Jessica Cox, the world’s first armless pilot, to speak tonight at USU

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Jessica Cox, the first armless person in aviation history to be certified as a pilot, will speak Thursday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Utah State University during the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences’ Spring Dean’s Seminar. Her presentation, entitled “Disarm Your Limits,” will focus on overcoming obstacles to achieve personal dreams. The address is free to the public and will take place in the Taggart Student Center’s Sunburst Lounge.  

Born without arms, Cox shares her inspiring story internationally. She comes to Logan by invitation of the Alpha Eta Rho college aviation fraternity, after several USU students heard her speak at a national conference with Women in Aviation International last year. Professor Baron Andreas Wesemann, an aviation instructor at Utah State, helped coordinate her local visit.

“Here is an individual who really helps inspire young women to realize what is possible, and not what is impossible,” Wesemann said. “You know, she was born without arms, and even though she tried prosthetics, she just really decided to be who she was, and not somebody who she’s not. I mean, she scuba dives, she snorkels, she rides horses, she surfs, she puts contacts in with her toes. And she flies an airplane. It’s a phenomenal story.”

An Arizona native, Cox earned a degree in psychology from the University of Arizona. She is the first armless person to earn a black-belt in the American Taekwondo Association and is also an accomplished dancer. While these achievements are remarkable, Wesemann said what impresses him most is her character.

“She really cares about others, and that personal quality, everybody can learn from,” he said. “She is an inspiration to everyone. Her smile, her energy, her enthusiasm….When you see her in person and you talk to her and you get to do a ‘foot five,’ which is kind of like a high five with your feet, you realize how genuine she is.”

Prior to speaking tonight, Cox will participate from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in USU’s first Aviation Career Conference, where she will attend workshops related to career development and networking. On Friday, she will join the Center for Women and Gender during its lunchtime “Common Hour,” from noon to 1:00 p.m. in room 154 of the Merrill-Cazier Library (not room 208, as has been previously published). The public is welcome to attend.

“We’re just excited to meet her,” said Stephanie Bagnell, the center’s program coordinator. “We have women call us every day who feel trapped or think they don’t have a voice, but she’s an example that we can get past our limits to do great things.”

More information about Jessica Cox is available at <a href=”http://www.jessicacox.com/”>www.jessicacox.com</a>.

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