SALINA -- Eleven Kansas State University Salina students have advanced their career prospects by earning key aviation industry certifications and endorsements at the recent Aircraft Electronics Association's Central Regional Meeting in Kansas City, Mo.

The certification testing was conducted by the National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies. The center is dedicated to developing national standards and certifications identified and recognized by aviation industry professionals. Students taking the tests were from K-State Salina's bachelor's degree programs in engineering technology, unmanned aircraft systems, aviation maintenance and avionics.

K-State Salina was one of the first schools in the country to offer a bachelor's degree in unmanned aircraft systems, and Raylene Alexander, associate professor of aviation and avionics program faculty lead at K-State Salina, said the students' success at the meeting in earning maintenance certification in the field shows the strength of the program.

"Only 22 unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certifications have been issued prior to the Aircraft Electronics Association's region meeting," Alexander said. "This was the first time our unmanned aircraft systems students came to the meeting, and there was a total of six unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certifications issued to our students."

Other certification tests offered were in aircraft/aerospace assembly, which is needed for entry-level jobs as an aircraft assembler; foreign object elimination, which involves getting rid of damaging debris; and aircraft electronics technician with endorsements in autonomous navigation systems, radio communications systems, dependent navigation systems and onboard communication and safety systems.

Students and certifications earned through the National Center for Aerospace & Transportation Technologies at the meeting include:

Alex Kijowski, senior in unmanned aircraft systems, Abilene, unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification and foreign object elimination certification; Logan Owens, senior in avionics systems and management, Alexander, aircraft electronics technician certification and foreign object elimination certification; Luke Borst, senior in unmanned aircraft systems, Manhattan, unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification; Steve Gish, sophomore in aviation maintenance, Overland Park, aircraft electronics technician certification with endorsement in dependent navigation system.

From Salina: Adam Bellerive, senior in aviation maintenance, foreign object elimination certification and dependent navigation system endorsement on his aircraft electronics technician certification; Nathan Ellis, senior in aeronautical technology, unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification, foreign object elimination certification and aircraft electronics technician certification with endorsements in autonomous navigation systems and radio communications systems; and Walter Lappert, junior in engineering technology, unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification and foreign object elimination certification.

John O'Brien, senior in aviation maintenance, Silver Lake, aircraft electronics technician certification, foreign object elimination certification and aircraft/aerospace assembly certification; Adam Rasmussen, senior in unmanned aircraft systems, Wichita, unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification.

From out of state: James Moore, senior in unmanned aircraft systems, Prattville, Ala., unmanned aircraft systems maintenance certification.

From out of country: Julian Peruma, senior in aviation maintenance, Colombo, Sri Lanka, foreign object elimination certification.

In all, 16 K-State Salina students attended the Aircraft Electronics Association's Central Regional meeting. The students had the opportunity to network with more than 30 avionics firms and attend training sessions.