Emily Pierucci '06

For Emily Pierucci, '06, flying wasn't just a career choice, it was a calling she recognized early and pursued with determination, curiosity, and confidence thanks to her experience at St. Francis.

Today, Emily is flying Boeing 777s across the Atlantic for American Airlines, carrying hundreds of passengers to destinations like Paris, London, Madrid, Milan, and even Buenos Aires. But long before international routes and massive jets, her journey began with a strong St. Francis foundation and a family legacy.

Emily's mother graduated from St. Francis in 1969. She remained actively involved in the St. Francis community, and Emily got an early taste of what it was like to be a Troubie.

"I couldn't wait to go to St. Francis, but it wasn't until I actually got there that I realized how special it was," Emily said. What she also didn't realize was how deeply St. Francis would shape her future.

In a male-dominated field, with only about 7 percent of U.S. commercial airline pilots being female, stepping into that world was a culture shock. But St. Francis had prepared her.

"At St. Francis, being strong, confident, and smart was encouraged," she said. "We were taught not to limit ourselves, to dream big, and to lead."

Emily knew she wanted to be a pilot after a family trip to Italy when she was 13. Seeing Rome and Venice, experiencing different cultures, and flying on a large international aircraft left a lasting impression.

"That massive jet and the idea of traveling the world — it was eye-opening," she recalled. By her senior year, Emily was already taking private pilot ground school classes at Sacramento City College in the evenings. The summer after graduation, she earned her private pilot's license.

From there, her trajectory took off. Emily earned a four-year degree from California State University, Sacramento, then went on to work as a flight instructor. Her piloting career continued as she conducted aerial surveys, flew Grand Canyon tours, and piloted 19-passenger aircraft before moving into the airline world. She spent six years at the regional airline Compass Airlines, which operated for American and Delta Airlines, and served as a captain for four of those years. During the pandemic, she switched gears a bit and flew for Amazon Prime before joining American Airlines.

Each transition required extensive retraining as she had to switch aircraft manufacturers and relearn systems from the ground up. Moving from domestic to international flying also brought new challenges, including navigating different countries' aviation rules and procedures.

"It's constant learning, but I love that," she said.

Emily credits St. Francis with preparing her for those challenges. One of the most important values she carries with her is kindness.

"Aviation is a surprisingly small industry," she said. "You never know who you'll cross paths with again. Treating everyone with respect, staying positive, and not getting upset over small things really matters."

At St. Francis, Emily also learned the power of community, something she values and found especially meaningful when building connections with other women pilots.

"The female pilots I've met have become a strong support system. We lifted each other up instead of seeing each other as competition, and that's a mindset that started, for me, at St. Francis," she said.

Emily's favorite memories of St. Francis aren't just the big moments, but the everyday ones: skipping through the halls or eating lunch on a blanket at Serra Court. A four-year water polo player, she credits the sport with teaching her discipline, teamwork, and resilience.

Academically, Emily is grateful for her precalculus and physics teacher her senior year, John Kornylo. He was a former military contractor who took extra time to help her understand concepts, even though engineering wasn't her natural strength.

"He was so patient and kind," she said. "That support stuck with me."

Today, Emily remains closely connected to St. Francis. She donates annually, participated in Career Day and has become a resource for recent graduates interested in aviation.

Her advice to current students is grounded and heartfelt: "Enjoy the time you're in. Don't rush to the next thing. Those years at St. Francis are really special."