Last month, Choose Aerospace hosted an outreach event in conjunction with a two-day teacher training in Tulsa. The outreach meeting discussed topics including implementation of the curriculum into local high schools as well as an Aviation Showcase where industry partners took time to talk with schools in attendance about job opportunities available to students completing the curriculum. Over 70 attendees representing 20 schools were in attendance. Employers that were showcased included AAR, American Airlines, Tinker Airforce Base, Nordam, TAT Limco Airepair, Computer System Designers, United Airlines, Air Force Sustainment Center, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, and Southwest Airlines. Check out this video and slides from the meeting. The outreach meeting was followed up by two days of training for teachers enrolled in the curriculum to include an overview of the instructor dashboard and best practices, as well as new hands-on projects to be implemented into the curriculum beginning this fall. Special thanks to the following ATEC A&P instructors for building and training on hands-on projects:
Thanks to generous donors, schools were placed in a drawing for prizes that will aid in the hands-on aspects of their program. Spring Valley High School out of West Virginia was the winner of a toolbox provided by Snap-on, and Putnam City North High School out of Oklahoma was the winner of a safety wire box donated by the Aerospace Maintenance Council. Each school in attendance was also given a set of Sonic Tools screwdrivers, provided by AAR.
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During the awards luncheon at the ATEC Annual Conference in Chicago, IL, thirty-two students, one instructor, and five schools were recognized as this year's recipients for the Choose Aerospace Scholarship Program. Over $45,000 in licensing fees, training systems, cash awards, books, testing fees and more were awarded. A big thank you to all the donors for making it possible, and congratulations to the recipients.
Choose Aerospace will provide over $40,000 worth of scholarships, textbooks, training systems, tools, and testing fee credits to educators and future aviators.
The non-profit organization, managed by the Aviation Technician Education Council, is in its fourth award season. This year's donors include Aeronautical Repair Station Association, Aviation Supplies & Academics (ASA), Nida Corporation, AVOTEK, Aircraft Technical Book Company, CertTEC, Sonic Tools, and Northrop Rice Foundation. Newcomers this year are ARCS Aviation and Aviation Workforce Solutions, each providing cash awards. Choose Aerospace has shifted gears with their award and for the first time will be awarding $2,000 to two high schools that are interested in implementing the Choose Aerospace Curriculum. The scholarship will cover licensing fees for 10 students for one year. Eligible applicants must be planning to attend, enrolled at or teach in an aviation technical program. ATEC membership is not required but is a consideration for the review committee when selecting award recipients. The deadline to apply is February 15, 2023. If you or someone you know would like to serve on the review committee, please email tarra.ruttman@chooseaerospace.org. As part of its ongoing effort to further aviation technical education, Choose Aerospace Executive Director Crystal Maguire joined Helicopter Association International (HAI), Southern Utah University, and other Utah-based educators, operators, and government stakeholders for an Aviation Workforce Development Roundtable in Salt Lake City, Utah. The event, organized by US Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT-4), discussed ways to build on the success of HAI's Utah Rotor Pathway Program, an initiative created to address the shortage of helicopter pilots and maintenance professionals. The purpose of the roundtable, hosted by the Office of Aeronautics Division of the Utah Department of Transportation, was to identify federal resources available to support aviation workforce efforts. HAI's Rotor Pathway Program brings together industry, universities, and high schools to provide helicopter pilot and maintenance training at the high school level. Choose Aerospace was happy to join the conversation to share curriculum resources available to high school programs that wan to create aviation maintenance pathways for their students. As of today, 17 schools and 580 students are utilizing the Choose Aerospace aviation maintenance curriculum, putting individuals on a direct path to careers in aviation maintenance. Choose Aerospace was on of 56 recipients across Oklahoma to receive funding from the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC), intended to help guide young minds toward aerospace and aviation careers. The funding will cover licensing fees for select Oklahoma schools adopting the Choose Aerospace curriculum.
