Top stories of 2022

Revisit The Ohio State University Airport’s top five most popular news stories from 2022 according to number of clicks.

1. Ohio State chosen as research home for Starlab’s George Washington Carver Science Park Terrestrial Lab
The Ohio State University will serve as the lead partner for the first-ever science park devoted to space research. Voyager Space announced in September that it selected a proposal from the university, State of Ohio, JobsOhio and One Columbus to host the terrestrial analog of the George Washington Carver Science Park at Ohio State. The analog laboratory will be a replica of the Starlab space station science park and allow researchers to test missions and conduct parallel experiments on the ground. "By collaborating with Team Ohio, Voyager Space will launch one of the most creative public-private partnerships in one of the most sought-after space destinations on this planet," said Professor John Horack, Neil Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy at Ohio State.

2. Scholarship winners aim high, thanks to 5K sponsors and race participants
The Ohio State University Airport announced the winners of the 2022 Flight Education Multiengine Scholarship, funded by proceeds from the 2022 Don Scott Trot: 5K on the Runway. With over $19,000 raised through the generosity of sponsorships and race participants, four Ohio State student pilots received funding to offset the cost of advanced flight training to earn the multiengine rating. Read the story to learn more about each of the recipients' career goals. “This rating is essential for our students to succeed in their future aviation endeavors,” said Director of Flight Education Brandon Mann.

3. Runway 5K reaches new heights
On August 27 The Ohio State University Airport hosted a record-setting Don Scott Trot: 5K on the Runway with 471 registrants. The race raised over $19,000 towards flight education scholarships for advanced training at Ohio State. Attendees enjoyed taking photos with Ohio State training aircraft and Brutus Buckeye, as well as observing the airside view of the terminal and the opportunity to be inside a hangar. Silver-level race sponsors, who each donated $3,000, were Crawford, Murphy & Tilly; FlightSafety International; Spartan Air; and Worthington Industries. “We are excited that the word of this event is spreading and we were able to accommodate a record number of registrations, which supported our fundraiser for student scholarships," said Airport Director Adam Wolf. A link to view event photos is included in the story.

4. Stephanie Morgan achieves International Airport Professional designation
The executive director of The Ohio State University Air Transportation & Aerospace Campus, Stephanie Morgan, achieved the distinguished designation of International Airport Professional (IAP), indicating her completion of a comprehensive airport business and leadership curriculum in the Global ACI-ICAO Airport Management Professional Accreditation Programme. The highly interactive and cross-cultural program aims to increase airport performance, encourage adherence to standards and best practices, recognize professional excellence, and optimize airport executives’ knowledge sharing globally.

5. Top collegiate flight competitors soar in to Ohio State airport
The Ohio State University Airport hosted the 2022 National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON) national collegiate flight competition in May. Nearly 500 event participants – including the Ohio State Flight Team and teams from 27 other schools – soared in to the university’s Don Scott Field for the pre-eminent competition that tests student pilots in a variety of flight and ground events. This was the 12th time the university hosted the event focused on safety, superior knowledge, skill and professionalism. “For Flight Team competitors, SAFECON is the event that challenges you at new airports and tests your piloting skills. It’s also the place where you make lifelong friendships with other people in the aviation industry,” commented Dale Gelter, the airport's assistant director of operations.