Editor’s Note: This list was culled from hundreds of articles touting local programs to promote aviation/aerospace education and manufacturing careers. It weaves together resources for career & technical education, free and paid programs and manufacturing education resources.
Future Aviation/Aerospace Workforce News (FA/AW News) hopes readers will crowdsource a more complete list than is available anywhere on the internet. Please do not limit yourself to North America. A global list is needed.
If you know of a program we’ve missed or think one of the programs listed here should not be on it, contact: kcreedy@futureaviationaerospaceworkforce.com
AAR Eagle Career Pathway Program
This program is designed to provide a systematic path for high school students to develop their careers at AAR and beyond. Selected EAGLE partner schools provide training exceeding FAA standards and prepare students for entry to one of five U.S. AAR MRO facilities. EAGLE demonstrates how students can earn portable, stackable skills and earn $80,000 or more annually within three to five years. The stackable skills enable students interested in pursuing FAA-certified airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic careers.
AAR continues to expand beyond its beginnings with Olive Harvey College in the south side of Chicago where is established a 60-day welding course targeted at providing good-paying careers for underserved communities. Recently, EAGLE Career Pathways program for aircraft maintenance technicians (AMTs) has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Division as a nationally registered apprenticeship. AAR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Association of Port Authority’s (AAPA) ACCELerate Apprenticeships program. The program’s goal is to provide competency-based curricula, on-the-job training, program development assistance and incentive funding to expand apprenticeship opportunities for careers that drive economic mobility.
AAR’s EAGLE Career Pathway program is a partnership of 15 organizations and institutions, including community colleges, high schools and youth centers, which are dedicated to growing the aviation maintenance technician pipeline. These organizations are located near AAR’s four US-based aircraft repair stations in Miami, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Rockford, Illinois, and its global headquarters near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
Fellowship in Airframa & Powerplant
Able Flight’s mission is to offer people with disabilities a unique way to challenge themselves through flight and aviation career training, and by doing so, to gain greater self-confidence and self-reliance. Created by pilots who believe that the life-changing experience of learning to fly is best shared, it offers Able Flight Scholarships.
After hearing from schools, associations, member airline recruiters and major contract maintainer HAECO, A4A joined up with Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine to reaching students through their schools and veterans to recruit experienced technicians leaving the services.
The school outreach makes AvWeek’s vast content, repurposed for the K-12 audience, in an effort to generate interest and awareness of this high-tech career.
Aerospace Industries Association
AIA, in addition representing members in Washington, provides advocacy for Congressional passage of several education initiatives providing student funding and Department of Labor grants.
The future success of the A&D industry depends on building a diverse 21st century workforce. The current workforce has grown to 2.4 million people, nearly 20% of the U.S. manufacturing workforce, but industry needs to further expand and diversify the workforce if we want to continue leading the world in technology and innovation.
AIA key supporter of the National Association of Rocketry’s American Rocketry Challenge. The two organizations shared National Coalition for Aviation and Space Education (NCASE) Dr. Mervin K. Strickler Jr. Aerospace Education Leadership Award. Known as the “Father of Aviation Education,” Dr. Strickler was a legend in the aerospace/aviation world. The Strickler Award recognizes individuals or organizations that share Dr. Strickler’s life-long commitment to aerospace education. More than 60,000 students have participated in the competition…proof that the industry’s signature workforce development program is helping to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
AIA American Rocketry Challenge Alumni Network
Advance CTE is the longest-standing national non-profit representing state Career & Technical Education (CTE) directors responsible for secondary, postsecondary and adult CTE across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.
Aerobility provides ‘experience of a lifetime’ trial flying lessons for as many terminally ill and disabled people as possible every year, also subsidised flying days for other disability charities and at-cost instruction and qualification flight training to disabled people. Aerobility is a registered charity founded in 1993 offering disabled people, without exception, the opportunity to fly an aeroplane.
Aerobility is run largely by disabled aviators, for disabled people. Through various fundraising initiatives and careful management strategies we allow disabled people to fly for a fraction of the commercial rate.
Aerobility also provides advice, knowledge and advocacy for disabled people who wish to fly, and is the representative body for disabled aviation within the UK.
