The Colorado Northwestern Community College (CNCC) NIFA Flight Team earned national recognition as the top two-year school in the country and ranked 22nd overall, surpassing eight four-year universities. The team rejoined NIFA just three years ago, making the achievement a testament to the dedication of its students and staff. Aviation Technology Program Director Nathan Hardin praised their rapid progress.
The team placed 20th in flight events and 22nd in ground events. Head coach Kinton Shannon compared the competition to a track meet for pilots, emphasizing the team’s unity and support for one another.
Team captain Daycen Rohrer placed 12th in message drop and 40th in aircraft preflight inspection. Co-captain John Roberts was named an outstanding team member, finishing 23rd in the certified flight instructor event. Other highlights included Adler Mueller’s 11th-place finish in unlimited navigation, Logan Collins’ 12th-place in message drop, and Wheatley Nieslanik’s 20th-place in instrument simulated flight.
