Every commencement season brings a period of reflection for me — as a person, as a leader, and, importantly, as President of this esteemed institution. Each time I hear the success stories of our graduates, I am deeply grateful to have been a small part of their journeys.
Our alumni enjoy success in every part of the world and beyond — from Australia to Riyadh to the moon — and in fields that span extraterrestrial agriculture to sustainable aviation to the highest positions of government. I continue to be awed (though not surprised) by the impressive success of our Eagle community.
Despite widespread challenges impacting higher education, Embry-Riddle has continued its trajectory of growth and progress. This is due to our supportive Board of Trustees, our dedicated students and our industry-focused faculty and staff who stay abreast of safety improvements and innovative technologies. But it’s also due to the support we enjoy from our alumni. Each one of you has remained steadfast in your support of Embry-Riddle, proud of your education and of our shared mission, but also committed to giving back.
Over the past decade, enrollment at the university’s two residential campuses has increased over 60% to almost 12,000. Embry-Riddle now serves more than 31,000 students around the globe, and approximately 95% of all graduates are employed or pursuing further education within one year of commencement. Additionally, Embry Riddle has increased its institutionally funded scholarships by 150% over the past decade.
During these past 10 years, we’ve also seen approximately $162 million in philanthropic funds, and in the past year alone, Embry-Riddle has raised approximately $33 million from more than 10,000 donors — many of them alumni — which represents a significant increase in funding.
Your generous donations are put to good use in providing scholarships for the next generation of aviation and aerospace students; building facilities for innovation, training and development; and investing in groundbreaking research.
Our goals continue to be ambitious, but we all must avoid resting on our stellar reputation. I remind myself every day of our mission to teach the science, practice and business of aviation and aerospace and our vision to be the unquestioned leader in innovation and excellence in aerospace education and research.
My ask of you is simple: Stay connected with your fellow Eagles and your university community through a variety of channels, such as becoming a part of our alumni network on LinkedIn, visiting your campus or joining us for one of our many events. You can also support students through the One University Scholarship Fund at givingto.erau.edu/one. However you feel most comfortable engaging, the goal remains to nurture our connection to each other and to Embry-Riddle.
That connection is why we are still here — still creating future aviation and aerospace leaders — almost 100 years later.
P. Barry Butler, Ph.D.
President