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.
With the semester in full swing, I wanted to take you all along for a day in my life as a student at Embry-Riddle. For those of you who don’t know me, I am a junior Communication major on the Broadcast Meteorology Track with a minor in Emergency Management. Outside of classes, I currently serve as the Managing Editor of the Avion, our school’s magazine and news source, and the Secretary of the American Meteorological Society chapter on campus. I also work in the weather lab and with the Virtual Communication Lab.
Tuesdays are my busy day on campus, where I have 4/5 of my classes this semester, an Avion meeting, and a shift in the weather lab.
8:00 AM – I arrived at campus at this time, parked in my garage spot, and quickly walked to COAS to start my day.
8:15 AM – I have three classes back to back starting at this time: Fundamentals of Emergency Management, Emergency Management Strategy/Policy, and Editing & Multimedia Production. In my first two classes, we discuss the different hazards and risks that disasters and emergencies can bring into our communities. In my third class, we have been discussing the fundamentals of copy editing and practicing these skills every class.
12:30 – For the next hour and a half, I have my lunch break of the day. On this particular day, I got Qdoba through the new GrubHub ordering system on campus. In this break, I also helped break down the table for The Avion at the RSO fair.
2:15 – At this time, I have my fourth and last class of the day: Crisis Communication. In this class, we have been discussing the PR fallout that crises can cause, and how to properly manage it. This class counts for both my major and my minor, and will be the last course I need to finish for my minor.
3:30 – Next up in my day is a quick shift in the weather lab. The weather lab is a tutor lab located in the College of Aviation where we provide assistance to students in the introductory weather classes. Besides being a great place to get weather help, it is also a quiet place to do your homework with great views for cloud watching.
5:00 – Today was the first Student Government Association (SGA) General Session of the semester. General Sessions are monthly meetings where the entire SGA convenes to hear updates from each branch and division, and vote on any bills that may pass. The Avion is a division of the SGA, and this is just one of the many ways that we contribute to the SGA and helping to improve the student experience on campus.
7:00 – My last meeting of the day was our weekly Avion meeting, which takes place in the Student Union Chamber. In our meetings, we provide updates on our operations over the week, provide coverage events for our members to get involved, and hold workshops. On this particular night, we did a photo training workshop, teaching all our members how to use our cameras.
9:00 – Finally, my day came to an end on campus. On this night it was down pouring, so my friends and I ran over to the parking garage with our umbrellas and got in our cars to head home.
While not every day is this busy, I try to make the most of my time on campus. I love being involved in so many activities and getting to learn more in all my classes. I hope this gave you a glimpse into one of the busiest days of the semester I will probably have. I will be sure to write more of these this semester! 🙂
If you follow my blog, you would have remembered I had a calendar full of plans this summer, including my wedding. Well, I am here to say everything panned out even better than I could have imagined. And to top it off, I graduate next May!
I married my husband in July, surrounded by so much love, support, and so many smiling faces. People traveled from many different states, counties, and even just up the road to come watch us get married. Our hearts were so full that day, and it was easily one of the best days of our lives.
Several connections and good friends that I made at Embry-Riddle I am still in contact with to this day and were even at our wedding. One of them is a team member from a research project that I led. Another is a family of a faculty member and told me our wedding was beautiful, and it felt like a “mini vacation.” My team member said it was a nice break away from her thesis. I am so glad I made these deep connections from my home away from home and alma mater.
Remember that “perfect princess wedding dress” I mentioned in my last blog post? Well, here it is!
It is a Maggie Sottero design and it is truly the dress of my dreams. I am proud to reintroduce myself as Mrs. Christine Sessions!
In addition to our wedding, we traveled to Hawaii for our honeymoon. Whoever told me “Hawaii is just like Florida” was so wrong! Hawaii is beautiful (not humid), mostly untouched by humans, and (something I did not know) possesses 11 out of 13 of the major biomes on the planet, all except tundra and desert. We went snorkeling, saw the Captain Cooke monument, swan under waterfalls, climbed mountains, and even got to see the Milky Way galaxy with our naked eyes.
It was a life-changing experience – not just seeing the galaxy, but coming to Hawaii. It put into perspective for me my own life, our life as a married couple, school, work, and even motivated me even more that I already am to help our planet and become a better person each day. The culture in Hawaii has opened my eyes and made me want to learn more about other regions. I came home that following week with a thirst for knowledge, a drive for change, and a fighting spirit to work on my business model idea and to start making the world a better place. Why can’t we all live like Hawaiians?
Of course after our spectacular wedding and Hawaiian vacation, I had to get right back to working on research. The annual SmallSat conference and our next big meeting for UNP was taking place in Salt Lake City at the beginning of August and I attended with some of my project team members. It was a beautiful city and great opportunity to network (as is any conference). Embry-Riddle had a booth where we presented our project and received valuable feedback from others. The architecture downtown was so different and the food was incredible.
I have traveled so much this year so far. I forgot how much I love flying. I am grateful for the opportunity to go on these trips and vacations, and so grateful to have views like this.
I didn’t forget to spend time enjoying the things I love too. Family, friends, nature, and having fun the weekends – all parts of a healthy and balanced life.
