About Grace Hamilton

Senior

Aerospace & Occupational Safety

Hometown: Pensacola, Florida
Campus Involvement: Women Ambassadors, Orientation Team, Aviation Safety Advisory Council, The Avion, Flight Safety Department, Women in Aviation International, International Society of Air Safety Investigators, and American Society of Safety Professionals.
Why I chose Embry-Riddle: a. I have always had a passion for aviation and safety. Growing up in Pensacola, FL, I was constantly at the museum and watching the Blue Angels practice. What I saw and learned there inspired me to pursue an aviation career. Once I set my mind to that goal, Embry-Riddle was the only option I could see. It was the only school I applied to because I was determined to pursue my goals. The opportunities and networking that Embry-Riddle provides have made my journey so far incredible and unique.

Caffeine Time: Best Local Coffee Spots

Posted on October 9, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

As a college student, coffee isn’t just a drink—it’s my survival tool. Whether it’s powering through early morning lectures, fueling late-night study sessions (which I probably have too many of), or just giving me an excuse to take a much-needed break, coffee has become a crucial part of my daily routine. Luckily, there are some amazing local spots that not only keep me caffeinated but also offer a cozy atmosphere to unwind or get work done. Here are a few of my favorites in town.

Foxtail

Foxtail coffee has several locations surrounding campus so no matter where you live there is one close by. The closest one to campus is located in OneDaytona by the Speedway. This coffee shop always gives such cozy vibes and a vibrant charm. They offer a variety of brews, a full espresso bar, and various seasonal favorites. Even though it may not feel like it in Florida the fall season has begun and so have the flavors. Foxtail has a delicious Maple Pancake Latte that taste like a warm pancake with syrup.

I personally enjoy having a treat with my coffee and Foxtail has some great options. My go to options are either the ham and swiss on a sub roll or the double chocolate muffin. They have so many incredible options that there is something for everyone.

Here’s the link to their website: https://www.foxtailcoffee.com/locations/foxtail-coffee-one-daytona

Coffee Therapy

Located in South Daytona, Coffee Therapy offers so many delicious beverage options. One of my favorite things about them is that they offer sugar free options. They offer a wide variety of seasonal drinks to encompass all the autumn flavors. My current seasonal favorites are:

Witches Brew: Butterscotch and Pumpkin Spice
Sugar Free Chocolate Macadamia Nut
Shake it Offee: brown sugar shaken espresso with oat milk

All of their drinks can be made iced or hot. Living in Florida I mostly go with the iced option. However as soon as it gets cool I’ll start getting my drinks hot.

They have a lot of comfy seating options which is perfect for study dates or hanging out with friends. They don’t have a website but you can check their Facebook page for any menu and seasonal updates.

Aura Coffee

If you’re searching for a coffee shop that radiates good vibes and creativity, Aura Coffee in Holly Hill is a must-visit. It’s more than just a place to grab caffeine — it’s an experience built around connection, positivity, and handcrafted flavor.

Their menu has everything from your favorite classics like cold brew, lattes, and americanos to some truly unique signature drinks. A few standouts include the Bloom (espresso with rose and lavender) and Honey Bear (espresso with honey, cinnamon, and macadamia). Each one has its own personality — and they’re all made with organic ingredients.

Aura’s mission goes beyond coffee; it’s about spreading positive energy and love through every cup. The cozy space and ocean-inspired design make it the perfect spot to slow down, recharge, or catch up with friends.

You can find Aura Coffee at 1122 Riverside Drive in Holly Hill, open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM — and trust me, it’s worth the stop.

Here is a link to their website: https://auracoffee.co/

Copperline Coffee

If you’re looking for a cozy spot to grab your morning coffee or spend a slow weekend brunch, Copperline Coffee + Café is definitely worth the stop. Their menu goes way beyond your typical coffee shop fare — blending rich espresso drinks, creative flavors, and some seriously good comfort food.

