The Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) NIFA Flight Team has soared to new heights, earning the prestigious title of Top Two-Year School in the nation and ranking 22nd overall, surpassing eight four-year universities. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work, determination, and excellent leadership of the team members and staff.

“For many years CNCC had left NIFA. We rejoined NIFA and began competing again just three years ago. To make so much progress in three years is really amazing and I am so proud of our staff and students for their remarkable achievements.” -Nathan Hardin Aviation Technology Program Director

The NIFA Flight Team's individual results reflect their dedication and skill in various events. The team secured a 20th place ranking in Flight Events and a 22nd place ranking in Ground Events.

Head Coach Kinton Shannon said “NIFA is a lot like a track meet for pilots with individuals competing in their own events and trying to gain cumulative points as a team. These aviators showed up each week to hone their own skills but the support they gave to each other and their team cohesiveness was really inspiring to watch”.

Among the standout performances, Daycen Rohrer, the Team Captain, achieved notable placements, including 40th in Aircraft Preflight Inspection and 12th in Message Drop as the Dropmaster. Co-Captain John Roberts was recognized as an Outstanding Team Member, placing 23rd in the Certified Flight Instructor Event.

“I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Certified Flight Instructor event, and I gained some very useful information to make me a better CFI. As a two-year school CNCC does not often have a CFI to even compete in the event so just to compete was really an honor.”-John Roberts Co-Captain

Other team members also showcased their talents, with Adler Mueller finishing 11th as an Unlimited Navigation Pilot and achieving 55th overall. Logan Collins excelled as the 12th Message Drop Pilot, while Wheatley Nieslanik made impressive strides in multiple events, including 20th in Instrument Simulated Flight. When interviewed by NIFA at the National Competition Wheatley said, “We are having the time of our lives, and we are so lucky to be here.”

The CNCC NIFA Flight Team consists of dedicated students, including John Roberts, Wheatley Nieslanik, Daycen Rohrer, Stilen Adams, Megan Wagner, Logan Collins, Jacob Royer, Dakota Pilarcik, Carter Swan, Adler Mueller, Logan Svaldi, Yonas Bursch, Aida Hughes, Weston Boese, Cody Spice, Justin Langer, Julie McCallister, Orion Rand, David Gendron, and Jakub Pecinka. The team is supported by an exceptional staff, including Kinton Shannon, Dalton Dembowski, Dalton Vetter, Zachary Guthrie, Brayden Isaacson, Nathan Shull, and Nathan Hardin.

This achievement not only highlights the talent and commitment of the CNCC NIFA Flight Team but also underscores the college's dedication to providing top-tier aviation education. The CNCC community celebrates this significant milestone and looks forward to future successes.

For more information on the Aviation Technology program visit: cncc.edu/degrees/cte/aviation-tech or contact Nathan Hardin Aviation Technology Program Director at 970.675.3291.