AK
Alex Kwiatkowski
  • Aviation Flight Management
  • Class of 2015
  • Wheaton, IL

Alex Kwiatkowski of Wheaton Soars to Nationals With the Lewis University Flight Team

2012 Oct 29

Alex Kwiatkowski of Wheaton, Ill. and the Lewis University Flight Team qualified for national competition after taking second place in the region at the 2012 Region VIII Safecon Competition in Indiana. Lewis University took second overall and in ground events.

The regional event was held Oct. 15-20 at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. Lewis University was one of six universities competing. Other participants included University of Illinois, Indiana State University, Purdue University, Middle Tennessee State University, and Southern Illinois University.

This year's competition concluded with Lewis University finishing in second place overall. Southern Illinois University finished first, followed by Lewis University in second, and University of Illinois in third place. The top three universities qualified for the National Competition scheduled for May 2013 at Ohio State University.

In addition to Lewis University's team honors, Flight Team members earned individual awards. Lewis graduate student Jacob Luedtke of Hampshire, Ill. received second place in Navigation (Pilot) and Computer Accuracy. He also received fourth place in Message Drop (Pilot) and SCAN.

Other high scorers for Lewis were James Vandeventer of Naperville, Ill., who placed second in Preflight; Erik Rasmussen of Bloomington, Ill., who placed third in Ground Trainer; George Chiampas of Addison, Ill., who placed fourth in Message Drop (Drop Master); Robert Beckmann of Bourbonnais, Ill., who received fifth place in Power Off Landings; and Matthew Pall of Hampshire, Ill., who received ninth in Computer Accuracy.

Kwiatkowski competed in Power Off Landings, Message Drop (drop mster), Computer Accuracy,.

Lewis University flight team members include: Jacob Luedtke, James Vandeventer, Erik Rasmussen, Robert Beckmann, Nirav Patel, Matthew Pall, Alex Kwiatkowski, George Chiampas, Ethan Olson, Jack Mullen, Andrew Baniecki, Kayan Todiwalla, and Nathan Bennett-Swanson.

Megan Montgomery of LaGrange is the Lewis University's Flight Team's head coach and specializes in Simulated Comprehensive Aircraft Navigation and Ground Trainer. Other Flight Team coaches include Al Szoldatits of Tinley Park, Ill., Anthony Lalor of Woodstock, Ill., Tom Muntzenberger of Naperville, Ill., and Jacob Luedtke of Hampshire, Ill.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The ninth largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu for further information.