We are thrilled to announce the opening of the Choose Aerospace Teacher’s Lounge on Facebook! After careful consideration, Facebook was selected as the best platform to host the CATL due to its familiarity and ease of use.
The group is exclusive to employees and volunteers of Choose Aerospace licensed programs, ensuring a dedicated and collaborative space for educators. To join, simply search "Choose Aerospace Teacher’s Lounge" on Facebook—it’s that easy! We can’t wait to see you there. Let’s connect, share ideas, and continue to shape the future of aviation education together!
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Choose Aerospace is thrilled to announce its expanded presence at the 2025 ATEC Annual Conference, taking place at Hilton Norfolk The Main from March 15–21.
This year’s conference is packed with sessions, networking opportunities, exhibitors, and celebrations designed to elevate aviation maintenance education. Highlights include:
The preliminary agenda is live, with more details coming soon, including programming tailored to Choose Aerospace initiatives. Don’t miss the opportunity to mark your calendars and finalize your travel plans. Registration is open, and spots are filling quickly! Choose Aerospace programs also enjoy discounted admission to the Annual Conference. Please email Tarra Ruttman with any issues registering at the member discounted rate. Join us in Norfolk for a memorable week of collaboration and innovation. We look forward to seeing you there! Register here. Choose Aerospace is making a significant impact in low-income communities through its high school aviation maintenance programs. According to data gathered in preparation for the current FAA workforce development grant opportunity, 78% of our partnered high schools are listed on the Teacher Cancellation Low Income (TCLI) directory, a federal resource identifying schools that serve economically disadvantaged populations. Notably, 83% of the students in our high school programs attend schools that qualify for free-lunch programs, reflecting our focus on serving economically disadvantaged populations.
These numbers highlight our commitment to expanding access to quality aviation education where it is needed most. By prioritizing schools in underserved areas, we are helping to create pathways to technical careers for students who might otherwise lack such opportunities. As we continue to refine our impact data, we are focusing on HUD Opportunity Zones as an important part of the current FAA grant opportunity, underscoring our dedication to addressing workforce needs in underserved areas. Want to see your photos featured in Choose Aerospace publications, newsletters, or on our website? We’re looking for images showcasing the incredible work happening in aerospace education. Drop you photos here!
Please ensure you follow your school's institutional policies when sharing images. Choose Aerospace values student privacy and is committed to responsibly showcasing content. By submitting photos, you confirm you have the necessary permissions to share and feature the images. We can’t wait to spotlight your amazing contributions to the aerospace community! Share your photos with us by uploading them here. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Choose Aerospace board member and dear friend, Dr. Tammera Holmes.
Tammera was a visionary leader in the aviation community and a tireless advocate for the industry. When Choose Aerospace was in its infancy, Tammera eagerly joined our board of directors. Her insights on community-based programs, teacher support, and outreach to underserved communities were an incredible resource for our young operation. Tammera's life was marked by her passion, resilience, and commitment to creating opportunities for others. Even during diagnosis and treatment against a rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer, she demonstrated the same bravery and determination that characterized her remarkable journey. Her tireless efforts to illuminate the path for countless future pilots and aviation professionals transformed lives and strengthened the aviation industry. As we mourn this profound loss, we also celebrate the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind. And we will forever be grateful that we knew her, learned from her, and served alongside her. Those who wish to honor Tammera are invited to donate to AeroStar Avion Institute, the Chicago-based nonprofit she founded to provide aviation career opportunities to underrepresented youth. A fund has also been establish to support her family. Discover the Choose Aerospace aviation maintenance curriculum through insights from our partners at the Clemson University Center for Workforce Development, who manage the curriculum and dashboard. Hear from teachers and administrators using the program in their classrooms, as well as state leaders driving its implementation in communities across the country.
Choose Aerospace has successfully utilized multiple funding sources to waive licensing fees for schools implementing its aviation maintenance curriculum during the current academic year. This initiative has removed financial barriers for high schools and expanded access to technical education.
