LETU Racers Message to Supporters
WHO ARE THE LETU RACERS?
The LETU Racers are the LeTourneau University Women's Air Race Team. Our team exists to showcase who we are at LeTourneau University and our exceptional flight training program! LeTourneau University has entered the Air Race Classic in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2022. During the 2019 race, we won our first ever leg prize, placing 4th on the second leg of the race. We entered three teams in the 2021 ARC Derby, and two of our teams received leg prizes. The 2020 race was cancelled, and the 2021 ARC Derby was held in place of the usual Air Race Classic. In the 2022 race, we placed 6th within the collegiate rankings, which is in alignment of our team goal of consistently placing within the top 10 of the collegiate division teams.
We plan to fly a Cessna 172S Skyhawk in the 2023 race. The Skyhawk is very reliable, loaded with electronics to help our navigation and weather monitoring, and a great overall airplane to race.
For more information and updates, visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/LETUAirRace/
Flight Crew
Mackenzie (Kenzie) Fessler (Team Pilot) – Kenzie grew up in San Antonio, Texas and started flying young; she flew right seat with her pilot dad and pilot grandpa. During her senior year of high school, Kenzie felt called to becoming a pilot, and her dad immediately signed her up for flying lessons. Kenzie is a junior and is currently working on her commercial pilot certificate and mechanic certificate. She is excited to race again in 2023!
Morgan Rosenberger (Team Co-Pilot) – Morgan Rosenberger is a senior majoring in aviation management with a concentration in professional flight. She is from Keller, TX and is a commercial multiengine and single engine pilot and is currently working on her flight instructor certificate. She currently serves as the President of the Women's Aviation Society at LeTourneau University. Morgan is excited to race in her first ever race after providing ground support in 2022!
Alondra Lopez (Teammate) – Alondra is from Puerto Rico. She is a sophomore and is currently working on her commercial multiengine pilot certificate. She is not only part of the race team, but she is also a member of the STING precision flight team. She will be obtaining her airframe and powerplant mechanic certificate as well!
Administrative
Sadie Clemons (Coach) – Sadie Clemons is from Cost, Texas, a small farming and ranching community. She loves softball, playing for St. Paul High School in Shiner, Texas before joining the LETU YellowJackets varsity softball team as a Freshman in fall 2019. Sadie raced in the 2022 Air Race Classic. She is currently working as a CFI at LeTourneau University and is excited to coach this year's team! She is married and also working on her MBA.
Laura Laster (Faculty Advisor) – Laura Laster is a 2004 graduate of LeTourneau University who has worked as a flight instructor, dispatcher, survey pilot, and operations manager at Dynamic Aviation and at LeTourneau University as former Director of Flight Operations. A native of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Laura is married and has two children. She is currently Assistant Professor and Chief Dispatch Instructor in the College of Aviation and Aeronautical Science and completed a Master’s degree in Commercial Aviation in December 2019. She is excited to mentor the LeTourneau University Women’s Air Race Team in future races after flying as Team Co-Pilot in the 2019 Air Race Classic. She has her Airline Transport Pilot - multiengine certificate along with several other FAA certificates.
Kayli VanDehey (Ground Crew) – Kayli VanDehey is a sophomore majoring in aviation management with a concentration in professional flight. She is from Anchorage, Alaska and is currently working on her private pilot certificate. She is excited to be joining LeTourneau’s Air Race Classic Team for 2023!
AnnaLynn Lewis (Ground Crew) – AnnaLynn is from College Station, Texas, and she recently got her private pilot certificate. She is currently a sophomore majoring in professional flight and starting her commercial pilot training at LETU. This is her first year on the ARC team, and she is excited to serve her teammates as a ground crew member!
- Support the Team
- Individual Giving
- Team Sponsorships
What is the Air Race Classic?
The Air Race Classic is an annual all women’s air race approximately 2,400 miles in length. The competition objective is to fly the “perfect cross country.” Each aircraft is given a “handicap” groundspeed. The contestants who beat their personal handicap by the largest margin win the race. The race dates back to the 1920s when air racing opened to female competitors, some of whom included Amelia Earhart, Louise Thaden, and Ruth Nichols.
"The race made me a better pilot by strengthening my communication skills... I had never competed in the Air Race Classic before and I now know why the other racers say it will make you want to keep racing. The experience is like no other, and while it may be testing at times it is also a great time when spent with great friends."
-Morgan Rosenberger
How can I follow along with the team?
Please follow us on Facebook for racing updates and more information about our progress toward this year's Air Race Classic! https://www.facebook.com/pg/LETUAirRace/
Individual Giving Levels
$40 - Chow Time
Pay for one racer's meals for one day during the Air Race Classic.
$75 - It's a Rental!
Sponsor one day of a rental car for the time before/after the race during pre- and post-race activities.
$100 - Good Night's Sleep
Pay for a night in a hotel along the race route.
$150 - Nifty Numbers
Cover the cost of our racing numbers on the airplane.
$165 - Practice Makes Perfect
Sponsor an hour of our flight time practicing before the race.
$200 - Fill it Up!
Pay for the fuel to power our aircraft on one of the legs of the Air Race Classic.
$300 - Fees, Fees, Fees
Help cover the LeTourneau University team's entry fee into the Air Race Classic Collegiate Division.
Corporate & Individual Sponsorships
Our team will partner with you or your organization and thank you with public recognition and other experiences! Please contact us directly (womensaviationsociety@letu.edu) for more information and to donate at these levels. Thank you for your generous support!
Gold Level ($5,000)
When you give at our highest level, we will put your name or company logo on our team airplane flying in this year's race. You will receive everything listed in all other levels.
Silver Level ($2,500)
When you give at our silver level you will receive everything at the bronze and blue levels and your logo on a polo that the team will wear during the race dedicated only to your organization. You will also receive four race team t-shirts.
Bronze Level ($1,000)
When you give at our bronze level you will receive everything from the blue level and a flight with one of the LETU racers in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, the plane we use for the race! You will also receive two of our team t-shirts.
Blue Level ($500)
When you give at the blue level you will receive a race team t-shirt and a post on Facebook in the weeks leading up to the race to thank you for your generous donation to our team.
