Jet fuel has always been in my blood, and at Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University, my dreams have truly taken flight. The sight, the sound and the power of aviation all around me confirmed that Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State was where I belonged.
My name is Philip Hirst, and I am a junior aeronautics major with a concentration in and a minor in . I am on track to graduate in May 2026.
My journey to Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State started in a way I never expected—during a spontaneous stop on a cross-country trip with my dad. As we drove back to Long Island after visiting countless schools with aeronautics programs, I came across Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University online. On a whim, we decided to visit.
From the moment I set foot on campus, I knew this was the place for me.
The warm welcome I received from the College of Aeronautics and Engineering and the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Airport staff sealed the deal. It felt like home. And the vibrant city of Ñý¼§Ö±²¥, with its great restaurants and shopping, offers everything I need when family comes to visit.
Before even arriving on campus, I had already started building friendships. I created a Snapchat group with fellow incoming aviation majors over the summer, and that’s how I met my roommate. Living in the aviation Living-Learning Community helped me form an instant connection with people who shared my interests. It was like finding a community before the first day of classes even began.
But it wasn’t until Blastoff 2022 that I truly found my groove. There, I met Benjamin Nevison and Zachary Ferreira, the president and vice president of the KSU chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). They introduced me to KSU-AAAE, an organization that organizes tours of aviation facilities across the country and hosts monthly guest speakers.
By the end of my freshman year, I had visited airports in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Louisville.
This exposed me to the diverse opportunities in aviation beyond the cockpit. Today, I’m serving my second term as president of KSU-AAAE, leading others in discovering what this industry has to offer. This year, I’m even planning a joint trip to Chicago with the AAAE chapter from Ohio State University.
Working on campus has also played a big part in shaping my experience. I’m a line service technician at the Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State University Airport, where I assist with the daily operations of the airport and handling of our impressive fleet of 34 aircraft.
It’s given me hands-on experience that’s invaluable for my future in aviation management. During my first year on campus, I also worked as a climbing wall assistant at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. That job taught me a new skill and connected me with another amazing group of friends, many of whom I still climb with today.
Beyond academics and work, Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State has given me a second family through the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity (ATO). I never imagined joining a fraternity, but after attending a rush event, I knew I had found my home away from home. ATO has introduced me to an incredible group of brothers from all different majors, including aeronautics, finance, business, nursing, architecture and American Sign Language (ASL). It’s been amazing to build friendships with people from so many walks of life.
Through Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State and AAAE, I’ve made connections that have opened the door to exciting career opportunities.
I’ve hosted CEOs from airports like Akron-Canton Regional Airport and Grand Rapids International Airports and the vice president of corporate aviation at Goldman Sachs. Last summer, I interned at Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., where I worked in their flight operations department and discovered a whole new side of the aviation sector. That experience has set me up for success as I look ahead to life after Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State.
I’m grateful every day for the opportunities, friendships, and experiences I’ve had here. Now it’s your turn to curate your own Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ State experience. Everyone I’ve met has made their unique journey here—and I know you will too.