They serve up everything from cold brews and pour-overs to signature lattes like the Honeysuckle (a mix of vanilla, honey, and cinnamon) and the Ube Latte, which is as beautiful as it is delicious. If you’re in the mood for something indulgent, their coffee flights let you sample a few different brews — perfect for coffee lovers who can’t pick just one.

But what really sets Copperline apart is their food menu. Think flaky biscuits loaded with fried chicken, red pepper jelly, and pimento cheese, or sweet treats like triple chocolate cake and vegan carrot cake. It’s the kind of place where you can grab breakfast, stay for lunch, and still find an excuse to take dessert to go. I say that from personal experience and long study sessions with friends.

They’ve got locations in Port Orange and South Daytona, so wherever you are, you’re not far from good coffee and good vibes. Their location close to Halifax has a wonderful outdoor and indoor seating area so not matter what the weather there will be a great place to get work done.

Some of my personal favorites: the Honeysuckle Latte and the Chicken Biscuit with Pimento Cheese. Trust me — you’ll want to go back for seconds.

Here is a link to their website: https://www.copperlinecoffee.com/

Beach Bros Coffee

If you’re ever in the mood for local specialty coffee, Beach Bros is the place to go. Their menu features a wide variety of options including cold brew, hot, iced, and blended drinks — even a few extra-caffeinated choices for those who need an extra boost. By combining the laid-back vibes of the sea with their coffee creations, they’ve crafted unique flavors like coconut, pineapple, mango, and many more.

Beach Bros has locations in both Port Orange and Daytona Beach, so no matter which side of town you’re on, there’s one nearby.

Some of my personal recommendations are The Seaside Bonfire and Biscoff — both are absolutely worth a try!

Here’s the link to their website: https://beachbroscoffee.com/

I hope that this list has helped you find your new study spot, caffeine fix or even just a great place to catch up with friends.

Don’t forget to take a step back and relax during the chaos of the semester or busy workday. Take some time this weekend to enjoy time with friends, go to the beach, or relax on the couch.

Have a great weekend!

~ Grace H. 🙂

Girls in Aviation Day 2025

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

Good day everybody!

As the semester kicks into full gear with classes, group projects, and clubs there have been a lot of cool things happening on and around campus. This past weekend I got to participate in an incredible event that helped inspire the next generation of women in aviation. I couldn’t have done it without this very special group of women.

At the Daytona Beach campus, I’m an active member of the ERAU Women in Aviation Chapter. Our group includes young women from all corners of the aviation industry—ranging from pilots and mechanics to experts in aviation safety, human factors, and more. I’ve been involved with Women in Aviation even before enrolling at Embry-Riddle, and it has continued to be a meaningful part of my journey. Just this past weekend, our chapter volunteered at the Girls in Aviation Day event, hosted by the regional Women in Aviation chapter at SHELTAIR.

At the event, several vendors, flight schools, and organizations came together to show young girls and their families all that aviation has to offer. From the moment they arrived and received their goodie bags to the excitement of reaching the flight line and seeing the aircraft up close, it was clear they were experiencing their dreams taking flight.

This year, I worked the photo booth alongside one of the Flexjet captains. She was incredible to talk to and inspired so many girls by sharing her journey and career in aviation. Nearby, a face painting booth helped imaginations soar with creative designs and lots of glitter.

Here is a picture of me with one of my fellow Aerospace and Occupational students on the left and on my right is the ERAU Daytona Beach Chapter President.

Embry-Riddle was proudly represented with one of our own Cessna 172s. In addition, organizations like FLAP, Women in Aviation, the VR Lab, and the MakerSpace hosted engaging activities, giving the girls hands-on experiences and a glimpse into the diverse and exciting world of aviation.

Girls in Aviation Day was more than just an event—it was a reminder of why representation, mentorship, and community matter so much in this industry. Seeing the excitement on the girls’ faces and watching their curiosity grow into passion was incredibly rewarding.

I’m grateful to be part of a group like Women in Aviation that actively works to create opportunities and spark inspiration in future aviators. As I continue my journey at Embry-Riddle, I look forward to more opportunities like this to give back, connect, and help shape the future of aviation—one dream at a time.

