The National Aeronautic Association announced that the National Center for Aviation Training, the main campus of Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, is selected as the recipient of the 2026 Frank G. Brewer Trophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Brewer Trophy, established in 1943, is awarded annually for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the United States. The National Center for Aviation Training<\/a> (NCAT) at Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) is selected for its exceptional track record in establishing scalable, industry-aligned career pathways, training thousands of aerospace professionals, and serving as a national model for workforce development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “The National Center for Aviation Training exemplifies the highest ideals of the Brewer Trophy by demonstrating how visionary education, industry partnership, and community commitment can shape the future of American aviation,” said Amy Spowart, President and CEO, NAA. “Under Dr. Utash\u2019s leadership, NCAT has not only sustained the workforce pipeline for the nation\u2019s aviation sector but has elevated technical education into a national strategic priority.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since its opening in 2010, NCAT in Wichita, Kansas, has transformed technical education through a partnership across multiple sectors. The approximately 225,000-square-foot facility is currently being expanded by an additional 85,500 square feet, significantly increasing capacity for aerospace, automation and advanced manufacturing workforce training. Since NCAT opened, WSU Tech has experienced nearly 150 percent enrollment growth, and graduates of NCAT programs achieve a 90 percent job placement rate. Graduates are employed by major manufacturers such as Textron Aviation, Bombardier, Airbus, and Boeing. NCAT has expanded access to aviation careers through early high school career pathways and established a Professional Pilot Program in addition to its manufacturing, maintenance, and avionics programs. NCAT also helped develop the mikeroweWORKS<\/a> Work Ethic Curriculum, and WSU Tech played a leadership role in the nearly $15 million U.S. Department of Labor National Aviation Consortium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Receiving the Frank G. Brewer Trophy is a tremendous honor for WSU Tech and a meaningful recognition of the impact of our National Center for Aviation Training,\u201d said Dr. Sheree Utash, President, WSU Tech<\/a>. \u201cEvery day, we have the opportunity to change a student’s life through education while preparing the skilled workforce our aviation and aerospace companies need to thrive and grow. That connection between students, education, and industry is what drives our work, and we are incredibly proud to see it recognized on a national level.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n