Junior Aspiring Pilots Program
Aerospace Components Manufacturers
ACM is a non-profit regional network of independent Connecticut and southwestern Massachusetts based aerospace companies. It worked with local and state education officials to develop a robust pipeline for its member companies. Each member sponsors a local school through career & technical education programs for both young students and adults seeking reskilling education. It developed a 10-month program, paid with $100,000 in scholarships matched by grants from members and internships. It also teaches “power” (soft) skills so in demand today. Its program includes 16 classes per year and has grown from 115 students to over 1200 in 58 schools. It also arranges company factory tours. Each year it stages the World’s Aerospace Alley Future Workforce Opportunities Career Fair which is scheduled for Nov 10, 2021. During the event each student chooses three ACM members to learn about and, with teachers help, designs questions to ask and identifies the people they should meet at their chosen companies.
ACM’s mission is to attract the global aerospace industry to this, The World’s Aerospace Alley!®, where ACM member firms form a unique industrial cooperative of long-established aerospace manufacturers, processors and suppliers, offering a cost-effective supply chain that exceeds customer expectations. Working together as a network, member companies collectively offer broader capabilities than they could as individuals.
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee
The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC) launched with an investment from Washington State to skill-up the aerospace and advanced manufacturing workforce through registered apprenticeships. AJAC developed and implemented 10 high-growth, in-demand apprenticeship occupations to serve a variety of demographics, industries, and companies across the state and now serves approximately 400 apprentices per year at close to 300 companies.
AJAC’s mission is to provide exceptional and responsive apprenticeships, innovative supporting signature training with cutting-edge curriculum and highly effective trade’s trainers. AJAC offers a method for transferring the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills between generations of the workforce, thus promoting the value of contributing to the next generation.
It has to youth programs covering the Production Technician (Youth) and Automation Technician (Youth) designed for high school juniors and seniors to develop career-ready skills in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing industries. These apprenticeship programs, now in 22 schools, combine paid on-the-job training at an AJAC employer and college-level classroom instruction which can lead to a high school diploma, journey-level card and short-term college certificate.
Its Manufacturing Academy (MA) offers a solid foundational career pathway into aerospace and advanced manufacturing apprenticeship opportunities. Manufacturing Academy students learn both soft skills and technical skills to include but not limited to applied math, blueprint reading, interview techniques and industry tours with AJAC partnering companies.
As the national accelerator for additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing (3DP) and is the nation’s leading and collaborative partner in AM and 3DP technology research, discovery, creation and innovation. Structured as a public-private partnership with member organizations from industry, academia, government, non-government agencies, and workforce and economic development resources, we are working together to innovate and accelerate AM and 3DP to increase our nation’s global manufacturing competitiveness.
Workforce & Education Programs
America Makes developed the Additive Manufacturing Workforce and Education Roadmap, indentifying measurable and meaningful challenges that, when met, promote inquiry, knowledge-sharing, and technical advancements across the industry. To increase the 3D Printing and additive manufacturing literacy of current users, students at all levels, academics, government/policy stakeholders and companies interested in adopting the technology it has created an awareness program that includes curriculum and STEAM programming.
American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics
AIAA STEM programs help teachers inspire, influence, and mold the next generation of aerospace scientists and engineers by providing a series of resources and programming to teachers, students, parents, and aerospace professionals.
AIAA supplies teachers with all the tools they will need to stir the curiosity of their students, and those tools are fun, engaging, and, mostly, “hands-on,” to ensure the students thrive in their learning environment. From classroom grants to standards based projects, to Aerospace Micro-Lessons, AIAA is committed to providing students with exceptional learning experiences, and teachers with the tools and resources to create those moments.
The AIAA Foundation has funded more than 1,400 K-12 classroom grants, impacting over 200,000 students; Awarded more than 1,300 aerospace scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students; Supported more than 400 student conferences engaging more than 13,000 students with practical application skills; Sponsored design competitions that have engaged more than 11,000 college students providing unique opportunities to apply engineering skill; Enabled more than 140,000 student members and 9,000 Educator Associates to continue learning about aerospace science and technology
AIAA Educator Associates access resources for their STEM programs, make contacts that will help them bring the “real world” into their classrooms, and receive recognition for their outstanding work with the future engineers and scientists that will take aerospace to new heights.
AIAA and The Boeing Company are excited to launch the “Boeing Inspires” Youth Engagement Program. Boeing Inspires is a national program providing teachers with the tools to engage students in STEM subjects. The K–12 STEM activities feature classroom grants and aerospace micro-lessons.
The association also has a mentor match programs as well as Educators Academy.
