Youth Board
The Learn Build Fly Youth Board of Directors act as a liaison between mentors and youth. The Youth Board are active participants in leadership, teaching their peers and serving in various roles at events and during Build Nights.
Graduate Stories
Jacob Buemi
Jacob Buemi is a current EAA Ray Scholar who is currently working to get his private pilots license. He has successfully soloed and passed his FAA written exam. He also has about 6 years of RC model flight experience. Jacob was on the LBF Youth Board from 2023-2025. He regularly works with the laser engraver and with composite materials such as carbon fiber. He has helped make many projects for the flying Wittman Legacy as well as Learn Build Fly’s latest project, the Commonwealth Skyranger. Jacob is currently an engineering student and plans on graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering from UW Platteville, he aims to have a career focused in aviation.
Nathan Prince
Nathan Prince is a dedicated member of Learn Build Fly currently attending the University of Wisconsin - Platteville for Mechanical Engineering. In addition, he is also working on his Private Pilot’s License and has successfully soloed and passed the FAA written exam. He has been on the LBF Youth Board since the spring of 2024, bringing new ideas and structure to the team. At LBF he enjoys sharing his interests with others, making new connections in the aviation field and learning valuable hands-on skills.
Marli Novy
President of the Wisconsin Chapter of SkillsUSA, a student workforce development organization, Marly has helped special needs students learn to fly, won awards singing at Solo and Ensemble, played saxophone, hockey, worked as the only female hockey referee in the area, and served a full term as our own Learn Build Fly Youth Board President.
Marli is currently in flight training and plans to pursue a career in Arial firefighting.
Katherine Rauscher
Katherine Rauscher is founder of the Learn Build Fly Youth Board and former Youth Board President. She is currently pursuing Mechanical Engineering at Michigan Technological University with a minor in Aerospace Engineering. Additionally, Katherine serves as a Mechanical Lead for Tech's Multi-planetary INnovation Enterprise (MINE) and chairs the Mechanical Engineering Student Advisory Committee. She has participated in engineering internships at Cirrus Aircraft in Duluth, MN, and looks forward to where the rest of her career will bring her. When home on breaks, Katherine continues to teach SolidWorks and assists in the development of other courses for youth and adults at Learn Build Fly.
Gustave Steffen
Gustave Steffen has been dedicated to Learn Build Fly since 2019. As a founding member of the youth board, Gus served as secretary until his graduation. While still on the board, he obtained his private pilot certificate. Now he is enrolled at Northcentral Technical College, pursuing degrees in Electromechanical Technology and Automation. He also serves as the president of NTC’s Intervarsity chapter. At the same time, he is getting hands-on career experience working in a machine shop. Within Learn Build Fly, he now serves in an advisory role to the youth board, helping to establish the new youth board members and develop the growing organization.
Lidia Ruiz
My name is Lidia Ruiz and I assist in woodworking and aviation studies.
I’m in the final stages of becoming a private pilot. After I’ve completed my checkride, I will continue flying my favorite, affordable airplane, N11454. Outside of LBF I work at Caribou coffee. I’m not currently enrolled in college and don’t plan to be until I’ve found my career. I simply adore Cessna 150s and cats, but my dream plane would be a Diamond DA50RG.
