Location, Location, Location!: For Lucy Freeman ’21, the Adage Has Proven True

“I knew I wanted to do aerospace engineering, and when the postcard arrived my senior year of high school, I researched the university and discovered it’s right on the Space Coast, surrounded by defense companies,” Freeman says. “I was also a Disney kid growing up and loved the beach, so the location, for me, was exciting.”

Through her connections at Florida Tech as a student, Freeman secured a job after graduation at Piper Aircraft, where she is now a liaison engineer II.

Within this role, Freeman works to modernize aircraft designs through CAD modeling, assists in building planes while they’re in the factory and tests them to ensure structural integrity.

“Working for Piper, I’ve had even more exposure to Florida Tech since graduation,” Freeman says. “Our location in Vero Beach is right down the road from campus, and I’ve been able to reconnect with all of the other 20-plus alumni who work here.”

In summer 2023, Florida Tech announced an exciting partnership with Piper Aircraft to purchase eight new 2024 Pilot 100i airplanes to add to its fleet.

The $3.2 million future-facing acquisition will bring the number of aircraft in the fleet up to 46 planes, almost all of them made by Piper Aircraft.

The first four planes arrived at Florida Tech in May, and Freeman was part of the project, designing the planes’ surfaces and wings.

“Seeing the Florida Tech airplanes leave our headquarters in Vero Beach was satisfying, since I had worked on all their components, from the fuselages to flight testing,” Freeman says. “I was piloting one of the planes before it was delivered to Florida Tech, making sure it was ready, and I looked out at the wings and was like “Dang, I did that!”

Freeman’s next high-flying adventure with Piper Aircraft will take her across the United States, flying about 2,400 statute miles in four days and competing in the Air Race Classic.

Lucy Freeman ’21 (left) and team pilot, Carly Shukiar pictured with race plane, *Patty Mae*.

The event is an all-women-piloted competition that starts in Carbondale, Illinois, and ends in Loveland, Colorado.

The women who fly in this event range from ages 17 to 90 and come from diverse professional backgrounds, such as students, teachers, doctors and air traffic controllers.

Piper Aircraft is supporting Freeman and Carly Shukiar, the team’s pilot in command who also happens to be Florida Tech’s fleet sales manager, by sponsoring their plane, Patty Mae.

“The Air Race Classic helps to continue encouraging women’s involvement in aviation,” Freeman says. “I’m excited to meet all of the women from different parts of the country competing and doing difficult things in aviation.”

When asked what advice she would give to current Florida Tech students, she says, “Take it all in but know that you don’t have to be the best at absolutely everything that you’re doing. You can—and will—do it.”