The funding offset costs for 769 students across 40 schools in 14 states, totaling nearly $160,000. Support came from several key sources: an FAA workforce grant, a Rockford-based grant to AAR Corp that covered programs in Illinois, and an Oklahoma CareerTech contract that ensured funding for schools in the state. (See related story: funding-available-to-grow-high-school-aviation-technical-training-programs.html.) "Industry is the ultimate beneficiary of these high school workforce programs, so it’s only fitting that our partners help remove cost as a barrier to program adoption," said Crystal Maguire, Choose Aerospace Executive Director. "While we’re thrilled to offer the curriculum free of charge this year, our ultimate goal is to make this opportunity accessible to all schools, every year." Financial backing is critical to achieving Choose Aerospace’s mission of cultivating a diverse and well-qualified aviation maintenance workforce. To learn how your organization can contribute to providing free access to aviation technical training, visit www.chooseaerospace.org/support. As a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to and adoption of aviation maintenance programs, Choose Aerospace recognizes that this mission cannot be accomplished alone. Our success is built on the collective efforts of numerous partners who share our vision and provide invaluable support to educators, students, and employers.
Oklahoma CareerTech and the Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics (ODAA) have proven to be two of our strongest allies. The state-based organizations provide leadership, funding and outreach opportunities and have positioned Oklahoma as a standout state, where over half of the Choose Aerospace high school programs reside. Removing Barriers to Program Adoption Oklahoma Career Tech contracts with Choose Aerospace to cover the licensing costs for any affiliated school that want to utilize the curriculum. CareerTech and ODAA staff educate schools on aviation program resources available and host annual events for administrators and teachers, providing guidance on curriculum adoption, program requirements, and career pathways in aviation maintenance. Both organizations offer grant funding to enhance aviation education. For instance, the Oklahoma CareerTech Technology Grant provides resources for classroom equipment and materials, while the ODAA AERO Education Grant Program funds initiatives that inspire young people to pursue aerospace careers. Innovative Work-Based Learning Solutions One of Oklahoma’s most innovative contributions is its paid internship model for high school students. Through a partnership with Express Employment Professionals, students gain real-world experience while employers overcome common barriers such as liability, workers’ compensation insurance, and administrative concerns. In this model, Express Employment Professionals serves as the employer of record, covering workers’ compensation and liability insurance for students under the age of 18. This approach proved successful last summer when AAR Corp hired 10 high school Choose Aerospace student interns. Some of these students continued their employment during the school year and after graduation. AAR Corp plans to expand the program this coming summer, demonstrating the model’s scalability and effectiveness. A Growing Impact Oklahoma’s state-led partnerships have fueled remarkable growth, with the number of high school aviation maintenance programs in the state doubling annually over the past three years. These efforts not only strengthen Oklahoma’s aviation workforce pipeline but also serve as a model for other states seeking to replicate similar success. Want to Learn More? Discover how Oklahoma’s partnerships are shaping the future of aviation maintenance education. Book a discovery meeting with Director of Operations Kelly Filgo to explore opportunities and learn from this successful framework. Choose Aerospace is currently accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. Awards for students, educators, and schools are available. They will provide educators and future aviators with scholarships, textbooks, training systems, tools, and testing fee credits.
The non-profit organization is in its sixth award season. This year's donors include Aviation Institute of Maintenance (AIM), ARCS Aviation, Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA), Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), Aviation Workforce Solutions, Nida Corporation, AVOTEK, Aircraft Technical Book Company, CertTEC, Snap-on, Sonic Tools, Northrop Rice Foundation, and ASTM International. Eligible applicants must be planning to attend, be enrolled at, or teach in an aviation technical program. Only ATEC members, their instructors, and enrolled students are eligible to apply. The deadline to apply is February 1. Hear how our partners at WSU Tech are using Choose Aerospace to connect with high schools and establish educational pipelines throughout Kansas. In this episode of Tech Talk with WSU Tech, Dr. Sheree Utash is joined by Jena Roth, Dean of High School Partnerships & Community Outreach, to discuss the Kansas Choose Aerospace initiative. Jena shares the inspiration behind this program, its critical role in supporting Wichita’s aviation industry, and the success of the first cohort at Wellington High School. They discuss the program’s structure, the impact of partnerships with AAR, and plans for expansion across Kansas. Tune in to learn how this initiative is shaping the future of aviation education and what makes it stand out from other high school programs. Listen here.
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