Fly-In Adventures: St.Petersburg, FL

Posted on September 11, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

This past weekend, I got to do something unforgettable to celebrate my 2-year anniversary — and it was nothing short of magical. If you couldn’t tell by the title… we took to the skies and flew to St. Pete!

I was a little nervous at first during the preflight as this was going to be my first time in a general aviation aircraft and I usually get motion sick on normal commercial airliners. Thankfully I was prepared with stuff just in case, and got very lucky that I felt perfect the entire flight.

We left Deland promptly that morning and flew two hours southwest down to St. Petersburg, FL. There were many beautiful clouds and sights along the way. I never realized how many bodies of water there were in Florida till we started flying over them.

We finally made it to Albert Whittled Airport in St. Petersburg, Florida, and were ready for something to eat. This airport is really special as it has a secret hidden gem. At the corner of the airport and at the end of one of the runways is a place called The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge. It is an aviation themed restaurant with views of the airport and gorgeous surrounding water. Once we got parked and filled up the airplane we headed inside for a delicious meal.

Since we got there so early I decided to get breakfast and man was it delicious. They have so many options it was hard to pick. If you get there around lunch time or dinner they had some amazing options on the menu that I can’t wait to go back and try.

While we were there I noticed a lot of fancy and very expensive speedboats heading down towards the docks. At first I thought that it was probably just a show. However 5 minutes of research made me realize that it was actually the Monster Energy St. Pete Powerboat P1 Grand Prix. Let me just say, some of those boats that were coming through were so big they were being towed in on 18-wheelers.

They weren’t racing when we tookoff to head home but you could see everyone getting ready and the helicopters getting set to takeoff and record the race from above. It was a really cool experience.

If you ever have the time to take a trip down to St. Petersburg, whether flying or driving, I highly recommend you give this place a visit.

Here is a link to their website if you’re interested: https://thehangarstpete.com/

Aerospace and Occupational Safety Facing Changes

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

Embry-Riddle offers a wide variety of degree programs where you are able to explore your passions and prepare for your future. Recently some programs have been going through a few changes. For example, my degree is changing in many ways.

In my bio you’ll see that I am majoring in Aerospace and Occupational Safety. I have a year left in this program and I have loved every moment. My classes have prepared me for careers in aviation safety as well as in the occupational and environmental safety field. Having this duality has opened a lot of doors for me when applying for internships. This summer I am working as a Safety and Environmental Intern at SeaWorld. Now I know you may be asking what does that have to do with aviation and the answer is ……… nothing, at least not directly. While I may be working with maintenance, rides, animal, and chemicals, this knowledge and principles of operation can still be applied to the aviation and aerospace industry. Next summer, I will be able to apply the knowledge I’ve gained from SeaWorld to my internship at GE Aerospace as an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), Facilities, and Maintenance intern. So, while my current internship does not deal with aviation the knowledge I gained from it will help my next summer at my dream company.

I have gotten to do so many incredible things in this program. Here are a few of my favorites!

Starting in the fall of this year the program is changing gears. There will no longer be an occupational safety option for the undergraduate program. The degree will now be Aviation and Aerospace Safety. This new degree will be accredited by the AABI (Aviation Accreditation Board International) instead of the current ABET. Embry-Riddle’s goal with this change is to create a more evolved focus in the aviation safety industry. While this is an understandable change given Embry-Riddle is an aviation focused school it does still have effects. If you are interested in the occupational safety side of things you can do the occupational safety minor. I highly recommend doing this as it will open more opportunities for you.

This program has a lot of advantages over many other programs offered by Embry-Riddle. First, the program is super small. Most of the time there is only one or two sections for a class. I’ve never had more than 35 people in one of my safety courses. Since there is such a small class size you are able to talk to your professors more frequently if you have questions. I’ve never had to worry about scheduling time to meet with my professors because they are always available to help during office hours. Another great thing about this program is the career opportunities you will have.

