Awards

For dedication to the sport of skydiving for 50 years, including as an instructor and demonstration jumper, and for being inspirational to countless new skydivers as they advance their skills.

For 38 years of promoting safety to students and licensed skydivers as an instructor, instructor examiner, Safety and Training Advisor and mentor.

For supporting and advising instructors in the Northeast Region and for enhancing safety and professionalism in the USPA instructional rating program.

For more than 40 years of service to skydivers in the Eastern region as a rigging and skydiving instructor, drop zone owner and Safety & Training Advisor, providing wisdom, insight and expertise to countless skydivers over the years.

For more than 40 years of dedication to skydivers in the Mid-Atlantic region as an instructor, pilot, rigger, Safety & Training Advisor and mentor, always maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism and welcoming countless people into the sport.

For aiding in the advancement of canopy piloting in the Eastern region, providing guidance on canopy progression and flight to newer jumpers and organizing local competitions; and for developing the scoring system for canopy piloting competitions that is used both locally and internationally.

For being a mainstay in the Northwest skydiving community for more than 40 years as an instructor, organizer, fun jumper and mentor; for providing insight to jump pilots as an air traffic controller; and for organizing the annual Leap for Lupus charity boogie.

For nearly four decades of promoting the sport in the Pacific region as a load organizer, fun jumper and world record holder, always supporting safe skydiving and fostering a fun and welcoming drop zone environment for jumpers of all skill levels.

For keeping skydiving alive in Costa Rica, enforcing safety standards, co-founding the first USPA DZ in the country and being instrumental in getting Civil Aviation to recognize skydiving as a safe and organized activity.

For more than 20 years of training and mentoring students, instructors and DZ staff, creating a community of dedicated skydiving professionals and promoting safety and a love of the sport among both civilian and military jumpers in North Carolina and the entire region.

For more than three decades as an instructor and mentor, introducing more than 15,000 students to the sport, sharing his knowledge and passion and inspiring everyone lucky enough to learn from him.

For his tireless dedication to fostering a cooperative learning environment that is both safe and fun with high standards of professionalism and creating continuing education that is accessible to all skydivers.

for more than 50 years of dedication to skydiving, including participating in numerous records, volunteering to fund and perform demonstration jumps for children and veterans and showing the public a positive image of the sport.

for 44 years of continuous jumping at least once a month; for helping bring the AFF program to the Midwest; for mentoring both students and instructors throughout the region; and for his unwavering love of the sport of skydiving.

for his 50-plus years of dedication to the sport of skydiving as a participant, instructor, mentor and rigger in and around Tennessee.

for 30 years of sharing the fun and camaraderie of skydiving by organizing the well-known Wuest Ways formation skydives at Skydive Perris and Skydive Elsinore and by mentoring countless new skydivers as they progress in the sport.

for 30 years of sharing the fun and camaraderie of skydiving by organizing the well-known Wuest Ways formation skydives at Skydive Perris and Skydive Elsinore and by mentoring countless new skydivers as they progress in the sport.

David Clark Cohen, D-33786, owner of Desafio Vertical in Costa Rica, to receive the Foreign Regional Achievement Award for his advocacy and efforts in removing the ban on skydiving in Costa Rica and for inspiring an entire country and a whole new generation of Central American skydivers.

Randy K. Hamberlin, D-21552, to receive the Mid-Atlantic Regional Achievement Award for his extreme friendliness, professionalism and his efforts at making skydiving the best and safest sport throughout the community.

Brianne M. Thompson, D-30035, co-founder of AXIS Flight School, to receive the Mountain Regional Achievement Award for her inspiration, motivation and tireless attention to include and train first-time jumpers, students and veterans with challenges and making a way for them to comfortably enter into the sport of skydiving.

Donald J. Solberg, D-4270, to receive the North Central Regional Achievement Award for being a true skydiving pioneer who embodies the indomitable spirit, relentless passion, and unshakeable steadfastness in working to establish and grow the sport of skydiving in North Dakota.

Kenneth D. Newman, D-19754 and Randy Sherman, D-20213, to receive the Northeast Regional Achievement Award for their partnership in their advocacy and outstanding dedication in encouraging safe teaching for students and the skydiving sport.

Kenneth D. Newman, D-19754 and Randy Sherman, D-20213, to receive the Northeast Regional Achievement Award for their partnership in their advocacy and outstanding dedication in encouraging safe teaching for students and the skydiving sport.

for his outstanding efforts in bringing the sport of skydiving to Kenya, introducing newcomers to the sport and developing activities for experienced skydivers; he transformed skydiving in Kenya form handful of enthusiasts to a full-fledged sport.

for skillfully and selflessly piloting a hot-air balloon in extremely threatening weather, putting the safety of his passengers ahead of his own; for nobly sacrificing his own life to save others, gracefully handling unusually challenging circumstances.-

for promoting skydiving throughout the Northeast Region with a passion for the sport and love of the skydiving community. Over the years, Fran's generosity has shown through her words and actions. She has quietly moved skydiving forward while setting an example for all skydivers, and especially women, in the Northeast to follow.

In recognition of nearly a half-century of outstanding and varied contributions to sport parachuting in areas of leadership, instruction, drop-zone and aircraft operations, regional and national competition and research and development.

For unselfish dedication to our Sport, the Massachusetts Sport Parachute Club, Jumptown and the Northeast Region. Father, Mentor. Example

Originally the "USPA Regional Meritorious Achievement Award" for dedicating 34 years to the sport of skydiving. As an instructor, examiner, PRO jumper and rigger, Jim introduced many new individuals to the sport, as well as advanced many through the sport. His love for aviation was reflected in his many ratings and awards involving numerous aeronautical activities. Jim was a great asset to the Southern region.

who founded the Stefan Banic Parachute Foundation, named for the designer of emergency parachutes that saved many aviators' lives in World War I. Since 1977, Mulik has made tireless efforts to promote the foundation and present gold medals to those who have made outstanding contributions to sport parachuting.

A Gentleman in every respect! Eike escaped Berlin in 1951 in a daring journey in the middle of the night when he was a boy. He later enlisted in the U.S. Navy and became an intelligence officer and weapons environmental program manager. Eike started his sport-jumping career in 1985. He achieved numerous state an national records, participated in demonstration, tandem, wingsuit and formation skydives and earned an appointment as a USPA Safety & Training Advisor. He was loved by everyone who knew him and will be sorely missed.