COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -- Three students in the Iowa Western Community College Aviation Maintenance Program were honored with year-end awards during a recent ceremony at the college's aviation building at the Council Bluffs airport. Close to 50 faculty members, students and administrators were on hand for the awards, which are given annually to the top achievers in each class.
Thomas Joseph Clements of Lincoln, NE, received the 2008 Commitment Award. This award is given to the individual who misses the least amount of time in class or lab. Clements did not miss any time over the two years of the 1,980-hour program. Clements was a Sergeant in the Marine Corp specializing in satellite communications.
Kurtis Kolden of Plattsmouth, NE, received the 2008 Aviation Service award. This award is given to the individual who goes above and beyond class hours to help out the program in fixing training aids and other needed assistance. Kolden is a 2005 Iraq war veteran who was a specialist E-4 in Aircraft Hydraulics.
Jeffrey Dean Luehrs of Omaha, NE, received the 2008 Aviation Academic Achievement award. Luehrs had a combined average of 95.74 percent for 94 tests and 394 practical projects given over the 1980 class hours in the two-year Aviation Maintenance Program.