Almost every major company out there has an EHS or safety program. Some of the companies that students in the program are working for are:

Delta

United

American Airlines

Gulfstream

Seaworld

Sierra Nevada Corporation

Atlas Air

NTSB

GE Aerospace

And this list could go on and on….

As you can see the opportunities are endless. Once you find the area that you enjoy the sky is the limit. Take every opportunity that you can.

During the summer there is a great opportunity to participate in the Safety in the Aegean Study Abroad Program. As of now there should be a trip for Summer 2026. Dr. Szathmary, one of the excellent safety professors at Embry-Riddle, teaches several courses on the trip. Even if you can’t make the study abroad trip, I highly recommend taking her in-person classes during the spring and fall.

If you have a passion for safety, investigation, and improving the future of the industry, I highly recommend the College of Aviation’s BS in Aviation and Aerospace Safety. This program allows you the flexibility to find where your passion lies and help create a better and more sustainable future.

For new information about the program feel free to follow this link: https://erau.edu/degrees/bachelor/aviation-aerospace-safety

Surviving the First Week of Classes

Posted on August 25, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner. In just a few days every student will be back on campus walking, biking, skateboarding, and the occasional running around campus getting to classes and lunch. If you are new to campus your first week may seem a little intimidating and overwhelming and that’s okay. We were all there once too. Throughout my time at Embry-Riddle, I’ve come up with a few tips to help make that first day and week feel like a breeze.

Walk Your Schedule
- Before my first day of classes I always “walk my schedule”. I go through a walk to each classroom in the order I would during a normal school day. This helps you get acquainted with where your classes are and the easiest way to get to the next one. If you are a new student, this will help you from being late on your first day.

Put Your Schedule in Your Phone
- I would not survive without my phone. Not because of social media but because of my calendar. My calendar is my life……… seriously. My whole entire schedule for school, work, and social is in my calendar. I put my class schedule into my calendar with the location, title, and times. I have my color coded as well as all of the clubs I am a part of. Most of us have our phones on us 24/7 so this is a quick and resourceful method to keep track of your schedule without having to carry around a paper.

Plan Your Lunchtime
- During lunchtime the Student Union can look a little chaotic. If you want Chick-fil-a I suggest going before 11 am and after 12:30 pm. That hour and a half in-between has a consistently long line. If you have the time to wait, go for it. However, if you only have 30-45 minutes in-between classes you most likely will not have time to wait. I personally bring lunch from home because I live off campus, do not have a meal plan, and it’s a lot cheaper. If you aren’t on a meal plan and want Starbucks, I recommend ordering ahead on the app so that by the time you get to the second floor of the union, it is ready for you.

Find a Quiet Place to Study
- Hopefully you don’t have too much homework your first week of classes but there are a few professors who see the first week of classes as just another regular week and give homework on day one. If you would like to have a quieter environment to do homework I recommend the third floor of the union, the library, or to reserve a study room. These are some of the best places on campus that I have found that have reliable Wi-Fi and low noise levels.

Don’t Wait till the Last Minute
- If you know you have an 8 am class do not wait till 7:45 to get up. Nobody wants to be rushed trying to get ready, eat breakfast and get to class. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to class so you can have a stress free week.

I hope these few tips help make your first week on campus a breeze. Just remember to take it step by step. You are going to do great things!

Dreams Becoming a Reality

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

During the past spring semester I was scrolling through LinkedIn when I saw an application pop up for the GE Aerospace L.I.F.T conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. The application was open, and I decided to toss my name in the bucket for it. Throughout the semester I completed 3 different interviews for a chance to attend. As the semester was coming to an end I got an acceptance email. I was in!!! I was so excited and grateful to have been chosen to attend this incredible conference.

For those who don’t know what this conference is all about, let me help. Every year GE Aerospace hosts a conference at their Cincinnati headquarters called the L.I.F.T conference. It stands for “Leaders Innovating Flight for Tomorrow.” People applying to this conference are looking for opportunities to receive an internship or full-time position with GE Aerospace. It is an incredible opportunity to get your foot in the door. Let me just say my experience was incredible.