AIAA Foundation Classroom Grant Program
AeroStar trains and prepares students in K-12, college and beyond to pursue aviation and aerospace careers. It connects students in underrepresented communities to careers in aviation and aerospace with training, mentoring and scholarship programs. It’s AeroVerse E-Learning Academy helped pivot from in class to online STEM education.
Founded by Tammera Holmes, this Black-owned business, offers programs designed to enhance, promote and support the academic awareness of aviation and aeronautical career path opportunities for students, particularly female, minority, underprivileged and at-risk youth. By providing aviation academic curriculum development, programs, activities and support services for youth Grades K-12, interested in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math, AeroStar paves the way for the future of our industry. It has already impacted more than 10,000 students with AeroSTEM training programs, awareness events, mentoring, coaching, and access to employment opportunities since 2008. Courses are free or low cost to students. We are a one-stop shop for Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana when it comes to experiential learning opportunities, virtual learning, resume coaching, and access to scholarships.
The core values of Air Camp – scholarship, leadership, and citizenship – are embodied in its intensive schedule and unique curriculum putting science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in the context of aviation and aeronautics.
Air Zoo is an aerospace and science experience providing virtual learning labs and programs for students, educators and youth groups.
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Spanning 75 countries, AOPA membership represents the largest aviation community in the world. The AOPA team protects and to grows general aviation. Whether it is through educating the public about general aviation, preparing resources and training material to enhance pilot skills, or advocating for aviation within government agencies, it maintains the strength and vitality of the flying community.
AOPA Foundation You Can Fly High School Initiative
You Can Fly is a free collection of practical, rigorous and engaging initiatives designed to help build a bigger, stronger, more vibrant, and more resilient pilot community. The curriculum is now used in over 200 high schools and 400 classrooms. From high school students being introduced to aviation and career opportunities available within the industry, working with flight schools and developing flying clubs to helping lapsed pilots get back in the left seat, You Can Fly is a powerful, multi-faceted approach to getting people flying and keeping them flying. The AOPA Flight Training Scholarship program encourages students to achieve their aviation goals. All scholarships are made possible by generous gifts to the AOPA Foundation.
High School Educators Aviation STEM Symposium
Creating the next generation of space leaders, entrepreneurs and explorers by providing hands-on interaction from K-university and professional development. It sponsors the Commercial Space Studies program, hosted by the International Space University-Center for Space Entrepreneurship (ISU-CSE) at Florida Tech. The only graduate-level certificate of its kind in the U.S., this space-focused program provides rigorous training in the fields of space finance, policy, management, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Ontario, Canada-based education initiatives to promote aviation careers, specifically Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs), noting nothing gets in the air without AMEs. Its mission is to get students Amped Up about aviation by creating an alliance with industry partners to build an Aviation Based Centre for Discovery (A, B, C, D) aka the Amped Up AirCademy, an interactive learning space where schools can bring students of all ages to ignite an interest in aircraft maintenance (and aviation in general) through age-appropriate, hands-on and technological / VR experiences, as well as getting up close and personal with aircraft.
Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance
The mission of the Arkansas Aerospace & Defense Alliance is to promote the growth and sustainability of Arkansas’s aerospace, aviation and defense industries by: Creating business opportunities, inspiring global competition, providing advanced aerospace education and encouraging public policies that are beneficial to the aerospace and defense industries. Our membership includes aerospace and defense companies, airports, economic development groups and two and four-year institutions of higher education with a focus on varying areas of aerospace education.
Increased focus and attention on educating and training the next generation aerospace and defense workforce is critical for America to maintain its position as a leader in global aerospace and defense. Our members are focused on this critical mission.
Association for Career & Technical Education
ACTE provides education leadership in developing a competitive workforce and strives to empower education to delivery high quality CTE programs to ensure career success.
ACF’s purpose is to develop a quality talent pipeline for the aviation industry and to support top aviation educators in leadership, strategy, collaboration and mentorships. It leads senior level leadership workshops bringing together teams from select schools and nonprofits to improve current aviation education programs. ACF has worked with JetBlue and the Drug Enforcement Administration to introduce more youngsters to flight and aviation careers.
1000+ Scholarships Worth $30M+
The Aviation and Education Foundation
New Mexico-based A&EF developed lesson plans involving aviation, rocketry and science. Its mission is to provide access to and learning opportunities on actual aviation equipment so students and educators may understand aviation to attract more people to aviation careers.
