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
- University Core Honors Ignite Seminar InstructorsTwo Ignite Seminar instructors have been recognized with the 2025 Ignite Instructor of the Year Award. At a ceremony Tuesday night in Cupples House, Carolyn O'Laughlin, Ph.D. (Education) and Amanda Barton, Ph.D. (RISE Counselor) were honored by the University Core after being nominated by students in their Ignite Seminars.
- Sharing Throughout the Season: Ways to Give Back at SLUThis holiday season, Saint Louis University is highlighting organizations that could benefit from the gift of time or donations, including the University's annual Blue Santa toy drive.
- SLU Wins Collegiate Chess League Back-to-Back SeasonsThe SLU Chess Team won back-to-back Collegiate Chess League titles, securing the Fall 2025 season championship. This win is SLU's fifth Collegiate Chess League title in the last six seasons.
- TurkeyPalooza Food Drive Helps Provide a Thanksgiving Meal to Individuals, Families in NeedTurkeyPalooza, the annual Campus Kitchen food drive and Thanksgiving food prep event, resulted in 200 individual Thanksgiving meals and 40 meal-prep boxes for families in the St. Louis community.
- Saint Louis University's Moore Honored by Missouri Lawyers WeeklySenior Associate General Counsel Christina Moore, J.D., has been recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly for her work as in-house counsel at a non-profit or government organization. Moore (Law '02) was honored at the In-House Counsel Awards, an event designed to recognize attorneys from different sectors for their contributions and work.
- SLU Study Shows Heat Can Cut Insect Survival but Boost ReproductionRising global temperatures are changing the rules for survival—and reproduction—for many species. A new study from Saint Louis University reveals that predicting which species will persist under climate change is more complex than focusing solely on survival.
