Riverside, Calif. (June 14, 2016) – Hannah Maria Guajardo, an aviation flight student at California Baptist University, holds a unique role for her senior year—she will be a flight instructor. Guajardo recently became the flight school's first student to earn a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) certificate, which will allow her to teach at the Department of Aviation Science at CBU.  

Dr. Daniel Prather, chair of the aviation science department, said flight training traditionally requires individuals to pay for their required flight training hours. However, once a CFI is obtained, an individual can be paid to accumulate flight hours through teaching. Guajardo will teach courses for students pursuing their private pilot certificate.

"The (CFI) certificate is a significant accomplishment," said Prather. "Hannah has excelled as an aviation flight major and is paving the way for many students to come after her in this exciting major."

Guajardo's latest accomplishment comes on the heels of receiving a conditional job offer, along with three classmates, from ExpressJet airlines.

"I've been blessed by my experience at CBU," said Guajardo, who expects to graduate in the spring of 2017. "The aviation community has been extremely supportive of achieving my dreams." 

Prather reflected on the historic achievements of Guajardo.

"She is a history maker at CBU, as she was the first student to be admitted as an aviation flight major and the first student in the history of CBU to earn her CFI before graduation.  She is also one of the founding members of our Women in Aviation Blue Yonder chapter," Prather said.