FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. (October 2024) – Freud Jeantilus and Jacob Roser, instructors for Teens-In-Flight, Inc. recently piloted 700 pounds of goods and supplies to families in need in the Tampa/St. Pete area, alongside Teens-In-Flight, Inc. Executive Director Ric Lehman. Both Freud and Jacob are graduates of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and shared how their training and experience at ERAU helped prepare them to serve others.
“Tampa’s been hit with a second hurricane in a month and a half’s time. It’s important for us to reach out and make sure they’re doing ok and help everybody that’s in need. I think it goes to show that it’s all about camaraderie and helping your fellow man, and I think it’s a good opportunity to do it here,” said Jeantilus.
“I’m just as excited to get involved with this. I studied meteorology in school. I find weather fascinating and understanding what happened to Tampa and how they’ve been impacted by not only this storm but the previous ones. I’m thrilled to be able to get involved and do what I can to help,” shared Roser.
“It’s exciting to take the fundamentals of the training we received there and apply it not only towards our careers but helping others,” he said.
“I love Embry-Riddle and everything that it stands for so being able to work at Teens-In-Flight and utilize all the knowledge and experience that I had there and expand on that here with Mr. Ric, it’s definitely making them proud to help this program,” added Jeantilus.
As a nonprofit flight school providing private pilot lessons to the families of fallen military and first responders, providing support during a natural disaster comes second nature for the organization’s team members.
“I think it’s important not to just learn skills but to learn how to use them in a way that helps benefit other people, and that’s what these flights are all about,” said Lehman. “Take the skills that we’ve learned, take the talents, take the opportunity then to help someone else.”
The flight has been one of half a dozen missions flown to support areas hit by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. For more information or to sponsor a flight, please visit Teens in Flight – Non-Profit Organization.
