Award nominations have been submitted, and the awardees have\nbeen chosen! The Utah Aeronautics Division has named five individuals who have\ndemonstrated outstanding progress in making contributions to the aviation\nindustry in the State of Utah. They will be honored at the Utah Aeronautics\nConference Evening Reception on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at the Davis\nConference Center in Layton, Utah. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalyn Drake, USU, “Rookie of the Year” | Shalyn\nDrake has been a high school English teacher for over a decade and started a\ndrone club at Farmington High School. Despite Shalyn’s little time in the\nindustry, she has already left an impact on hundreds of youths. Shalyn created\nRookie Fly Days to bring hands-on flight experiences around the state of Utah.\nShe joined the Civil Air Patrol, quickly becoming a sUAS Pilot and Instructor,\nwhere she has already taught dozens of cadets and senior members how to fly. In\naddition, Shalyn has visited with over 40 educators, giving class\npresentations, teaching at an Educator\u2019s Workshop, and provided demonstrations\nto help them set up college courses for multiple universities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jeff Hansen, UBAA, “Aviation Professional of the\nYear” | Jeff Hansen demonstrates a profound knowledge of private and\ncorporate aviation, along with a visionary scope that continues to broaden\nUtah’s aviation industry. He is a perpetual leader that constantly gives back\nto Utah’s community. Whether it’s through the UBAA, mentorship, scholarships\nand\/or aviation education, he’s constantly there to lend support or leadership\nto anyone who reaches out. He’s grown Aircraft Services Utah as the premier\nPart 91 aircraft management company in Utah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michael Duke, DBT Aero, “Innovator of the Year” | Michael Duke has developed with his company, DBT Aero, six-seat future autonomous aircraft with a target fuel economy of an SUV or luxury car traveling six times faster. The aircraft are designed to be the most efficient, high-speed aircraft ever developed whether powered electrically, with hydrogen or using traditional fuels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senator Wayne Harper, Utah Senate, “Partner of the\nYear” | Senator Wayne Harper has been at the forefront of most\naeronautics-related legislation in Utah for at least the last 20 years. He has\nbeen an advocate for aviation and has shepherded many bills through the\nlegislative process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Andreas (Baron) Wesemann, Utah State University (USU),\n“Gail Halvorsen Lifetime Achievement” | Baron Wesemann has served\nover 41 years in 10 different wings of the Civil Air Patrol. He is the\nembodiment of aviation education in the state of Utah with many historical\nsuccesses. From Civil Air Patrol flying events to Boy Scout Aviation Merit\nBadge, he constantly looks for opportunities to bring aviation to the\ncommunity\u2014especially youth! He brings aircraft, hands on STEM events and\nactivities to airport open houses, community events and school visits. He\nreceived a $238,500 Federal Aviation Administration Workforce Development Grant\nto bring aviation to the rural communities of Utah. He has created or advised eight\naviation clubs at USU, where they support outreach events, including Girls in\nAviation Days, Oshkosh Air Venture trips, and STEM events at elementary schools\nfrom Cache Valley to St. George. He has also received a Hill AFB STEM Grant, to\nsupport hands-on activities to encourage youth to aviation careers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n