Aeronautical Science Major Finds Plenty of Passions Worth Pursuing at Embry‑Riddle

Although he came to Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University to learn to fly, Dylan Kowlessar (’24) ended up finding new and different ways to soar.

A native of Trinidad and Tobago and the first in his family to attend college outside his home country, Dylan has seemingly explored nearly everything the educational experience at Embry‑Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus can offer.

“There is a lot more to this school than just the academics and the flight training, and this is the experience that I was really looking for,” he said.

An Award-Winning Academic Career

The list of his accomplishments and experiences up to this point is impressive, to say the least. During the 2022-23 academic year, Dylan has earned the Elite Eagle and Academic Excellence awards from Student Engagement, made the College of Aviation Dean’s List and was named the Student Government Association Executive Board Member of the Year.

That’s just the beginning. Dylan was also Editor-in-Chief of The Avion, the campus publication, where he helped lead the student team in boosting its social media presence and launching a weekly video broadcast series that recently won a national award from the Associated Collegiate Press.

Making a Difference for Fellow Students

In the coming semester, Dylan says he is “super thrilled” to be continuing his work as a senior resident advisor for the new student community of New Residence Hall 2.

“Being an RA has been rewarding, especially as I've seen the students I work with continue to grow,” Dylan said.

He’s also part of the Sodexo Culinary Council, (which gives feedback on overall dining services, food trucks and new menu items), a member of the Caribbean Students Association and has worked for two years in Access Services at the Hunt Library.

And then, of course, there are classes for his B.S. in Aeronautical Science and his flight training, where he is now getting ready to land his commercial pilot’s rating.

“The unlimited resources available at the school, and working with different departments and groups, has showed me there are so many opportunities,” he said.

Dylan said his interest in aviation was sparked at an early age by family members who worked on the operational and business sides of the airline industry.

“When I was 5 or 6, I decided that I was going to be the first in the family to fly,” he said. “I was actually planning on attending a flight school back home. But when I found Embry‑Riddle, something just clicked with me and I was like, ‘OK, this is it.’”

Making the Most of a Tough Situation

Dylan’s academic career was initially derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he had to defer his start date twice. But that ultimately turned out to be his first positive contact with the university.

While he waited to start his freshman year, Dylan worked as a substitute teacher at his high school back home, helping students in physics, math and music — something that turned out to be another blessing.

“It was one of the best experiences in my life, and that's sparked something in me,” he said. “I knew from that point that I have a passion for mentoring people and just seeing people grow.”

While arriving alone on campus in January 2021 was a bit jarring, especially since his parents could not help him move in, Dylan made the most of it. It helped that he found like-minded peers in the Caribbean Students Association and was able to immerse himself in his classes and initial flight training.

“I won't necessarily say that I've been super involved in CSA, but they were the ones who kind of showed me that there is more to the school than just flying and the academic side of things,” he said.

Dylan also branched out by getting involved in SGA and The Avion.

“I found a huge community there, and that led to other aspects of my experience that really have grown me into who I am today,” he said. “And as I thought about how I wanted to be more involved on this campus, the RA role was something that stood out as something that was calling me to give back to my community in some way.”

That calling also led his job at the Hunt Library and his work with the Sodexo Council, both of which have a direct impact on the daily lives of his fellow students.

Experience Forms the Foundation for Future Success

Dylan says his Embry‑Riddle experience over the past two years have slightly altered his future plans. While he still has his sights set on a flight deck spot at a major airline such as American or United, he has found some loftier goals to pursue in addition to flying.

“I see myself working in something like pilot training or human resources, some place where I can help people grow and develop, similar to what I did substitute teaching and to what I do as a RA,” he said. “That is a passion that I discovered in my life during the last few years I've been at Embry‑Riddle.”