The 2024 award honors a critical contributor to the success of the first NAFI Summit.
— August 5, 2024 The National Association of Flight Instructors (NAFI) has announced
that Samantha Bowyer has been honored with the 2024 Jack J. Eggspuehler Award.
Eggspuehler was a founder of NAFI, and he served as its president for more than 30 years. The award in
his name is the association’s highest honor, bestowed by the board of directors. Each year, the
recognition highlights the member, industry leader, and/or organization that have performed outstanding
service to NAFI for the benefit of its members.
Samantha Bowyer, an associate professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, joined the committee
of members and industry partners planning the original NAFI Summit, which was held in October 2023,
in Lakeland, Florida. With degrees in business and project management, and based in Florida, Bowyer
offered considerable assistance in organizing the Summit.
“Samantha has become a good friend and a colleague of ours in a relatively short time,” said NAFI
President Paul Preidecker at the NAFI Member Breakfast awards ceremony at EAA AirVenture on July
25. “If we go back to the original summit, I knew we would need some help putting it all together.
Samantha made her presence known, was willing to help, and was responsible for driving our path to
success.”
With her deep commitment to student outreach and support, particularly to the flight training community
at Embry-Riddle, Bowyer understood the mission, and dedicated her time and resources to ensure that the
Summit had its best opportunity to succeed.
Bowyer recently finished her DBA., and she enjoys spending time hiking the Appalachian Trail. “I’m
flattered and honored to receive the namesake award of the NAFI founder,” said Bowyer. “Aviation
education is close to my heart, and I’m happy to be a small notch making progress in our industry and
community.”
