Graduate Spotlight: Soaring Toward A Career In Aviation

Lorenzo Cruz missed his high school graduation. Sort of. He had a flight lesson scheduled for the same time he was graduating from Coxsackie-Athens High School in 2021, so he arranged to fly overhead as the ceremony was taking place. He graduated from high school at age 17 and through the BOCES Queststar III program he earned his private pilot’s license. On the recommendation from his instructor, Greg Szajer, a SUNY Schenectady Aviation alumnus himself, Lorenzo began taking classes at the College. He will graduate with his  A.S. degree in Aviation Science, with his Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot Certificate, and a community of friends and fellow aviators.

Lorenzo first became interested in flying while in high school, after seeing posts from a friend in the Civil Air Patrol. A wrestler and football player, he decided to swap sports for aviation, racking up flight time through individual flight lessons and solo flights. He rose from Senior Airman to Sergeant with the Civil Air Patrol and even though flight time was sidelined during Covid, he continued to learn all he could about the world of flight.

A member of the College’s Pride Alliance, Lorenzo has earned 273 hours of flight time, with 200 hours of flight training while at the College through Five Star Flight Academy. He now works at Albany International Airport as a Ramp Agent for United Airlines, towing planes, assisting passengers, and loading aircraft cargo holds with baggage. With his Aviation degree, he plans to be a private pilot and earn more flight time hours towing banners near the beach, conducting sight-seeing flights, bringing people up for sky diving, and doing survey work.

Career goal: Commercial pilot for an airline

What are you looking forward to about the future? “The freedom that comes with flying and having your office 5,000 feet in the air is pretty nice. I was bullied a lot in high school. I was told I would never amount to anything. The main reason I did this was to prove to myself that I was better than that and that if I put my mind to something I can achieve great things. There is a pilot shortage and the airlines are looking for well-trained pilots. That gives me hope for a career in the airlines! I’m very excited for the journey of time building that’s ahead!”