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2021 USHPA Awards Celebrating this year's winners by Amanda Winther
: Each year, USHPA asks the community to help us recognize the individuals making outstanding contributions within the free flight community. These are the people we all know and love—our mentors and role models, members who always welcome new and visiting pilots, and those who go above and beyond to give back to our sport, to better our sites, and to make sure our community is inclusive for all. They may not be the pilots with the best flight PRs, although frequently they’re that too. They need not even be pilots at all. This year, we as an organization and a community recognize these 10 individuals and one chapter for upholding the principles and values that make free flight what it is today.
Presidential Award: Matt Taber USHPA’s highest award, the Presidential Award is given to someone who has made significant contributions to our sport, and it may only be awarded to a person once. This year, we honor, recognize, and award Matt Taber the 2021 USHPA Presidential Award for his contributions to the sport. Steven Pearson, president of the USHPA board of directors, writes, “Our community is built on the efforts of thousands of volunteers, but the most important of all are those who are devoted to teaching others to fly. Our instructors and flight schools are the sources of all new members and the pillars of many local chapters. Most of what I have learned about flying has been through my association with many of these professionals. Matt Taber is extraordinarily distinguished in this group, having served as a flight school owner and instructor for 42 years, a USHPA director for 35 years, and the leading producer of new and advanced rated pilots for most of this period. His passion for flight is matched by a commitment to excellence, sharing his experience with others, and supporting new instructors. It is my honor and pleasure to award the 2021 USHPA Presidential Award to Matt Taber for his enduring and continuing contributions to hang gliding and paragliding.”
Chapter of the Year Award: New England Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club The Chapter of the Year Award recognizes the USHPA club or chapter that has undertaken successful programs or activities that enhance the sports of hang gliding and paragliding, including but not limited to site procurement, development and retention, safety programs, and member-focused programming. This year, USHPA awards the New England Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club as Chapter of the Year. Established in 1993, the NEPHC supports free flight at both mountain and coastal sites across the New England region. The NEPHC stands out for its online educational series, available to all pilots, covering topics such as using flight instruments, tree rescue, pilot injury, and XC and team flying. In his nomination, Jeff Sinason writes that NEPHC has promoted “a very positive image for paragliding and hang gliding and has been extraordinary in promoting the advancement of pilots through their
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