOn Wednesday, May 21, the Saint Louis University Interprofessional Education Program, the Doisy College of Health Sciences, will host the fifth annual Regional Summit sponsored by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.
- SLU Professors Recognized at 2025 St. Louis Theater Circle AwardsTwo Saint Louis University Theatre and Dance faculty members brought home awards at the 2025 St. Louis Theatre Circle Awards. Nancy Bell, professor of theatre, was awarded Outstanding Director of a Comedy for "As You Like It". The show also received Outstanding Production of a Comedy. Lucy Cashion, associate professor of theatre, directed "Romanov Family Yard Sale," which received Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy.
- Saint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator Names Second CohortSaint Louis University's New Venture Accelerator (NVA), launched in 2024 out of the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, announces its second cohort of participants. The NVA offers current SLU students and alumni who have graduated within the last five years equity-free investments of up to $50,000 through a special accelerator fund created through donor support. In addition to financial support, the teams receive additional resources and mentoring from SLU experts.