Around 2 weeks before the conference I attended the teams meeting with all the attendees and employees running the conference. It was here that I learned I was one of the 94 students accepted out of the 2,800 plus who applied for a chance to attend. A remember another attendee asking how many of us attending would receive an internship. The GE employee told us, “There are 94 of ya’ll and 94 positions available.” That was very comforting knowing that I already had one foot in the door and just needed to ace my interview. Don’t get me wrong, I was definitely stressed about the interview.

GE Aerospace paid for my flight, hotel, and transportation for the trip which was a blessing. I left Daytona Beach at 6 am and made my first stop in Atlanta. I ended up spending an extra hour and a half in Atlanta because we had no Captain for our flight. Eventually I found out that our Captain was stuck in traffic and that they were going to get us a Captain that was already at the airport. Eventually I made it to Cincinnati and headed towards the meet-up spot for transportation to the hotel. Turns out there were 5 people on the Atlanta flight I was on attending the conference. We ended up talking the whole drive to the hotel and getting dinner once we got situated.

That same night everybody went to the Cincinnati Reds baseball game. GE Aerospace had the whole Handlebar Lounge and Seating Area reserved for the conference. We had an abundance of food. I spent most of the time at the game networking with GE Aerospace employees and asking questions. I am very glad that I did because I was able to talk to my program coordinator for over an hour and she ended up being one of the people interviewing me in the end.

The next day was filled with different informational sessions, interview preparation, and a behind the scenes tour of their Cincinnati facility. It was an incredible experience, and I got to see so many things in person that I had only seen in a YouTube video before. They are truly the best in the industry.

During my final day there I spent several hours preparing for my interview and ensuring that I had everything together. My interview went very well and took about 45 minutes. The employees at GE Aerospace are all so passionate about what they do, and it truly inspired me that I made the right decision in wanting to work for this company. Everybody was told that they would hear back on Monday about whether or not they got the position. After everybody did their interviews, we had a farewell barbeque where we had a BBQ food truck and an ice-cream truck. Many of the friends that I made and I ended up playing cornhole to celebrate the end of the conference.

On the ride to the airport, I got a call from the program coordinator and was offered a position for next summer. I happily accepted. So next summer I will be interning with GE Aerospace as an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS), Manufacturing, and Facilities Intern. I don’t know which location I will be at yet, but I know that it will be an incredible experience.

When you see the application for the 2026 L.I.F.T Summit please apply. It was an incredible opportunity, and I would recommend it over and over again. There are so many different fields and positions open. Whether you are looking for an internship, full time position, or leadership program there’s something for you.

Here’s a photo from the Handlebar at the Cinncinati Red’s Stadium and all of the conference attendes. See if you can spot me.

Move-In Time: What You Really Need

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

As we are quickly getting closer to the middle of the summer its time to start focusing on what you need to bring with you to move into the dorms. Now if you start doom scrolling on Instagram and TikTok there will be people telling you to bring this and that. But let me tell you……. half of that stuff you will never use and it will just end up taking space.

A lot of students like to “theme” their rooms and make it something that represents them and their hobbies. During my freshman year my side of the dorm was very pink and girly. My roommate loved sunflowers so her whole side was very floral. We didn’t know we were roomates until we moved in but it ended up workiing out well. If your are able to coordinate with your rooommate(s) it will help ensure that your room isn’t too cluttered. Here’s my list of the items that were crucial to me during my time in the dorms:

Dorm Room Essentials:

