Posted on Tuesday, November 03, 2026
The LaGrange College Flight Team made an impressive debut at the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Region IX Safety and Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) competition in Daytona Beach, Florida, from October 19 through 23. Competing against experienced collegiate aviation programs from across the region, the team showcased its skill, preparation, and professionalism while representing LaGrange College with distinction in the program’s first-ever competitive appearance.
SAFECON is the leading competition for collegiate aviation in the nation that pits future industry leaders against each other to test their knowledge and abilities. The contest features a variety of events designed to evaluate both individual excellence and strong team performance, making collaboration and consistency essential to success.
Several team members earned top finishes across a variety of aviation knowledge and flight-related events. In the Ground Trainer event, Isabel Rocker secured a tenth-place finish. Rocker continued her strong performance alongside Ike Mollett in the Navigation event, where the pair earned an outstanding third-place finish.
LaGrange also excelled in the Preflight Inspection event, with Mollett placing eighth and Whitt Bowden finishing tenth. In one of the competition’s most difficult events, Aiden Lynd earned second place in the Message Drop competition, highlighting the team’s precision and flying proficiency.
The most notable individual accomplishment came from Rocker, who finished 13th overall among 58 competitors for Top Scoring Contestant honors, an impressive achievement in a highly competitive field.
Director of Aviation and Professor of Business Management Dr. Rhett Yates is extremely proud of his students’ performance in Daytona Beach and how it reflects the program’s success.
“The Team had a great showing and represented LaGrange College very well, especially for our first-ever competition," he said. "Our institution has also been selected to host the competition in the fall of 2027. We are looking forward to this opportunity to showcase our aviation program, college, and community.”
The successful showing marks an exciting milestone for the LaGrange College Aviation program and reflects the dedication of its students, instructors, and supporters. As the program continues to grow, this strong first performance at SAFECON provides momentum and sets a high standard for future competitions.
Category: Students, Academics, Events
Keywords: aviation, flight competition
