Elizabeth City State University is making significant strides in enhancing its aviation education programs, thanks to a generous $50,000 contribution from the Friedrich family. This investment will support a new Aviation Speaker Series, which aims to enrich the academic experience for students pursuing careers in aviation.
The announcement was made during last week’s quarterly board meeting, where ECSU Interim Chancellor Catherine Edmonds expressed gratitude for the Friedrich family’s commitment to fostering student development. The series will unfold each quarter and invite industry leaders to share their expertise on various aviation topics.
Edmonds emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We are deeply grateful to the Friedrich family for this generous donation, which will have a profound impact on the lives of our students. This gift reflects a shared commitment to preparing the next generation of leaders in aviation. By providing our students with exposure to industry-specific conversations and opportunities, we are ensuring they have the tools they need to succeed academically and in their future careers.”
The Aviation Speaker Series will feature keynote presentations and encourage student participation through interactive Q&A sessions and private networking events with guest speakers.
Kevin Wade, ECSU’s vice chancellor for student affairs and interim vice chancellor for university advancement, played a key role in launching the program. He highlighted the series as a pathway for student success, adding, “This series is more than lectures—it’s a pipeline to success for our students.”
Proposed discussion topics include career pathways in airline pilot training, drone technology innovations, women’s impact in aviation leadership, sustainable practices in aviation, and advances in aviation mechanics and engineering.
A Passion for Aviation
Stephen Friedrich, chief commercial officer at Embraer Executive Jets and a member of the ECSU board of trustees, reflected on his family’s motivation behind the donation. Emphasizing the importance of exposing students to various aviation sectors, he remarked, “In this way, we hope to enable the students to have broad knowledge of the industry and find inspiration as they look for career opportunities.”
Friedrich shared his lifelong connection to aviation, recalling how witnessing the moon landing ignited his passion for the field. His extensive career, which began in aviation finance and evolved through senior leadership positions at Rolls-Royce, has further fueled his commitment to empowering the next generation of aviation professionals.
The speaker series supports the Aviation Science program and will benefit all ECSU students and engage the wider community.