There are two new places that I recently discovered in Daytona Beach / Port Orange. Cousin Johnny’s Icecream Shop just opened – it is so simple, yet so good. This is really a quality over quantity, family-owned shop. This other place on beach side called Zugba Cafe has gluten-free options which I am always excited about. I had a breakfast sandwich on a house-made everything bagel that was gluten-free. The cost was a bit high, but it was one of the best breakfasts I had in a while. I love leaving helpful Google/Yelp reviews on places that I love. They are always seen by tourists that come to town!
I recently got the opportunity to speak at my old middle school on behalf of the Women in Aviation Daytona Beach chapter. I spoke about my journey—from middle school to graduate school—and about the world of aerospace and aviation.
What made the experience even more meaningful was returning to the same place that shaped me. Sitting in those classroom seats 13 years ago, I never imagined I’d one day come back to inspire the next generation, speaking to students who are now where I once was. It was surreal, and it awakened something in me that I didn’t even know was there.
A huge part of my story goes back to my time at Atlantic High School’s Academy of Technology Engineering Science and Aerospace (TESA). Being able to take ground school classes and fly drones while still in high school gave me a head start in aviation and shaped me into the person I am today. The professors and faculty I met through TESA not only inspired me then, but many of those connections have stayed with me and continue to support me to this very day.
I walked away with a newfound respect for educators and teachers—it truly takes an army to inspire and guide young minds, and it reminded me of the power of education to change lives. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to give back and hopefully spark curiosity in the students who might one day be the future of aerospace, aviation, and beyond. I am happy I had the chance to play even a small role in this process.
That’s all for now, believe it or not. Ciao for now until my next adventure!
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!
United MRO trip with ASACKDAB Airport DrillSafety and Environmental Internship at Seaworld Summer 2025
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
FAA
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.
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!
Parking on campus can often times be a difficult thing for both new and current students to navigate. Lot colors and parking regulations are always changing, especially with the impending construction of the new dorm building. With so many different colored lots and rules, it can be confusing to know who gets to park where.
Here is a helpful breakdown of who gets to park in what lots, and some other tips you need to know:
Blue lots are for employees of the university, and can be found throughout campus near all major buildings.
Yellow lots are for commuter students, and can be found near the college of Arts and Sciences, the Tomcat Annex and New Residence Hall 1.
Green lots are for resident students in the New Residence Halls, Apollo, and Doolittle. These lots can be found near the New Residence Halls, and behind the student Village in the paved lot.
Red lots are for all students who live in the Student Village, and can be found behind the green parking lot near the Courtyard Marriott and Corsair Building.
Most of the lots across the street near the athletic fields and near the ICI Center are all colored lots, which means anyone with a parking permit can park there. This is mainly filled with commuter students and some faculty during weekdays.
Additionally, blue lots become available for any permit color after 4 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.
All colored parking permits can be purchased through your parking portal on ERNIE (just type parking in the search bar and it should come up). The passes vary in price depending on which color you are shopping for.
The parking garage has 4 levels. The first level contains pay to park spots, as well as a few pickup spots for mail in the mailroom. The other three levels contain reserved spots for students. To get a parking garage spot, you must email campus safety (Daytona.safety.request@erau.edu) and join the waitlist.
All permit decals must be placed on the bottom drivers side of your rear window. Additionally, all cars must be parked head in on all spots on campus.
If you ever receive a ticket, you can appeal it through the Student Court within 10 days of receiving the citation. According to the court, a preliminary digital verdict will be issued and students have the opportunity to have an appeal hearing with the Student Court to potentially overturn the verdict.
Finally, if you are a student living at Eagle Landing, Onshore, Ten60, or Chanute, be sure to take advantage of the free SGA Shuttle to campus. The shuttles run from 7 AM to 8 PM, and pick up students outside the student union. This is a great way to avoid the headache and congestion that can come with finding a parking spot in the morning.
I hope these tips are helpful for all students, no matter if you are commuting or call campus your home. Let me know in the comments if you have any other parking related questions!
If there’s one thing I love about Daytona, it’s being able to head to the beach to go relax whenever I want. There are so many beaches in Volusia and Flagler counties to go to, whether you just want to watch a sunrise or spend a whole day out in the sun. Here are some of my favorite beach spots that I’ve discovered in my two years at Riddle:
Tom Renick Park: This beach in Ormond is located about a half hour away from campus, and is perfect for an afternoon at the beach. This county park has ample parking, as well as a pavilion, showers, and restroom facilities. I first discovered this beach spot during the Orientation Beach Bash my freshmen year, and have been going ever since!
Flager Beach: This quiet coastal town is located right across the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast, and features many local restaurants and ice cream shops within walking distance. There is also tons of street parking on A1A, and a pier close by that has public restrooms. I love going to Flager in the evenings, grabbing a beachside dinner with my friends and then going to the beach to hangout as the sun sets.
Matanzas Inlet: This beach is located about an hour away from campus, and is perfect for anyone who is planning a full day out on the sand. This beach is larger and more secluded than the other two, and also has great locations for fishing off a nearby bridge. Parking is also located nearby. I went to this beach for a day trip on Easter, and it did not disappoint.
The Volusia County website includes a lot of good information about parking, fees, safety and more. I hope this blog let you to discover a brand new spot for a beach day this semester! Let me know your favorite beach spot in the area down in the comments.
