Due to its strong ties with aviation industry professionals, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Daytona Beach, Florida, campus is the perfect fit for Peyton Stikeleather (’26), a B.S. in Aviation Business Administration student focusing on air transportation. Participating in local events and connecting with leaders through the David B. O’Maley College of Business has played a crucial role in guiding his path to a meaningful career in the business side of aviation.

Inside the Internship Experience

During the summer, Stikeleather worked as a flight operations intern in the Airlift Response Center at Samaritan's Purse International Relief, a Christian nonprofit organization specializing in disaster relief.

While the organization hosted around 80 interns, Stikeleather was one of only two focused on aviation. Samaritan's Purse is widely recognized for its Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, water and hygiene initiatives, cleft palate surgery programs and emergency field hospitals.

“Each day looked totally different as we were always on call for disasters around the world,” Stikeleather said. “We had to be ready to launch an aircraft within 36 hours of a call of need. Some days involved routine administrative tasks, while others required intensive coordination for major international airlift projects.”

Resilience, readiness and commitment to excellence were just some of the skills Stikeleather honed during his internship. The unpredictable nature of disaster relief demands quick adaptation and consistent high performance, and he appreciated Samaritan’s Purse focus on serving with purpose.

Stikeleather’s internship taught him that aviation is a complex field where every component is vital to maintaining safety and executing missions effectively. Driven by his desire to use his skills for good, the internship inspired him to pursue future opportunities that align with his values in mission aviation.

“My internship exceeded my expectations by far,” he said. “Due to the culture at Samaritan’s Purse, I was valued as a person, uniquely skilled for where I was placed, not just a number in a larger corporation.”

Overcoming Real-World Challenges

Stikeleather’s responsibilities included tasks such as conducting audits in preparation for FAA inspections, supporting the director of operations and assisting with updates to the flight management system.

He supported airshows, handling last-minute coordination for parking and equipment and scheduling arrival and departure slots for Samaritan’s Purse aircraft. A highlight of Stikeleather’s internship was spending two weeks in Germany with fellow interns, helping facilitate the European Congress on Evangelism, a gathering of leaders from 55 European countries.

Among many impactful experiences, Stikeleather points to the combination of the Oshkosh airshow and the unexpected airlifts for humanitarian relief as the most challenging.

While displaying the aircraft at the Oshkosh AirVenture Airshow, Stikeleather experienced the urgency of "on-call relief" firsthand. The team had to quickly coordinate logistics for a sudden mission — within only a few days, the aircraft was repositioned and dispatched from Greensboro, North Carolina, embarking on its first relief trip to Israel and Gaza.

On this relief trip, and others that followed during his internship, the Samaritan’s Purse team transported over 200,000 pounds of ready-to-use supplemental food packets and other essential supplies. Stikeleather managed permits, cargo, general logistics, approvals and coordination, leading to an extended internship in support of this critical mission.

The Importance of Networking

While still in high school, Stikeleather worked for a sister organization of Samaritan’s Purse during seasonal breaks. His uncle’s employment at the company introduced him to Embry-Riddle alumnus Paul “Andy” Farrel (’97, M.S. in Aeronautics), a mechanic on the company’s DC-8-72CF aircraft. This relationship led to behind-the-scenes tours and involvement with the aviation department, including traveling as a guest to airshows. Observing and interacting with interns and staff during these experiences opened the door to his own internship opportunity.

Although Stikeleather researched and applied for many internships, encouragement from mentors and his Daytona Beach Campus network led him to pursue a position at Samaritan’s Purse. Wisdom and advice from Lisa Kollar, assistant dean of the College of Aviation, helped guide him through the process. Stikeleather also appreciated the guidance of numerous other Embry-Riddle alumni employed at the company.

The Value of an Embry-Riddle Education

Stikeleather credits his Embry-Riddle coursework for providing a strong foundation in project management and administration, which enabled him to make meaningful contributions to the work at Samaritan’s Purse.

“The O’Maley College of Business does a good job at providing a path for those who want to go into the business side of the aviation industry," he said. “I was able to apply what I had learned in class to make real contributions at Samaritan’s Purse.”

The Embry-Riddle community has been a great source of support and encouragement to Stikeleather. He credits Kollar for her guidance and inspiration, as well as encouragement from peers.

Looking Ahead

Stikeleather’s internship taught him that aviation is a complex field where every component is vital to maintaining safety and executing missions effectively. It reinforced his desire to use his skills in a career that aligns with his values — particularly in mission aviation.

This internship changed his perspective, leaving him with a lasting sense of community and purpose. Stikeleather cherishes the relationships he made and appreciates the growth fostered during his summer at Samaritan’s Purse. As he approaches graduation, he is exploring apprenticeships and job opportunities that will allow him to serve with purpose.

“Never be scared to try something new,” Stikeleather encouraged. “You may find it comes with an unexpected path — the exact path you were meant to be on for a specific purpose you may not yet know.”