Mattress topper – trust me your back with thank you
Twin XL sheets
Mini fridge
- When your meal plans run out and you want a little snack or ice cream having one of these is a lifesaver.
- My roommate and I shared a minifridge to save on space.
Desk organizer
- The desk you are given only has one drawer, so if you have a lot of stationary i suggest having one of these.
Desk lamp
- The lighting in some of the rooms is kind of dim so for late night studying this is an essential.
Comfy pillow
Comfortor
Towels and washcloths
Personal hygenie items
Storage or shelving (make sure its nothing to big)
Hangers
Blanket (I was always freezing in the dorms….. lol)
Snacks
- There is no such thing as too many snacks
Laundry basket with either wheels or a handle
- The washer and dryers are not in your room unless you are in New Res 3 so I suggest a nice and sturdy laundry basket
Laundry detergent and fabric softner

These are just a few of the basics that you are going to want to have. Now decorations are completely up to you but I know I definitely brought way to many. I learned from my fall semester and took alot of it home during the Christmas break.

You can also see a list of things to bring – or not to bring – on the Residence Life page here. I hope this helps a few of the incoming Eagles. See you all in the fall!

Miles of May Magic

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

The month of May was an adventure from Day 1. Between family visiting, house sitting, and my internship I have stayed consistently busy.

Earlier this month my mom and grandmother came down to Daytona to visit and celebrate my birthday with me. We went out to the Tanger Outlets for some internship outfits and summer shoes. Let’s just say I got a whole new wardrobe for my internship, and boy am I glad all my tops were short sleeves. Along our adventures around Daytona I gave them a tour of Embry-Riddle’s beautiful campus. My grandmother had never been here before so she wanted to see everything.

During their time here we went mini-golfing, enjoyed the poolside and had some incredible food.

My internship at SeaWorld has been a blast. I’ve been learning so many things about environmental safety and how it all relates to the animals, guests, and local area. It has been extremely hot in Orlando the past few weeks. As you can see I am a ginger and the sun and I aren’t exactly friends. So my daily 6-7 hour walks and 15,000 steps around the parks have been accompanied by a lot of sunscreen, but every minute out in the park is worth it. Everyday I am learning something new.

One of my favorite experiences so far has been helping the guest find their way around and answering any questions they may have. Being able to put a smile on their faces and help them enjoy their day at the park makes me smile. The little kids always adore watching the animals especially the dolphins and orcas. We just recently got a few rescue dolphins in and they are the sweetest things ever and so playful.

Little SeaWorld fun fact for ya:

Jaws 3 was filmed at SeaWorld. Pretty cool right?

Everyday that I walk into work and leave I am greeting with some precious wild rabbits. They are adorable!

Now for some yummy treats. 🙂

On my last update I showed you all my fresh sourdough bread. Well, I’ve tried something new and have now learned to make chocolate rolls. These were incredible right out of the over with the melting chocolate and fluffy/flaky rolls. They did not last very long and are going on a “to make again” list. If anyone is interested in the recipe just let me know.

Unlocking Scholarships: Tips, Tricks, and Hidden Gems

Posted on May 15, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

Hello everyone! Since summer is here and we all have a bit more time to breathe and relax we can focus on funding our future. Embry-Riddle is an amazing school that’s worth every penny plus some. However, it is really expensive, and that’s coming from a Florida resident. The only way that I have been able to attend Embry-Riddle for the past 3 years is all thanks to scholarships. I am so grateful for every single one of them and all the donors who are making my aviation safety dreams come true.

Now many people will tell you, “You’re going to have a bunch of student debt when you graduate” and “college is too expensive.” You know what my response to that is? I will always respond, “College funding can be a breeze if you prepare before hand and continue to pursue opportunities.”

Here’s my guide for how to graduate college debt free like me and so many others. I will warn you its not going to be handed to you. You will have to work and put effort in. Just remember that that effort will pay off big time and allow you to have a little less stress through your college years.

For my Florida resdidents look into the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship. There are two different breakdowns depending upon your GPA, volunteer hours, and SAT/ACT scores. Since Embry-Riddle is a private university you will only recieve a percentage of this money but trust me when I say every little bit helps out. Alongside this there is the Florida EASE scholarship. You should be automatically put into this one depending upon residence and scores but all specific details can be found on the website.

