Future cleared for takeoff

Edward Baez ’26 is ready to fly.

No, literally.

With his graduation from the University of Dayton on the horizon, the finance major is charting a path that stretches from the boardroom to the clouds. While he considers the Master of Business Administration program at UD, he has another goal: become a pilot.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about going to flight school and doing pilot training,” Baez says. “I would be happy with learning how to fly a plane and traveling to different places that I've never been to before.”

That ability to dream big was nurtured by UD’s Flyer Promise Scholars program, which provides holistic support and need-based aid to high-achieving students. For Baez, a first-generation college student, the support began before move-in day.

While still in high school, Baez connected with Brian De La Cruz ’23, a fellow graduate of Boston’s Cristo Rey High School as well as a Flyer Promise Scholar. De La Cruz bridged the gap between high school and college by offering a firsthand look at the journey ahead.

“He [De La Cruz] told me how the program was, how it helped him, and what to expect, Baez says. “Having that connection, I felt like I wasn’t just coming here by myself.”

“Having that connection, I felt like I wasn’t just coming here by myself.”

This early sense of belonging is a hallmark of the Flyer Promise experience. Since 2017, the program has supported more than 300 students while maintaining an 84% four-year graduation rate, outperforming the national average of 53.5%.

This success stems from more than financial aid. Transitioning from a high school made up predominantly of people of color to a predominantly white institution was a significant shift for Baez.

“Being able to have Flyer Promise and have people that relate to me and my culture and where I come from, it made it easier for me to be able to navigate through UD,” Baez says.

Beyond community, the program provides a safety net for the “hidden” costs of college, things like equipment, professional clothing or emergency travel.

During his second semester, Baez found the pressure of the transition becoming overwhelming. After he reached out to the program for support, Flyer Promise booked him a flight home to Boston to visit his family.

“I talked to Flyer Promise about it, and they helped me out,” Baez says.

This sense of security, knowing he wouldn’t have to face unexpected hurdles alone, gave Baez the stability he said he needed to thrive. Today, he is a leader in student organizations Black Action Through Unity and El Orgullo Latino, and serves as treasurer for his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. He also credits his advisor, Kathleen Henderson ’86, for keeping him on track.

“She’s like my mom out here,” he says. “She gives you that tough love because she wants to see you succeed.”

Edward now views donor support through the lens of his own field of study. He understands the most valuable assets aren’t always found on a balance sheet; they are found in the community.

“I study finance, so I know it’s important to invest in a business, but I feel like the biggest investment you can make is in people,” Baez says. “That’s what [donors] are doing for us. I want to eventually be successful myself and be able to do the same thing.”

“I want to eventually be successful myself and be able to do the same thing.”

Whether Baez chooses to master the markets or take to the skies as a pilot, one thing is certain: Thanks to his Flyer Promise family, his future is clear for takeoff.

Photos by Sylvia Stahl ’18.

A version of this article appears in print in the Spring 2026 University of Dayton Magazine, Page 1. EXPLORE THE ISSUE — MORE ONLINE