The OAC has become a driving force behind the state’s investment in aerospace educational programs, vectoring students toward becoming aviators, engineers, mechanics, astronauts, and scientists. Fifty-six organizations were awarded Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants totaling $451,157. Grants are for targeted learning programs that have a direct application to aerospace and aviation for primary through post-secondary education. The grant funds are part of the agency’s initiative to give more Oklahoma young people access to STEM careers in the aerospace and aviation industry. The agency’s Aerospace and Aviation Education Grant Program has been awarding aerospace and aviation education grants for over 30 years. Programs that are supported range from a dedicated 4-year high school curriculum such as the AOPA “You Can Fly” effort, to week-long summer camps offered by our major Universities, a build and fly drone racing competition, Tinker AFB Air and Space Show, a 2-year high school curriculum dedicated to teaching aircraft mechanics, activities and tours at various airports across the system, engineering fairs and many others. These programs along with Commission staff will help foster students’ interest in the industry and encourages them to consider aerospace or aviation as a career. Based on projections, the programs that have been awarded funding will reach nearly 50,000 students across the state. The initiative supports the Oklahoma Works project that aims to address the skills gap and connect students to programs that will help build the workforce of Oklahoma’s second-largest industry. Choose Aerospace is proud to announce its slate of 2022 scholarship and award recipients. This year, a host of partner organizations sponsored over $50,000 worth of scholarships, textbooks, tool sets, training systems, and testing fee credits for educators and future aviators. The entire slate of award winners are as follows: Thanks to our generous donorsTo donate to the 2023 program, please visit: chooseaerospace.org/scholarship-donor-form
ATEC's foundational arm, Choose Aerospace, is piloting testing aviation maintenance curriculum for deployment in a high school setting. The computer-based content covers the general subject areas in emerging mechanic airman certification standards and provides a unique opportunity for part 147 schools looking to increase program awareness in their communities. The webinar, directed at a part 147 audience, will provide an overview of the curriculum, suggestions on how a part 147 program can structure matriculation agreements with high school partners, and a summary of what is required to adopt and implement the content.
For more information, visit https://www.chooseaerospace.org/curriculum.html. The Federal Aviation Administration Aviation and Space Education Airport Design Challenge registration opens November 1, 2021.
This annual competition is an opportunity for K-12 students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects to meet aviation professionals and learn about the aerospace industry and STEM concepts and careers. “The Airport Design Challenge is a perfect fit of science, technology, engineering and math which is so much a part of what we do at the FAA and so important to pass on to the next generation.” said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. The Airport Design Challenge helps students use the Microsoft game Minecraft to design virtual airports based on guidance from FAA aerospace and engineering experts. Students will collaborate in small teams to learn about their local airports and to complete developmental tasks in Minecraft. During the five weeks of organized lesson plans, participants will cover topics ranging from airport layout, pavement and lighting to structures and innovative growth. Program facilitators will use weekly knowledge-check quizzes and screen shots of students’ designs to assess progress and provide feedback. “The one thing that I found most intriguing about this whole program, was that the Airport Design Challenge allows students of all ages to compete at a global level, while also being able to have fun and learn at the same time,” said Arjun Saini a lead on Team Aireos, which placed in the top three during last year’s Challenge. Collaborative work between students, parents and facilitators will focus on applying STEM-based knowledge in math, engineering and career development. While participants are encouraged to form teams of up to five members, they may also participate individually. The virtual event is open to both U.S. and international students. Last year, approximately 800 students participated and many more are expected this year. The FAA Airport Design Challenge website has more information about the competition and how to register. In support the FAA’s Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force, Choose Aerospace is asking its members help distribute an educator survey developed by the Task Force’s Trends Subcommittee. If your organization is, and/or has relationships with K-12 institutions or programs, please forward the following request in support of the group’s objective to encourage high school students to pursue careers in aviation:
Dear Educator, The Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force (YIATF) needs your help. YIATF is an advisory group established to provide the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with recommendations that will encourage students to pursue in-demand careers in aviation. The group is examining trends that directly or indirectly encourage or discourage young people from pursuing aviation careers. To assist the Task Force in understanding the role of the educator and what recommendations would best support the goal, the group would like your input. To participate in the survey, visit: https://forms.gle/NfH3AHY3U8Doe1An9 We greatly appreciate your assistance on this important effort. While responses from post-secondary education is welcome, the Task Force is especially interested in feedback from the K-12 community. We certainly appreciate our members passing the request along to their local partners in education. Pathways to Aviation, a non-profit organization that provides workforce solutions through informing, inspiring, and engaging its future labor force hosted a workshop dedicated to scholarships. Choose Aerospace Scholarship Coordinator Tarra Ruttman sat in as a guest speaker and shared tips on how to prepare and complete scholarship applications as well as insight on what scholarship reviewers look for in an applicant. |
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