Now for all the Riddle eagles out there please, and I cannot stress this enough, apply for the Donor Scholarship from the school when you see the email pop-up in your inbox. It takes less than an hour to fill out and gives you the opportunity to be considered for so many different donor scholarships. I have recieved a few each semester from this application and it has saved me time and time again. You only have to answer a few questions and write a personalized essay about how scholarships would help you and who you are.

Another great funding opportunity out there is FASFA. This is a government scholarship that has no interest and doesn’t require any payback. The application for this can be a little tricky and confusing but the program was recently updated allowing the process to go much smoother and quicker.

At Embry-Riddle having good grades helps a lot in the process of obtaining scholarships. The school offers a Presidential Scholarship to students with high GPA’s and performance. This is a great opportunity to obtain an easy scholarship and motivation to do well in your courses. For all the ladies out there Embry-Riddle offers a Women of Excellence Award under similar circumstances. Most recieve this every year without any extra work needed. So while some people say grades aren’t important they most defiently are! Having good grades and a decent GPA gives you a higher chance of recieving higher scholarships amount and more awards.

Overview of all scholarships mentioned:

Florida Bright Futures
Florida EASE
Embry-Riddle Donor Scholarship
FAFSA
Presidential Scholarship
Women of Excellence Award

I hope that this helps inspire some of you all to take the time and opportunity to apply for as many scholarships as you can. Scholarships have helped me pursue my educaticational goals and future career without all the financial stress and student debt. They can help you too! Please reach out to your financial advisor for any specific questions regarding your specific path.

Checklist Complete: Internship Season Begins

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Grace Hamilton

Hello everyone! The Spring 2025 semester has officially wrapped up and summer has begun. I wanted to take a quick moment to introduce myself. My name is Grace Hamilton and I am an Aerospace and Occupational Safety Major with minors in Aviation Law, Aeronautical Studies, and Human Factors. I know it sounds like a lot but its really excited to see how they all intertwine. Spring 2025 wrapped up my third year at Embry-Riddle. It’s crazy to think that I’ve been an eagle for that long but time flies when you are having fun!

Last semester I had to great opportunity to tour United’s MRO facility at Orlando International Airport with the Aviation Safety Advisory Council. For anybody who, like me, at first doesn’t know what MRO means it stands for “Maintenance, Repair, and Operations.” Let me tell you, this trip was incredible. I got to tour both hangars and even see a B-737 completely gutted out that was getting rewired. There were so many components at this facility and I learned so many new things that I can apply to my career.

During the past month I have been so busy I can’t believe that I even got to sleep. Every week there were meetings, end of semester banquets, trainings, elections, and finals. Oh I can’t forget the three presentations that I had to do. All in all everything turned out really well. It may have been stressful and chaotic but it was so rewarding and exciting.

Towards the end of this month The Avion held elections for their new executive board. I’m excited to begin my postion as the 2025-2026 Design Editor for the Avion. I have so many fun and creative ideas to boost engagement and give students a platform to display their events, news, and photographs. So keep an eye out for what is to come!

Now that the semester is over I can begin focusing on my internship. I got accepted to SeaWorld and will be working for them as a Safety Specialist intern this summer in Orlando, Florida. I’ve been to SeaWorld so many times growing up that I was ecstatic when I got an email that I was accepted for the program. I don’t quite know all that I’ll be doing yet but that’s just part of the journey. What I can tell you all is that on my first day there I get to observe the fire evacuation procedures for the Sky Tower ride. It’s going to be a fun and busy first day.

It may sound like life at Embry Riddle is go go go all the time, and sometimes it can be. But, it is important to remember to take time for yourself and enjoy the little things. For me that is baking, embroidery, crocheting, and enjoying the beach. Today I baked two sourdough loafs. Nothing like fresh baked bread and a walk on the beach to make your day.

I hope you enjoyed my little debrief of my final few weeks of the semester. This summer is going to be exciting and full of new adventures that I am so excited to share with you all. There’s going to be alot coming this summer and next fall. I can’t wait to share my journey will you all! Have a great summer!

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