WATCH: Embry-Riddle Student and Pilot Lillian Grace Talks with Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson

Rockledge High School graduate secures her Private Pilot’s License After Only One Year

WATCH: Lillian Grace met with the Friday Night Locker Room’s Steve Wilson to talk about her first year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, in Daytona Beach. After only one year, she has secured her private pilot’s license and hopes to be a commercial airline pilot.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – I recently had the opportunity to sit down and talk with a very special young lady at the Erdman Automotive Studio in Cocoa. Lillian Grace just completed her first year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, and what a year it was!

Grace hopes to one day be a commercial airline pilot and took the first step this past year as she secured her private pilot’s license. Grace still has quite a way to go to fulfill her dream, but she is on the right track.

She told me, “I wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid.” She continued, “I really never thought about doing much else.”

I asked Grace what she loves about flying and she told me, “Everything!”  She said, “It’s so cool, you are flying a plane, you have all of these amazing views, you are in control of the aircraft. It’s really everything that I love!”

I first met Grace when she was 10 years old. At that time, she started a nonprofit to spotlight childhood disability awareness. That is the kind of person she is.

Grace has always strived to be the best. While participating in JROTC at Rockledge High School, she was a captain and had the leadership role of S1. She is a leader in every sense of the word.

If Grace wants to be a commercial airline pilot, that’s exactly what she will be. Do not bet against Lillian Grace. You will lose!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Steve Wilson was born in DeRidder, Louisiana and grew up in both New Orleans and Macon, Georgia.  He moved to Brevard County in 1984 and retired from local government as the Community Advocate/Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Rockledge in 2018.

Among the awards and accolades Steve has received over the years are 15 + year Rockledge Little League volunteer, Brevard Public School Jefferson Award Recipient, Rockledge High School Raider Booster Award 2001, 2006, City of Rockledge Employee of the Year 2006, Rockledge Kiwanian of the Year 2006-2007, City of Rockledge Quality Public Service Award 2008, 2012, 2017, Rockledge Kiwanis Citizen of the Year 2012-2013, Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Sportscasting 2015, Rockledge High School Leadership and Service Award 2016, Central Florida Humanitarian Award 2017, Space Coast Inspiration Award – 2018,  Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame – Lifetime Achievement – 2020, Ecofest Achievement Award – 2022, Quality Floridian Award – 2022, presented by U.S. Congressman Bill Posey.

Wilson is especially proud of his chairing two fundraisers in support of pediatric cancer research through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation in honor of Merritt Island resident Julie Spurlock that raised over $25,000.00.

He has been a partner, along with Orville Susong, for the past 24 years with the Friday Night Locker Room, a broadcasting team that covers and reports on a wide variety of local events that are of significance to the residents of the Space Coast and beyond. Their mission is to promote youth sports, support first responders and law enforcement personnel, and showcase community and charitable events that are produced by our nonprofit partners in central Florida.

The Friday Night Locker Room has awarded hundreds of sports achievement plaques to Brevard County student-athletes over the years. They have also awarded more than $18,000 in academic scholarships to Brevard County high school seniors.

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