Quick Navigation to Epic Buzz December 2025
2025 in Review
Since Epic’s founding in 1999, we have experienced many changes as we’ve grown from a single flight school in New Smyrna Beach, Florida to an academy of 10 flight schools and 2 aircraft mechanic schools. In 2025, we experienced significant achievements and wish to thank our students, staff, instructors, and the aviation community for this shared success. Highlights of 2025 include:
- Launched 5 New Flight Schools:
- Received Accreditation from ACCSC
- Established Partnerships with 2 More Colleges:
- Became the Largest FAA Part 141 Flight School in the U.S.
- Received the Orlando Sentinel Top Workplace Award for the 4th Consecutive Year
- Received FAA Approval for Self-Examining Authority
- Partnered with Alpine Air Express’s Pilot Pathway Program
- Awarded $145,000 in Scholarships to U.S. High School Students
Holiday Specials for Aviation Training
As 2025 comes to a close and the holidays are fast approaching, we are offering our best specials ever for pilot training and aircraft mechanic training!
If your plans for 2026 include becoming an FAA-certified pilot or aircraft mechanic, we invite you to take advantage of these special offers.
Welcome to Our Newest Students!
November brought new students to our campuses around the country. Pictured here are the newest flight students at New Smyrna Beach (EVB)!
If you’re ready to check your eligibility, it’s easy to prequalify for pilot training or aircraft mechanic training in just a few minutes! We look forward to welcoming you to the Epic family!
Top Prop Award
Instructor Troy Brevik presented the Top Prop Award to Chris Napier for earning the highest combined scores on exams and projects in his Powerplant class at Epic’s Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Aircraft Mechanic School. Congratulations, Chris!
Epic Alumni News
Congratulations to Epic graduate Jhaden Sydnor, who is now a First Officer flying the PC-12 at Tradewind Aviation! Well done, Jhaden! Wishing you blue skies all the way!
Are you an Epic graduate? Please send us a career update!
Thanksgiving Celebrations
We celebrated Thanksgiving at all 12 of our campuses with a pre-Thanksgiving meal. We are thankful for our incredible students, staff, and instructors.
Pass Lists
Aircraft Mechanic Passes in November
Airframe
Sam Menker (CVG)
Kevin Lin (EVB)
Powerplant
Devon Canada (EVB)
Sergio Topete Orendain (EVB)
Derin Karagozler (EVB)
Pilot First-Attempt Passes in November
Private Pilot
Abdullah Saif S Alqahtani
Katiana Cabus (OCF)
Shane Martin Brownrigg
Alicya Hollingsworth Simmons
Nicholas Richard Klausss (TUS)
Dustin Ryan Rivest (TLH)
Nehranjan Lall
Derik Raymond Ogg
Naomi Bizen
Zachary Harrison Hammer
Instrument Rating
Jeffrey James Brooks
Sebastian Maurente
Nicholas Glen Wright (TLH)
Trey Max Regar (OCF)
Anthony Douglas Keller
Cole McCall Pritz (TUS)
Derek Christopher Schneider
Ryland Callaway Davoli
Becky Consider Somiari
Andrew James Wernisch (TLH)
Commercial Single-Engine
James Patrick Clancy
Tristan Alejandro Taylor
Connor Douglas Frisch
Zachariah Michael Porter
Jennifer Michele Van Ingen
Dylan Michael Lessman
Kazi Arafat Hossain Jishan
Shohaib Ahmed
Matthew George Morandi
Commercial Multi-Engine
Edward James Samson
Justin Cade Lee
Tobias Buckley Pardey
Collin Andrew Tolson
Kerrilyn Jane Lehman (ADS)
Ahmed Camlin Pearson (ADS)
Bailey Blair Thomas
Certified Flight Instructor
Asa Sheppard Wagner
Catherine Elizabeth Naudin (APA)
Dylan Leonard Wertz
Ixhabi Wong Morgan (TLH)
Sebastian DeCastro Marrero (OCF)
Dawn Marie Hill
Carson Jay Cruse
Byron James Kappes II (TUS)
Christian Tyler Waddell
Sean Robert Tynan (TUS)
Sean Christian Hamilton
Tanner McCoy Jones
Jordan Nathanael Walters
Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument
Joshua David Bailey
Thomas Knox Armstrong Bell II
Gregory Adam Gowdy
Ixhabi Wong Morgan (TLH)
Nathan Phillip Humbert
Sydney Elizabeth Payne
Adriana Carolina Fuentes Mejias
Tal Naor
Adriana Tamir Ayala Ronda
Cole James Ward (TUS)
Catherine Elizabeth Naudin (APA)
Ian Clayton Markel (TUS)
Molly Rae Ruffridge (TUS)
Abigail Elizabeth Weaver
Byron James Kappes II (TUS)
Zachary Stephen Brannock
Cody Angus Steinmetz (TLH)
Multi-Engine Flight Instructor
Alexandra Nicole McNew
Blake Tyler Anderson
Kyle Austin Sears
All of these pilots passed their checkrides on their first attempt at New Smyrna Beach (EVB) unless otherwise noted.
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