Spartans of UD: Lincoln Moliga
Sep 19, 2018 | University Relations staff
Spartans of UD highlights what makes University of Dubuque special – the people who live, work, and study on campus. Lincoln Moliga, of American Samoa, returned to college as a non-traditional student to study aviation. The sophomore flight operations major said he is thankful to have found UD, a university where the instructors care for the welfare of their students and prepare them for the real world.
Lincoln Moliga
Flight Operations Major
1. Why were you interested in attending the University of Dubuque to study flight operations?
“I was drawn to the University of Dubuque’s Aviation Department because of how it is structured. I saw how it had an abundance of resources and support platforms for their aspiring student pilots. Not only does the UD Aviation Department prepare student pilots to become proficient in tasks associated with flight operations, they also ensure a just safety culture. The best part is that they create networking events all the time for students to meet potential employers and prepare them for interviews with an aviation company.”
2. How was flying for the first time? What do you love most about flying?
“The first time I had complete control of an airplane, I remembered that it was a very smooth feeling. I remember thinking, “this is something I could do for the rest of my life. I felt right at place.
“The one thing I love most about flying is the sense that I am doing something out of the ordinary every day. I enjoy flying because I see it as a marvel. Humans have come a long way in achieving safe flight, and I don’t take that for granted.”
3. How has UD helped you to overcome obstacles as a non-traditional student returning to college?
“As a non-traditional student who has completed and attended a four-year college before, I already knew what I want in a college. I am very fortunate to have found UD because it is what I was looking for in a college. The administrative staff at UD continue to make every hurdle I encounter easy and are extremely helpful. I like how the student-teacher ratio is on a personal level. The instructors care for the welfare of their students and prepare them for the ‘real world’ as young adults. As a full-time student, I am able to balance family, life, and school.”
4. What advice would you give to other non-traditional students?
“Make the most of whatever is dealt. Remember that there’s a reason why we’ve chosen to come back to school, so don’t lose sight of that goal. Whatever stressor you may face in college as a non-traditional student, it really isn’t a big deal compared to what you’ve faced in the ‘real world,’ so don’t sweat the small stuff.”
5. What are your plans for after graduation?
“Depends on my pre-planning. Plan I is to head back home to American Samoa with the knowledge, skills, and training I’ve gained from UD to assist with the development and find solutions for our small aviation industry back in the islands. Plan II is to pursue my aviation career in Hawaii with a regional island-hopping airline and go from there.”
