Since its founding in 1926, at the dawn of the modern aviation age, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University has evolved from a modest flying school into the world’s leading institution dedicated to aviation and aerospace education. Throughout its hundred-year history, the university has played a defining role in shaping the people, technologies, and operational standards that have transformed aviation across the continent. Its influence can be found in virtually every sector of the industry, from commercial transportation and military service to aviation safety and research into emerging aerospace technologies.

But Embry‑Riddle’s greatest legacy lies in the generations of aviation professionals it has prepared to serve with distinction. Its graduates have become airline captains, aerospace engineers, safety leaders, researchers, military officers, and specialized operators whose skill and professionalism have strengthened North American aviation. Among them are bush pilots supporting remote communities in Alaska and northern Canada, seaplane pilots preserving and advancing waterborne aviation traditions, and aerial firefighting pilots protecting lives, property, and natural resources from increasingly complex wildfire threats. Through its rigorous training programs and unwavering commitment to excellence, Embry‑Riddle has cultivated aviators whose contributions extend far beyond the cockpit and into every corner of the aviation community.

The university has also distinguished itself as a global leader in aviation safety. By fostering a culture in which safety is an everyday practice rather than a theoretical concept, Embry‑Riddle has influenced both educational and operational standards throughout the industry. Its pioneering Safety Management System and the work of its renowned research organizations, including the Robertson Safety Institute, have advanced best practices that continue to enhance aviation safety worldwide. Through research, training, and leadership, the university has consistently championed the principles of risk management, operational discipline, and continuous improvement that are essential to the future of flight.

Equally significant is Embry‑Riddle’s contribution to aviation innovation and technological advancement. Long recognized as a catalyst for emerging aerospace technologies, the university has been at the forefront of research and education in unmanned aircraft systems, autonomous flight, electric propulsion, advanced air mobility, and next-generation air traffic management. Its faculty, students, and alumni have expanded the boundaries of aerospace knowledge while developing practical solutions that strengthen aviation infrastructure, improve operational effectiveness, and enhance the safety and sustainability of flight.

As Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University celebrates its centennial year, its impact on North American aviation is both profound and enduring. For one hundred years, it has elevated standards, inspired innovation, advanced the cause of aviation safety, and prepared generations of professionals whose work continues to shape the skies above us. Few institutions have contributed so broadly. In recognition of its extraordinary century of leadership, service, and achievement in aviation and aerospace, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University is hereby awarded the Master’s North American Trophy.

2011  Conair Group Inc.

2012  Boeing Company Training Systems and Government Services

2013  Bombardier Aerospace

2014  not awarded

2015  Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA)

2016  Saskatchewan Air Ambulance Service

2017  Kenn Borek Air Ltd

2018  Coulson Aviation

2019  Cougar Helicopters Inc

2020  William "Bill" Alder Sealand Aviation Inc.

2021  Civil Air Patrol -- USAF Auxiliary

2022  ICARUS Devices

2023  North Shore Rescue

2024  Iskwew Air

2025  Elevate Aviation