Samuel Harrer, a University of North Dakota senior and certified flight instructor from Big Lake, MN, was named UND’s Certified Flight Instructor of the Month for January.

A certified flight instructor is a pilot who has been trained in how to teach people how to fly. Flight instructors take students up in an aircraft and do much of their teaching in the cockpit.

As part of the Certified Flight Instructor of the Month selection process, students of the CFIs are invited to submit nominations. The statements that students submitted to describe Harrer include, “Samuel has been an exceptional mentor and instructor. He demonstrates unmatched patience, expertise, and dedication – truly showing how passionate he is for aviation and excellence.”

“His influence has been pivotal in my aviation journey so far, and enabled me to gain the skills and confidence needed to become a private pilot,” the student continued.

Wrote another, “Thanks to Sam’s hard work, I feel excited and inspired to take on all of the new challenges that I will face in aviation. I strongly recommend him for this recognition, as he truly personifies the qualities of the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences and the merit required to be chosen as CFI of the month.”

“Samuel is everything that I aim to be once I become an instructor.”

Harrer is majoring in Commercial Aviation at UND and is expected to graduate this year with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics. He currently works as a Flight Instructor for UND Aerospace, and as a Line Service Technician (handling fueling, deicing and similar services) for Avflight Corp. at the Grand Forks International Airport.

“I have had a lot of great experiences since coming to UND in the fall of 2020,” Harrer said.

“Along the way, I have made a lot of good friends and connections that will last a lifetime and contribute to my future goals in the airlines. I have experienced a priceless education experience here at UND, and it means a lot to me to be able to give the same back to the students and the future of aviation.”

Harrer is a graduate of BLHS’s Class of 2020.