The 2015 Jet Linx Aviation Institute Golf Classic was a huge success! This year’s outing, held Monday, Sept. 21, benefited the University of Nebraska Omaha’s Aviation Institute and six scholarships for the Institute, including the Larry Smith Memorial Scholarship. Over 130 golfers attended the event at Player’s Club at Deer Creek.

Jet Linx is proud to support the Aviation Institute through the golf outing and the sponsorship of UNO’s flight team, the Flying Mavs. “Being an alumnus of the UNO Aviation Institute, it’s pretty cool to be able to give back to my alma mater and a program where we recruit so many of our team,” said said Jay Vidlak, Jet Linx Aviation Vice President of Base Development. UNO alumni make up a large part of the Jet Linx team: Jason Vanis, Jet Linx Aviation Vice President of Flight Operations, is another graduate of the program. “It’s a great way to get others involved and really raise more money for the students on an annual basis,” he agreed. “It provides more scholarships and more opportunities for students. It’s neat to be able to offer more and more scholarships every year.”

One of the scholarships funded through the outing was the newly established Larry Smith Memorial Scholarship. “Larry was a longtime instructor for the University, and he taught many of the UNO alumni who work at Jet Linx,” explained Vanis. Larry was also considered a part of the Jet Linx family: his son, Maynard, served as Jet Linx’s Director of Operations for many years. “We wanted to do something for Maynard’s dad,” said Vidlak. “Larry was a frequent visitor to the Jet Linx office, and would often come through to visit Maynard.” At the event, Maynard spoke of his father’s passion for aviation. “My father wasn’t much of a golfer, but he really loved aviation like many of us in this room do,” he said with a laugh. “It means a lot to my family to have this set up in his name.”

The Jet Linx Aviation Institute Golf Classic has raised over $135,000 for scholarships.