Aviation Education Foundation of Colorado
A 501(C)(3) organization, AEFCO was created to address the lack of knowledge regarding aviation careers, specifically pilots. The mission of AEFCO is to provide aviation education programs for local young people that promote an awareness of careers in professional aviation and aerospace fields. AEFCO will provide a pathway for young people to achieve their aviation goals through classroom aviation education and scholarships for flight training.
The Aviation Museum of Kentucky (AMK), Blue Grass Airport, Lexington, continues its long tradition of NASA-supported Saturday STEM programs and is building out its Aviation/Aerospace Education Programs which include summer camps. These programs are a STEM-based full-day instructional program at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky for middle school students (6,7, & 8th grades). Also included are middle school teachers. Students and teachers participate in sessions during the day with a focus on a variety of aerospace topics that include the Bernoulli effect, technology of aerospace, aeronautical navigation, instrumentation, aerospace design problems, earth orbit, flight simulation, International Space Station, and NASA space challenges.
The organization is a coalition of flight attendants, air traffic controllers, aircraft manufacturers, aircraft dispatchers, airline pilots, aviation maintenance workers and airport operators who partner with youth-focused organizations to inspire youth to become the next generation of aviation workers. It is an educational resource for professional aviation careers.
Aviation Youth Mentoring Program
The Aviation Youth Mentorship Program (AYMP) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit commited to providing cost-effective initiatives to educate our youth about career opportunities in aviation. Currently, there is a lack of Aviation Educational Programs available to students in the Washington, District of Columbia region and many other areas nationwide.
The overall mission of AYMP, Inc. is as follows:
- To expose youth to participate and advance in various types of employment in the field of aviation
- To stimulate and encourage Science Technology Engineering and Mathmatics (STEM) job opportunities for underepresented and under priviledged youth
- To provide pilot and mechanic training to youth through a partnership with Columbia Training Centers and other partners
- To interest youth in aviation by setting up flight simulator training and mentorship seminars at area schools
- To develop youth leadership potential through a scholarship program presented to an area school and to a student whom has shown exceptional skills and initiative to be a AYMP Leader
Free videos on the science of flight for aircraft and spacecraft.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
AIAA dedicates itself to sharing the future of aerospace and aeronautics founded on the belief that professionals, educators and students are drivers of global innovation. It provides resources and experiences for K-12.
Reach for the Stars National Rocket Competition
A nationwide, hands-on program open to young men and women from the eighth grade to 20 years interested in learning more about careers in aviation, the educational requirements and advice on steps to take to prepare for a successful aviation career. It is delivered through airports, aircraft manufacturers, government agencies with visits to flight lines, aviation museums, aircraft and aerospace production facilities and air traffic control towers.
The National Aviation Exploring Committee works with industry partners to provide additional aviation opportunities to learn about aviation.
Online Aviation STEM courses designed to teach students of all ages.
Business-Higher Education Forum
The Business-Higher Education Forum is the nation’s oldest membership organization of Fortune 500 CEOs, college and university presidents, and other leaders dedicated to the creation of a highly skilled future workforce.
BHEF members collaborate and form strategic partnerships to build new undergraduate pathways; improve alignment between higher education and the workforce; and produce a diverse, highly skilled talent pool to meet demand in emerging fields.
Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars
Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars promotes the legacy of Bessie Coleman through STEM ( science, technology, engineering, math) programming, educates students in the fundamentals of aeronautics, introduces students to various careers in aviation and explores historical and cultural aviation figures.
Black Girls Drone Inc. is a Drone EdTech startup platform experience providing drone literacy through an app with hands-on flight training to empower women and girls from underserved communities with drone workforce technology education. We use drones as a vehicle to pioneer the future of tech professionals.
Launched on January 13, 2020, it creates a diverse and inclusive pathway for next-gen Drone Pilots; granting them access to learning opportunities within its multi-billion dollar industry. Black Girls Drone Inc. is closing the gap for the less than 3% women of color drone pilots in the industry.
Drone Tech Education Resources
Black Pilots of America, Inc. (BPA, Inc) is a non-profit flying organization established in 1997 designed to train youth to participate in and advance in aviation. Its goals include stimulating and encouraging broader job opportunities for under privileged youth in all phases of aviation; encouraging youth to enter the field of aviation and to remain in school by showing films and lecturing in schools on opportunities in the field of aviation; developing a school for aviation training; and providing scholarships for youth who will partake in training and development.
