The Leading Edge Aviation Foundation (the Foundation) recently hosted an educational event for Mountain Home eighth and ninth-grade students at the Baxter County Airport to show students a variety of aviation careers with presentations delivered by local pilots.
Students heard from four local industry leaders to discuss topics such as airport and airspace operations, aircraft service, military aviation, piloting, certified flight instructors and civil aviation career opportunities. They also learned about the various types of aircrafts.
Presentations were given by Trey Haney, manager of Bayird Air; Lt. Col. Gary Smith, CAP Squadron Commander; pilot Ralph Hoetger; and pilot Dr. Steve Johnson.
Eighth and ninth grade students enrolling in the three-year aviation curriculum will allow them their choice of a FAA certification. During the third year, students can pursue a commercial drone operator license or take the private pilot knowledge test. This year, 39 Mountain Home students have completed the first year of aviation studies and will begin Aviation II next term.
Director of the Leading Edge Aviation Foundation, Gerald Gaige, says the demand for aviation careers not involving flying, such as aircraft design, manufacturing, operational support, maintenance and management, are at record high.
The program was part of the student externship program organized by Laura Strider, an educator assigned to manage career preparation and development for Bomber students. She and Gaige worked together to make this opportunity available.
The Foundation provides several airport student visitation opportunities each year to support the high school aviation STEM program and also awards scholarships to students interested in aviation. Two types of scholarships are available: summer experiences at aviation camps for undergraduates and academic awards to cover tuition toward any aerospace industry career. All funds donated to the Foundation go directly to these scholarships.
For this year’s graduating class, the Foundation offered four scholarships to be presented next month, including the Jay Chafin State Farm Aviation scholarship for the first time this year. Last year’s scholarship winner, Hunter Bahr, will receive a double award for his second year studying aeronautical engineering at Missouri Science & Technology University.
For more information, contact LeadingEdgeAviationFoundation@gmail.com or visit www.LeadingEdgeAviationFoundation.org.
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