Finding a Place in NGPA Right Away

College senior Kylie Khin (’27) recently completed her term as president of Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach’s NGPA chapter. When she initially heard about the chapter during her first semester, it was a chance encounter.

“My private pilot ground professor happened to be the advisor for NGPA, and he mentioned it in class,” she said. “I couldn’t help but think that it was a perfect club for me just from the name, and he made it sound so inviting, so I decided to go.”

Kylie quickly felt welcomed and included in club meetings, socials and national events, and she immediately fell in love with the chapter and community. During her second year, she ran for treasurer, and she later decided to take the leap and run for president ahead of her junior year. She was nervous to lead, but ready.

The Path to President

“When I started, my biggest fear was connecting with others because I can be very shy,” she said. “That ended up being my favorite part of NGPA. I learned that what people needed most was to be heard, and I was grateful to be the person who could listen.”

Beyond leading general meetings and organizing events, some of Kylie’s most treasured memories came from the reward of building community and connecting with members at the national level.

“I was incredibly lucky with the general body we got that year; their energy made everything fun,” she said. “Planning and attending the D.C. Student Summit and Palm Springs conference was so fun. It was a lot of work, but the feedback we got made every bit worth it.”

A World of Opportunity

As she prepares for her final year at Embry-Riddle and post-grad career, Kylie is grateful for the mark this organization made on her student experience. She is excited to remain connected to the NGPA community through the end of the year and beyond.

“It truly warms my heart when members come up to me and say how they look forward to meetings and social events,” she said. “It really does take just one person for me to know that the work that our team puts into the year is very well worth it.”

Community lives in every corner of Embry-Riddle — in the NGPA Daytona Beach student chapter and across campus. For more information about social and professional opportunities tailored to the LGBTQ+ aviation community, visit erau.edu/ngpa.