Epic Flight Academy Awards
Epic Flight Academy has been recognized by numerous organizations for its contributions, excellence, and community involvement. Regardless of the honors and awards we receive, Epic strives to serve our students, staff, and community. Therefore, we aspire to meet the highest standards in all we do. Epic Flight Academy has been a member of the Better Business Bureau since 2018 and the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce since 2017.
Awards, Honors, and Recognitions
2022 – Orlando Sentinel Top Workplace Award
2019 – Daytona News-Journal Top Workplace Award
2019 – FAA 100% Pass Rate
2016 – National Guard – Patriotic Employer Award
2007 – Cessna Flight Training Excellence
2006 – AOPA Special Citation
Cessna Safety Standards Award
Employee Honors and Achievements
Epic Flight Academy is proud to hire highly skilled staff who have received their own share of accolades. We salute their commitment to excellence and honor their achievements.
Captain Judy Rice holds the world absolute NAA speed record over a recognized course: Kangerlussuaq, Greenland to Reykjavik, Iceland. In 2021, “Captain Judy,” as she is known as Epic, wrote the foreword for 101 Trailblazing Women of Air and Space: Astronauts and Aviators. Although Captain Judy retired in 2023, she continues to share her aviation wisdom in Captain Judy’s Corner.
CFI Hal Maskiell received the FAA Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award in 2017. Hal’s instructor certificate displays the FAA’s coveted gold seal, which is given to flight instructors who meet a higher standard of performance.
In 2017, Captain Mike Thompson authored Telling Is Not Teaching: The Flight Instructor’s Handbook.
Aircraft mechanic instructors Dennis Holland and Gary Hoyle are both recipients of the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award.
In 2020, Dr. Cindy Lovell, Director of Education, co-authored Linguistics for K-12 Classroom Application. In 2021, she co-edited the 4th edition of Preparing the Way: Teaching ELs in the Pre-K – 12 Classroom , and in 2023 co-authored The Big Book of ESOL Activities: Preparation for Educators, Administrators, and School Counselors. Cindy was also recognized for “Excellence in Undergraduate Education” by the University of South Florida in 2021 and 2023 where she is an adjunct professor.
Josh Rawlins, COO and Director of the Aircraft Mechanic Program, received national acclaim when the National Business Aviation Association honored him as the 2022 Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 Recipient in the field of Maintenance. Josh was also recognized by the Daytona Beach News-Journal in its ’40 Under Forty’ Program in 2021.
