Maple Grove, Minn., native named University of North Dakota’s Certified Flight Instructor of the Month

Eric Lundstrom, a University of North Dakota graduate originally from Maple Grove, Minn., was named UND’s Certified Flight Instructor of the Month for July 2026. Photo courtesy of UND Aerospace.****

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Eric Lundstrom, a University of North Dakota graduate and certified flight instructor from Maple Grove, Minn., was named UND’s Certified Flight Instructor of the Month for July.

A certified flight instructor is a pilot who has been trained in how to teach people how to fly. Flight instructors take students up in an aircraft and do much of their teaching in the cockpit.

As part of the Certified Flight Instructor of the Month selection process, students of the CFIs are invited to submit nominations. “Eric consistently demonstrates professionalism, dedication, and a genuine commitment to his students’ success,” wrote one of Lundstrom’s students.

“Throughout my training, he consistently pushed me to perform at my highest level while ensuring that every lesson was a valuable learning experience. … His feedback was always constructive, and he challenged me to improve while creating an environment where I felt comfortable learning from my mistakes.

“Eric leads by example and represents the professionalism, dedication, and excellence that UND expects from its flight instructors. I truly believe he is an outstanding role model and is more than deserving of being recognized as CFI of the Month.”

A native of Maple Grove, Minn., Lundstrom is a graduate of Osseo Senior High School in Osseo, Minn. At UND, he completed a four-year Army ROTC program while earning a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics.

He holds Certified Flight Instructor, Certified Flight Instrument Instructor and Multi-Engine Instructor ratings.

“One of the most rewarding parts of my UND experience has been the people I’ve had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside,” Lundstrom said.

“As a student, I really enjoyed the relationships I built with my CFIs and the impact they had on my development as a pilot. Now, as a CFI, I have found it incredibly rewarding to be on the other side of that relationship and watch my own students grow in their skills and confidence.

“ I am currently serving as a flight instructor at UND and plan to continue building flight experience as I work toward a career as an airline pilot.”