Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) student Micheal McDaniel has been named the 2026 James Rardon AMT Student of the Year. He is the third student from Enterprise State Community College’s Ozark Campus to win this national award in the past four years.

The award is given by the Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC), along with JSfirm.com, the Northrop Rice Foundation, and Snap-on. It honors an AMT student who shows strong academic success and makes a positive impact on their school, classmates, and community.

McDaniel received the award at ATEC’s annual conference in March in Portland, Oregon.

He is a full-time father and husband and works full time during the day as a fuel truck driver. At night, he attends classes on the Ozark Campus four days a week.

McDaniel is known for going above and beyond to help others. After finishing his own lab work, he often helps classmates or asks instructors for extra projects to build his skills. One project included working on a nine-cylinder, 1,340 cubic inch Pratt and Whitney engine. He has also helped maintain the College’s Cessna propellers.

He also gives his time to serve others. McDaniel took time off work to help move a Cessna aircraft from a dual enrollment site back to the Ozark Campus. During Thanksgiving, he traveled to serve meals to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House.

To make the most of his time on campus and support his classmates, McDaniel started a study group that meets during the evening dinner break. Students bring their meals and study together to help each other succeed.

He has a 3.92 GPA and is finishing the last of 15 required courses in the AMT program. He has ranked at the top of his classes and scored 100% on the General Comprehensive Exam and 97% on the Airframe Comprehensive Exam. He has already earned his airframe certification.

McDaniel is expected to graduate in May 2026 with two associate degrees in airframe and powerplant technology.

“I had no idea something like this was possible,” he said. “When I found out I was nominated, I was blown away just to be recognized. It’s an amazing thing.”

“It is a big honor. I’m just humbled to represent the school. I hope I represent it well because it means a lot to me. It’s been a really fun experience.”