Eight cadets who traveled to the University of Central Arkansas Aviation Academy in Conway from all across the nation have completed their intensive summer training program through the U.S. Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
UCA was one of seven universities nationwide selected for the 2026 program and was the only program to achieve a 100 percent completion rate for cadets. This marks the second consecutive year that UCA has achieved a 100 percent completion rate for the eight-week program. Cadets were recognized for their accomplishments by the U.S. Air Force, the UCA Aviation Academy and their flight instructors at a ceremony with their families at the Bill Cope Memorial Hangar at Cantrell Field.
Graduating cadets were Axel Acosta of Lancaster, California; Nathan Alden of London, England; Caden Heyen of Edmond, Oklahoma; George Moore of Raven, Virginia; Maverick Adams of Simi Valley, California; Gennaro Scarfogliero of Valdosta, Georgia; Wesley Grigartis of Lawndale, North Carolina; and Cecil Johnson of Simi Valley, California.
“We are extremely grateful to the Air Force and very proud to have achieved a top Air Force training status in only two years,” UCA Aviation Academy Director Brad Teague said. “The Air Force Training Program selection process is tremendous, and we have received stellar students for our two years in the program. As long as the Air Force will have us, UCA is committed to this great endeavor for years to come.”
The program, established in 2018, is designed to address the growing demand for pilots while increasing accessibility to aviation careers for high school students. Participants were selected through a competitive process and earned their private pilot license as well as college credit. The UCA Aviation Academy utilized four primary flight instructors who helped the cadets be successful in a short amount of time.
“It’s an honor to be a part of a program that is linked to the Air Force and could potentially have an impact on future service members,” UCA Aviation Academy Lead Flight Instructor Matthew Ganis said. “The Air Force has always been a part of my life because of my dad, and I have the utmost respect for those who serve our country. This makes this program special to me because I see it as a chance to give back, having not served myself. I am extremely proud of all of our cadets that went through training and believe they all have bright futures ahead of them. Hopefully I can be a part of it in the future, no matter how small that part may be.”
The UCA Aviation Academy offers new open-enrollment classes every three months. Multiple pilot certifications are available, including private, commercial and instructor licenses, as well as instrument and multi-engine ratings.
More information about the UCA Aviation Academy, including how to apply, is available at uca.edu/aviation or by contacting Teague at 501-450-5244 or bteague@uca.edu.
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