UD Flight Instructor Kevin Bradford Named AOPA Excellence Award Winner
Oct 17, 2012 | University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
Professor Steven Accinelli, aviation department head and director of UD aviation programs, today announced that Flight Instructor Kevin Bradford was one of three flight instructors to be named as Outstanding Flight Instructors by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) at the AOPA Aviation Summit in Palm Springs, CA on October 10, 2012.
AOPA created the Flight Training Excellence Awards to recognize flight schools and flight instructors who contribute to an optimal training experience and encourage best practices. The association received more than 2,400 nominations for the best flight schools and flight instructors in America. A committee reviewed each nomination and scored it against criteria laid out in AOPA's research into the optimal flight training experience. Only five flight schools and three flight instructors were deemed worthy of recognition.
"I am extremely proud of Kevin Bradford and am honored that he and UD would be recognized in these inaugural AOPA Awards for Excellence," commented Professor Accinelli. "Kevin was an outstanding flight student as an undergraduate and we felt very fortunate to have him continue on at the UD Flight Operations Center as an instructor. His students have consistently given him high marks in their evaluations of his teaching and their overall flight training experience."
Bradford has been a flight instructor since 2008 and has given more than 1,400 hours of dual instruction. His ground and flight training runs the gamut from private to multiengine flight instructor. "He has exciting new ideas for teaching, and brings laughter to difficult learning," says one of his students. Another calls Bradford "a natural flight instructor" who is imaginative in finding ways to help struggling students. "He is very positive and there isn't a flight that I leave not inspired by him for the love of flying."
"It is truly an honor to be able to accept this award," commented Kevin Bradford. "The last four years have been full of many fun, learning experiences for me. I very much enjoy reducing costs to the students while increasing safety, knowledge, and fun! When all is said and done, it is my priority to make sure that the student can confidently say that they are more safe, proficient, knowledgeable, can make good decisions, received top quality training, and had a great time! I am looking forward to the years to come as I continue to learn to teach more effectively and efficiently here at the University of Dubuque."
