05/28/2026
From starting college at just 15 to commanding a Boeing 747! ✈️👑
Kelly C. Lepley (Class of 1990) is a true high-flyer who achieved the coveted rank of Captain on the B-747 at age 47—a milestone that highlights an absolutely extraordinary aviation career.
Her journey took off right here at NMC. Enrolling as a teenager, she found a nurturing environment that helped her build the crucial study skills and maturity she needed to fast-track her dreams. By age 21, she had already earned all of her flight ratings, taught over 700 hours, and secured her very first airline job! 🧑✈️✨
She credits NMC Aviation instructors Greg Young and Don Rodriquez for drilling in the rock-solid foundation and standard of exceptionalism that guide her every single time she steps into an aircraft. We are so proud to see her soaring to such incredible heights! 🌲🌊
Click the link to read her full story: https://www.nmc.edu/about/foundation/alumni/outstanding-alumni-2026.html
