Soaring High and Shooting Hoops — Building Community at Embry-Riddle

From a young age, Aeronautical Science student Mary Lengemann (’26) knew that she was passionate about becoming a pilot and playing basketball. Spending her time dreaming about the skies or practicing on the court, Mary had a clear picture of what she wanted her future to look like.

“I grew up in a small town in Michigan, and everyone either played or talked about basketball,” she said. “My dad coached, and I was in the gym since before I could walk. I spent summers playing as much as possible, whether it was in the backyard with my sisters or traveling around the country with my Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team, the Michigan Mystics.”

When Mary was deciding where she would go after graduating from high school, a place that offered both aviation and basketball was a high priority.

“Embry-Riddle was the perfect fit because it allowed me to combine my love for flying with my passion for athletics,” she said. “It’s a university built around excellence, and I knew I’d be surrounded by people who push themselves to be their best as a student, person and player. Not to mention, living 10 minutes from the beach in Florida was definitely a draw.”

Embry-Riddle as a Foundation for Community

Coming to Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus, Mary felt a sense of community and like-mindedness on a campus centered around aviation and aerospace studies.

“I love the campus community. Every day, I’m surrounded by driven, like-minded people who inspire me — whether it’s teammates, classmates or instructors,” she shared. “Everyone is passionate about something, and that energy is contagious. I love how it feels like a big school and a small school at the same time.”

Mary has also been able to make connections through the Daytona Beach Campus chapter of Women in Aviation International (WAI), an organization that seeks to connect students of all programs with a relation to or interest in aviation through participation in social and networking events, community service, conferences, workshops and more.

“It’s been a great way to learn from mentors and build a network of supportive, ambitious peers,” she said. “I have also attended two WAI conferences in Denver and Orlando, which have been amazing.”

At the 2025 WAI Conference in Denver, Mary even had the opportunity to fly a private jet for the first time with pilot, entrepreneur, philanthropist and TEDx speaker Stephanie Goetz.

Staying at the Top of Her Game

For Mary, basketball has been incredibly influential — creating family, discipline and a strong desire to succeed.

“Basketball has given me a second family here and taught me how to balance intense demands, face challenges and stay disciplined,” she shared. “Every single day, I wake up and look forward to practice. One of my favorite parts of the day is chatting with my teammates in the locker room — I love being a part of something that is bigger than myself.”

Throughout her three seasons at Embry-Riddle, Mary made the 2025 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) All-Tournament Team, earned the 2024-25 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award and made the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll each year.

With a career high of 20 points in a single game and 576 career points, Mary was just one of two players to start in all 32 games during the 2024-25 season, mirroring other Eagles’ commitment to excellence across campus.

Succeeding in both academics and athletics, Mary is most proud of earning her private pilot rating through her commercial multi-engine flight rating and helping build a women’s basketball program that won the SSC 2025 Championship and continues to be nationally ranked.

Balancing basketball with challenging coursework, Mary finds that managing her schedule and finding time for the things that she loves is incredibly beneficial.

“The biggest thing I believe in is staying disciplined. There have been days when all I would do was fly, practice and go to class, but my favorite hobby is surfing,” she said. “I have spent a ton of free time surfing Ponce Inlet with friends. I also love to travel and have spent part of my college summers backpacking in Europe, Africa and Central America.” 

Getting Ready to Take Flight

During her time at Embry-Riddle, Mary has felt a strong sense of commitment to her goals and success, thanks to the support of her community.

“What motivates me most is the drive to be better — for myself, my teammates and those who believe in me,” she shared. “My coaches, professors and family have all played huge roles in my growth. Coach Wilson and Coach Taylor especially believed in me from the start and continue to inspire me every day. In addition, my mom, dad and sisters are the most important people in my life.”

After graduating, Mary plans to work as a flight instructor until she meets the minimum number of flight hours to earn her Airline Transport Pilot Certification. Then, she hopes to transition to a career flying commercial or private planes.

“I hope to one day fly for Delta Air Lines and travel the world. My dream in life is to have a happy, healthy family and a house in northern Michigan,” she said.

For future or other current students, Mary recommends making a plan and staying determined, but always taking time to be in the moment.

“Don't wait until everything is perfect to be happy,” she said. “Hold the vision and trust the process, but don’t forget to enjoy it. The end goal is fulfilling, but it is the journey that is the fun part.”