The future is now

As eager student teams rally to present their projects to friends and family, one thing becomes clear—the program has had a significant impact on their education and future.

Senior Mark Diaz has been interested in aviation since childhood, and he excitedly discusses the potential of the business side, taking a special interest in the improvement of technology to make things more efficient and environmentally friendly. He is now weighing his options between aviation science at a local university or an internship involving aviation business development, and his project partner, Gabriel Alfaro, is set on being an airline pilot.

Eli Schwartzman did his project on the evolution of drone operations and plans to study aerospace engineering in college. Through the AOPA STEM program he was able to earn a remote pilot certificate and pursue business ventures.

“The aviation program on the UAS side has let me get my Part 107 license,” he said. “So now I can fly for business purposes and expand my opportunities with people that want that service.”

Seniors Natalie Webb and Sasha Balderrama did their project on aviation and national security, contacting a liaison from the Department of Homeland Security to learn more about the current challenges and policies. They plan to pursue aviation business and international relations degrees. “You get exposed to everything,” Webb said of the program. “So, it’s really interesting to learn about the history and then also everything current.”

The school is equipped with simulators and 3D printers—for students to get hands on experience printing their own airfoils and testing them in the onsite wind tunnel—and their demonstrated knowledge and enthusiasm inspire confidence in the future of the aviation industry. A team in front of a board depicting advances in fighter jet technology are all entering aerospace engineering and flight science degrees, while another team describing technological connections between aviation and Formula One racing will be entering computer science. Going around the room reveals more future pilots, mechanics, engineers, and business and law leaders.

“We’ve hit the ground running, and the kids have just been enjoying the program,” said Michael Smith, the school’s resource teacher and aviation director. “Our students have gone into trade schools, military, pilots, universities, or even just gone into flight schools, and the content they’ve learned from our program has helped them be ahead of the game at the next level...The community, the AOPA organization, has been great to work with.”

[email protected]

aopa.org/youcanfly