Chapters are located throughout the country. BPA holds a Summer Flight Academy for youth between the ages of 15 and 19 in Houston Southwest Airport (KAXH) in Houston, TX during the month of July.
Business Higher Education Forum The National Higher Education and Workforce Initiative
Through the collaboration of its business and academic members, BHEF has launched the National Higher Education and Workforce Initiative (HEWI), a set of long-term regional projects in selected states focused on university-business partnerships, as well as national efforts to disseminate insights from the projects and scale up effective practices. In developing HEWI, BHEF has conducted extensive research to better understand the interventions and strategies that work best to support the success of undergraduate students, strategies that have enabled students to increase their persistence in completing degrees, learn how to apply knowledge in real-world settings, and develop broad-based skills and competencies.
Canadian Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
With over 200 regional and local chapters, COPA chapters are called COPA Flights which are instrumental in the success of the COPA for Kids program which introduces over 3,000 Canadian children to general aviation each year and is a vital component of our collective outreach and promotion within the broader community. COPA For Kids aviation program provides a free introduction for Canadian youth into the world of general aviation. To date, the COPA for Kids program has introduced over 23,000 young Canadians to aviation.
COPA also provides scholarships to offset flight training honoring Astronaut Neil Armstrong who was a pilot, air service operator, COPA director, writer and friend. Through his legacy, Canadian youth are being welcomed into the general aviation community and keeping alive the spirit and the dedication that Neil Armstrong embodied.
COPA Neil Armstrong J. Scholarship Program
CFES Brilliant Pathways partners with hundreds of colleges, school districts and corporations introducing students to college and career possibilities as well as college and career preparation for low-income students.
It worked with Southwest Airlines Campus Reach Program on an Aviation Day.
Brilliant Pathways also provides resources to educators, such as professional development, support and evaluation and workshops. It works with families to strategize a path to college.
Annually, it works with 25,000 K-12 students in 200 schools to instill the skills they need to thrive in school, college and lives. Its team includes professional educators and administrators, corporate leaders, non-profit experts. It leverages the Federal grant enabled Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) to reach multiple grade levels and supporting students through a seven-year period.
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
In the aftermath of the Challenger accident, the crew’s families came together, firmly committed to the belief that they must carry on the spirit of their loved ones by continuing the Challenger crew’s educational mission. Their efforts resulted in the creation of Challenger Center for Space Science Education.
Challenger Center and its global network of Challenger Learning Centers use space-themed simulated learning and role-playing strategies to help students bring their classroom studies to life and cultivate skills needed for future success, such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication and teamwork.
A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) education organization, Challenger Center reaches hundreds of thousands of students and tens of thousands of teachers every year.
Choose Aerospace, Inc. is a partnership of aerospace stakeholders, joined together to address one of the biggest threats to continued industry growth: the availability of a diverse, qualified technical workforce. The purpose of the campaign is to unite companies, associations, labor unions and educational institutions, to spur interest in aerospace careers, and identify and implement solutions to the aerospace workforce shortage.
A primary objective for Choose Aerospace, under the auspices of Aviation Technical Education Council, is to make aerospace career and technical training a priority in secondary schools and to provide multiple career paths to success within the industry. Given coronavirus impacts on aviation technical programs, and the expectation that schools will pursue more computer-based learning options moving forward, the organization is in search of partners to support development of standardized aviation technical curriculum. See the request for proposal.
Collins Aerospace
Collins Aerospace invests heavily in STEM programming as part of its Redefining Futures program. in its home state of Iowa. In an effort to support the company’s larger strategy of investing in the future workforce with a focus on STEM education, it provided a grant of $80,000 to sponsor Computer Science is Elementary, a new initiative from the Iowa STEM Advisory Council. The program provided computer science education to a pilot group of elementary schools in high-poverty regions, those in which more than 75% of students are eligible for free lunch assistance.
The company has also contributed $50,000 to NewBoCo, primarily for the organization’s K-12 coding and engineering educational program. Another grant of $100,000 will go NewBoCo supported its K-12 computer coding workshops and engineering project learning programs, which provide hands-on experience and aim to inspire youth to pursue STEM-related fields. A portion of the donation will go towards supporting NewBoCo’s Code.org program which, through professional and curriculum development, aims to ensure every child in Iowa has access to computer programming courses in school.
Kirkwood Community College, part of other grant grants, received $60,000 to support two major STEM initiatives. The first is the school’s Project Lead the Way program that gives students a chance to tackle real-world engineering challenges, preparing them for a degree in a STEM-related field. K-12 work-based learning programs was also supported with the donation, which gives students a chance to experience a real job in the industry before entering college.
