The SpringHillian Volume 106, Issue 2
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Caroline Cusick Soars with Private Pilot’s License Kate Huete | Reporter Spring Hill College junior Caroline Cusick had her hard work pay off when she earned her private pilot’s license on Jan. 31. Cusick decided over a year ago that she wanted to pursue a career as a pilot, and has been taking lessons ever since. The newly licensed Cusick has already
flown from Huntsville to Tullahoma and from Mobile to Gulfport by herself, but she doesn’t plan on stopping there. Cusick’s dad was in the Navy and was deployed with the Marines as a flight surgeon, so flying has always been a big part of her life.
SHC junior Caroline Cusick shortly after earning her private pilot’s license. Photo: Kate Huete
Cusick added, “I told my dad I should be a flight attendant or something and he said, ‘Why be a flight attendant? Be a pilot’.” With the strong support of her family and friends, Cusick switched from nursing to business, and joined the Part 61 aviation program Cusick sits in the cockpit of her plane. which requires her to earn her private, instrument, com- Photo: Kate Huete mercial single-engine and the final exam, but most people have commercial multi-engine licenses. more. “The more you fly, the shorter Her goal is to become either a flight it’ll take, but it’s different for everyinstructor or a skydiving plane pilot. one,” Wallace said. Before her flight lessons began, Although she was very nervous Cusick looked into different flight while taking her final exam, Cusick schools in the Mobile area before didn’t let this stop her. She studsettling with her current club and ied for two straight weeks for the flight instructor. “I ended up talking three-component exam. After finally with an independent flight instructor passing all of the tests and earning and he set me up with a club that her private pilot’s license, Cusick gave me access to a plane,” Cusick said she feels a lot more driven and explained. reassured. Cusick stated, “I know I Her current flight instructor, Mike love this...and after putting all of this Wallace, explained that one needs to time and effort and money into it, I’d have a minimum of 40 hours to take do it all over again.”
CSI Modifies 2018 Badger Connection Process Breanne Bizette | Reporter The 2018 Badger Connection team of Spring Hill College has recently begun its application process, while rebuilding its program in hopes of increasing student applications. Many have seen their purple polo shirts and pictures in the cafeteria, but they are most known for their smiling faces that greet incoming freshmen during the summer. The Badger Connection guides are back and are preparing for one freshmen orientation this summer. Center for Student Involvement Director Joy Morris (previously held by Mike Freyaldenhoven until Monday), Assistant Director Katelyn Whitty and SHC junior interns Iriel Evans and Emilee Adams are the ones calling the shots: they will be choosing the best applicants for this year’s Badger Connection. BC guide applications were originally due Feb. 1, but it was extended to Feb. 15 after CSI announced that it would be conducting one major SHC students Madeleine Naquin, Maddy Freese orientation in August instead of several. Group process, which involves group interviews, was also and Lauren Fischer welcome freshmen at the 2017 BC orientation. | Photo: Hannah Martin changed from Feb. 16 to Feb. 23.
Further, once students turn in their applications, CSI will schedule one-on-one interviews with them meant to last a minimum of 30 minutes. Although many may apply, the team is hoping to select about 26 guides. Adams stated that they are looking for a mixture of students, a group that will represent every aspect of campus life. The program is also changing another factor to maintain a high number of student applications. Instead of requiring guides to spend a month training on campus over the summer, there will be two training sessions held: one in March and one in August. This change will benefit students who would like to complete internships or work during the summer. Further, this change will not affect the salary of the guides. Overall, the team continues to make improvements this year. Evans said that she and Adams are working extremely hard to rebuild the program and make it something that students want to participate in. With increased applications, this has left the Badger Connection team feeling hopeful.