From the NewsForce247 Archive — originally published February 26, 2026. Stories move to the archive automatically after four weeks; they remain searchable and shareable.
The Ohio State University’s aviation program has received the Loening Trophy, recognizing it as the nation’s outstanding all-around collegiate aviation program for 2026. The award was presented Monday afternoon during the Annual Collegiate Aviation Symposium, hosted this year by Ohio State and the Alpha Eta Rho International Aviation Fraternity.
The honor marks a special homecoming for the nearly century-old trophy, which will soon be on permanent display at The Ohio State University Airport, where collegiate aviation traces its roots.
“I’m thrilled that we’ve brought the championship trophy back to Ohio State,” university President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. said. Carter, a retired naval aviator with 38 years of military service, credited the win to the academic strength, dedication, and leadership of the program’s students, faculty, and staff.
“This achievement is a testament not only to the excellence of our aviation program, but also to the hard work of our university community,” Carter said. “Ohio State is proud to be among the nation’s best in preparing the next generation of aviation leaders.”
In previous years, the Loening Trophy was presented at the national Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference (SAFECON). Beginning this year, the award will instead be given annually at the Collegiate Aviation Symposium in Columbus, said Bob Clement, Alpha Eta Rho president and member of the Loening Trophy judging committee.
“Ohio State has won the award about four previous times,” Clement said. “It’s been awarded continuously since 1929, and it just so happens that the first-ever meeting of the Intercollegiate Aviation Association took place here at Ohio State that same year. Since Ohio State is the birthplace of collegiate aviation and Loening Trophy talent, the committee decided to move it here permanently.”
The pure silver Loening Trophy, designed by Tiffany & Co., was first commissioned in 1929 by aviation pioneer Grover Loening to honor the nation’s best collegiate aviation programs. Loening, an aeronautical engineer for the Wright Brothers, enlisted famed aviators Amelia Earhart and Navy Commander John Towers as judges for the first competition.
“Ohio State is the only remaining school of the 14 that participated in 1929,” Clement noted.
For students like Noah Alapat, a second-year air transportation major, Ohio State’s rich aviation heritage was a major draw.
“Ohio State has everything,” Alapat said. “We have a great airport, great airplanes, certified flight instructors, and top-notch aviation professors.”
Alapat is currently conducting research on how consuming short-form social media affects pilots’ and aviation students’ concentration on flight tasks.
“There are a lot of things here that students take for granted that other universities don’t have,” he added. “It’s a very well-organized program with a strong alumni network. I can walk into any airline and know there’s a pilot from Ohio State.”
Going forward, the Loening Trophy will remain housed at the Ohio State Airport, with winning programs receiving a replica each year. Selection will focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation among collegiate aviation teams nationwide, Clement said.
Alpha Eta Rho members and Ohio State students will serve as stewards of the trophy, delivering public presentations on aviation history and maintaining the exhibit.
“We plan to feature an interactive, AI-generated history of collegiate aviation, with the Loening Trophy as the permanent centerpiece,” Clement said. “It’ll be an exciting educational resource for students and visitors alike.”
The 2026 Collegiate Aviation Symposium continues through Tuesday at the Ohio Union on Ohio State’s Columbus campus.
— NewsForce247.com