The National Intercollegiate Flying Association is pleased to announce the application window for the Gary Hemphill “Spirit of NIFA” Award is now OPEN!  Gary dedicated his life to serving NIFA and carrying out its mission for the benefit of future generations.  The Award will be presented to the person who exemplifies the same passion toward serving others and commitment to excellence in aviation.  Please reference the NIFA Resource Hub subpage for more information on the 2025-2026 Award, including instructions for the application process and link to apply.  The application window closes at 17:00 EDT on April 17, 2026 and the winner will be recognized at the SAFECON 2026 Awards Banquet.

Applicants for this award must meet the following criteria:

• Be enrolled in a current NIFA Member School during the 2025-2026 academic year 

• Be, or have been, an active member on the school’s NIFA Flight Team

• Note: A team’s invitation status for SAFECON 2026 does NOT affect a person’s eligibility to apply for this award – all member school candidates are eligible to apply.