The University Aviation Association (UAA) recognized its 2003 Collegiate Aviation Award recipients during the Fall Education Conference Awards Banquet in Dayton, Ohio. The organization's renowned William A. Wheatley Award was presented to Colonel Emmett F. Johnson. Other award recipients included: Mary Ann Turney, V. L. Laursen Award; Dr. Triant G. Flouris, Frank E. Sorenson Award; and Mr. Kent Backart, W. W. Estridge Award.

Colonel Emmett F. Johnson, chair of the Aviation Management and Logistics Department at Auburn University (Alabama), received the William A. Wheatley Award. The Award honors Professor Wheatley, an aviation education pioneer who established a relationship between airlines and educators that remains to this day. This award is presented annually to a professional educator who, for more than ten years, has made outstanding contributions to aerospace education.

Johnson (right), who joined the faculty at Auburn in 1985, has an exemplary career as an educator and administrator. During a period of budget restructuring at the University, it was Colonel Johnson's leadership, administrative and budgetary skills that brought the entire academic program from the College of Engineering to the College of Business. Dr. John S. Jahera, Dean of the College of Business said: "Colonel Johnson has served Auburn well and is one of the most student oriented faculty members on staff. He is passionate about flight, the academic community and, above all, his students." He is a rated pilot and holds an FAA commercial certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings, with more than 3,300 hours almost equally divided between fixed and rotary wing aircraft.

Dr. Mary Ann Turney was presented the Laursen Award. The Laursen Award, honoring former Trans World Airline Captain Vern L. Laursen, is presented annually to a professional educator with a minimum of five years of experience in the education profession and who has made outstanding contributions to aerospace education.

Turney is a professor in the Department of Aeronautical Management Technology at Arizona State University. Turney has conducted research on gender differences and is authoring a text on "Tapping Diverse Talent in Aviation." She holds an Air Transport Pilot's Certificate as well as CFI/CFII, and both advanced and instrument ground instructor certificates.

Dr. Triant G. Flouris, a professor in the International MBA Program at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec Canada, is the recipient of the Sorenson Award. The Award, sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), honors Frank E. Sorenson who served as the Director of the UNO Aviation Education Research Group. This award is presented annually to a professional educator who has made substantial contributions to the field of aviation research and scholarship.

Flouris has a distinguished research and publications record. Author of Operations Management Structure of Airbus, he is under contract to publish another text on Strategic Aviation Management. He has written chapters in several other books as well as numerous articles in refereed journals in aviation, economics and operations management. Flouris has also worked on FAA and NASA funded research projects dealing with gender differences in situational awareness, and the development of an International Airline Industry Simulation program.

Mr. Kent Backart, executive director of Alpha Eta Rho (AHP), the international, co-educational aviation fraternity, is this year's recipient of the Estridge Award. The Estridge Award, sponsored by Pearce Industries, Inc. & CrewCar.com, honors former Captain W. W. Estridge of American Airlines. This award is presented annually to a representative of the aviation industry who is a distinguished supporter of collegiate aviation education.

Backart has almost 40 years of experience in aviation and aviation education, serving as chair of the Aviation Department at Palomar College from 1983 until 1995. From 1974 to 1985 he conducted summer aerospace workshops for elementary and secondary school teachers throughout California. He holds both land and seaplane ratings and is a Certified Flight Instructor. Since his retirement, Backart has served as the executive director of the NIFA Foundation, Alpha Eta Rho, and of the joint NIFA / AHP Alumni Association. He regularly edits and distributes The Beam, the AHP Newsletter that goes to various chapters across the country. He is a former recipient of UAA's Wheatley Award and the NIFA Recognition Award for his many contributions to that organization.

UAA represents more than 650 members consisting of two- and four-year collegiate institutions offering aviation programs, and government and aviation industry organizations with an interest in collegiate aviation education.

FMI: www.uaa.aero