Merimbula's Ryan Campbell, the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe in a single engine aircraft, has been nominated as a finalist for the 2015 Young Australian of the Year.
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Ryan was just 19 when he left Merimbula airport in June 2013 at teh start of his successful bid for the world record.
Speaking to Fairfax Regional Media this week, Ryan said: "I didn't even know I'd been nominated; it was very unexpected."
Asked how he felt about the nomination, he said: "I'm excited; it's pretty cool and its an honour that someone would sit down, look at what you've done and consider it worthy of this nomination."
Ryan was also quick to praise the people behind the scenes of his successful Teen World Flight.
"It's about the big team effort and it's a credit to them all. While its an honour for me its also recognition of how hard so many people worked to make it happen," Ryan said."
The citation for Ryan's nomination calls his achievement "one of Australia's finest aviation achievements" which was matched by Ryan's single-minded commitment to his goal.
Ryan has become a poster boy for aviation in Australia, visiting schools and youth organisations, and using his record breaking achievements to inspire other young Australians to chase their dreams.
Six weeks ago, Ryan started work at Aeromil Pacific, a Cessna aircraft distributor in Australia based on the Sunshine Coast.
As well as demo flying and charter work, Ryan is also involved in the development of a youth program and partnership with the aviation industry to promote the pathways and opportunities available to young people in aviation.
The NSW Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero Award will be announced at a reception at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney on November 10.