Prescott Graduates Made Lasting Impact as Flight Tutors

For recent Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Campus graduates Alec Borneman (’26) and Chang Hun Lee (’26), tutoring became more than a campus job. Through Embry-Riddle’s flight tutoring program, they helped fellow students build confidence, strengthen technical knowledge and navigate the challenges of aviation training. 

Both graduates earned a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science this spring and have spent years supporting students through one-on-one tutoring appointments in Embry-Riddle’s Tutoring Center, accessible through ERNIE. Together, they completed thousands of tutoring hours while helping future pilots succeed in flight training.

Helping Students Find Confidence Before Takeoff

Alec, who logged 1,433 tutoring hours before graduation, said his path to becoming a tutor started during his first semester on campus. 

“I had always known that I wanted to fly, and Embry-Riddle offered the chance to fly and pursue a four-year degree at the same time,” he said. 

His first involvement on campus came through a research project studying an app designed to help new pilots learn checklists and radio calls. The opportunity connected him with Stacey McIntire, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Aeronautical Science, who became an important mentor throughout his college experience. 

“She took me under her wing, from my first semester,” Alec said. 

McIntire later encouraged Alec to become a campus academic mentor before eventually recommending he apply for a flight tutoring position after earning his instrument rating. 

“Being a tutor was the best job I ever had,” Alec said. “It strengthened my technical flight knowledge and gave me the opportunity to connect with students while improving my teaching and communication skills.” 

Initially, Alec viewed tutoring as a way to improve his own proficiency while completing commercial pilot training. Over time, students began requesting appointments with him specifically. 

“Flying is a complex operation, but if you focus on one thing at a time, it becomes much more manageable,” Alec said. 

“What sets Alec apart is not just his knowledge but his genuine desire to meet students where they are,” said McIntire. “He has a rare ability to take something intimidating and make it feel completely manageable. That is not a skill you can teach; it is who he is.” 

One of his most memorable experiences involved a student preparing for a high-pressure check ride. The student frequently attended tutoring sessions because of anxiety surrounding flight training. 

The day before an important evaluation, she contacted Alec after her check ride was unexpectedly moved up. He offered to run a practice simulator session to help her prepare. 

During the session, Alec noticed nerves were affecting her performance, especially during a holding-pattern exercise. After pausing the simulation and helping rebuild her confidence, they continued the lesson successfully. 

“The next day when she took her check ride, she passed with flying colors,” he said. “Even when the student doesn’t have a lot of confidence in themselves, you can still let them borrow some of yours and help them do well.”

From First Flight to Flight Tutor

Like Alec, Chang Hun’s passion for aviation started early. Growing up in South Korea, he became fascinated with flying after taking his first airplane trip at age six. 

“I was wondering who was flying the plane and how,” Chang Hun said. “From then, I wanted to be a pilot.” 

After completing military service in South Korea, he searched for a flight school and ultimately chose Embry-Riddle. 

While adjusting to campus life, he learned about university resources through first-year courses and gradually became more involved academically. His family remained a major source of support throughout his journey. 

“My family, especially my parents, were supporting me and always waiting for my new achievements,” Chang Hun said. 

After receiving tutoring during private pilot training, he decided to become a tutor once he met the qualifications. 

“When I was having a hard time during my private pilot course, I got help from the tutors,” he said. “I remembered that experience and thought maybe I could help students who were struggling, too.” 

He spent two years working as a tutor and accumulated more than 1,000 hours helping fellow flight students. 

“Helping students was a rewarding experience for me,” Chang Hun said. “At the same time, I could organize my own knowledge, and that helped me a lot during my Certified Flight Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument training.” 

Over time, his teaching approach evolved. 

“At first, I didn’t even know how to teach students,” he said. “I was just delivering my knowledge. But as I got more experience, my teaching skills became much better.” 

Chang Hun often relied on whiteboards during tutoring sessions to visually explain complex aviation concepts and procedures. 

One student he worked with struggled extensively during instrument rating training. Chang Hun first identified the student’s knowledge gaps by asking detailed questions before tailoring lessons to address specific weaknesses. 

“It took some time to finish everything,” Chang Hun said. “But he finally passed the check ride.” 

For Chang Hun, tutoring reinforced an important mindset he now carries into aviation and life. 

“Don’t think about things far away from now,” he said. “Life is long, and if you think about everything all at once, you’ll feel overwhelmed. Just focus on what you need to do right now and make the best decision.”