A donation of $50,000 went to the Iowa Children’s Museum in Coralville, IA, to support the museum’s ‘STEM Smart’ programming and revitalize the museum’s ‘Take Flight’ exhibit.
Collins Aerospace is committed to leveraging the strength of its 70,000 employees around the world to increase student interest in STEM. Through investments in new and innovative programs and engaging its employees to serve as mentors and program volunteers, Collins Aerospace shows young students the exciting opportunities available in STEM career fields. Investment supports Collins Aerospace’s goal of inspiring students in K-12 to pursue career opportunities in engineering and technology.
Collins Aerospace Systems has provided Discovery Center Museum a $75,000 contribution to purchase a Mobile STEM Lab to offer outreach programming through hands-on, interactive STEM activities for students in Rockford, Il, schools. In afterschool programs, nearly 1,000 children in eight at-risk elementary schools and four middle schools in Rockford Public School District 205, enables students to interact with Discovery Center Educators and Collins Aerospace volunteers to develop confidence and spark an interest in science early. The STEM Lab territory also takes in Madison, WI, south to I-80 and Chicago west to the Mississippi River. Since the lab began operating in June 2019, it has served 8,972 children and parents through its participation in 118 programs.
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) offers a number of products and programs – free to members – in fulfillment of both its Internal (cadets and senior members) and External (educators and students) Aerospace Education mission.
Its website includes lesson plans, STEM Kits, the K-6th grade Aerospace Connections in Education (ACE) program, Aerospace Education Excellence (AEX) and Teacher Orientation Program (TOP) flights. It also provides CAP subject matter experts as mentors to youth and new CAP educational products pertaining to Robotics, Flight Simulation, Remotely-Piloted Aircraft, Cyber Security and Satellite Tracking and Imagery to help inspire youth toward aerospace careers to maintain national security for the future.
Aerospace Connections in Education
San Antonio-based, The Dee Howard Foundation was founded to build on the legacy aviation pioneer and entrepreneur Dee Howard. Its primary focus is aviation and aerospace in San Antonio including the creation of jobs and developing a skills workforce. It also seeks to stimulate invention, development, manufacture and installation of innovative, cutting edge technology and preserve the history of aviation in San Antonio.
It is dedicated to fostering aviation and aerospace in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Pre-K-12 education programs primarily in schools in the greater San Antonio area whose students are from underserved areas of our community.
Maine-based C&L Aviation Services has launched Aircraft Maintenance Apprenticeship Program. It will provide paying jobs for apprentices while they receive on-the-job instruction preparing them for their FAA certification examination and a career in aviation. C&L’s apprenticeship program is a three-year program, leading to the FAA’s Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certification.
The DoD SkillBridge program connects service members with valuable civilian work experience through specific industry training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of service. SkillBridge connects Service members with industry partners in real-world job experiences.
For industry partners, like Airports Council International-North America SkillBridge give them access a highly trained and motivated workforce at no cost. Service members participating in SkillBridge receive their military compensation and benefits, and industry partners provide the training and work experience.
Started in 1991 and expanded nationwide in 1993, the Department of Defense STARBASE program introduces young students at Title I schools to science and technology to encourage careers in STEM fields. Primarily focused is on fifth graders, the program serves students that are historically under- represented in STEM, students who live in inner cities or rural locations, those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, low in academic performance or have a disability. DoD STARBASE is a premier educational program, sponsored by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. At DoD STARBASE students participate in challenging “hands-on, minds-on” activities in STEM. They interact with military personnel to explore careers and observe real-world STEM applications. The program provides students with 25 hours of experiences at National Guard, Marine, Air Force Reserve, Army and Air Force bases.
The goal is to motivate students to explore STEM opportunities as they continue their education.
Eagle Mount Flight Camp for Cancer Survivors
Provides recreational opportunities empowering those with disabilities. It is now a 19-acre campus in Montana and never turns away anyone based on their ability to pay because it is funded entirely by private donations.
Eagle Mount Flight Camp for Cancer Survivors with Summit Aviation
Edge4Vets created a resiliency workshop series teaching vets how to translate their strengths from the military into tools for civilian success bridging the gap between military and civilian employment. It works with local education institutions to prepare and connect vets to jobs to fill industry workforce needs.
Educavia (Dutch & Flemish)
Educavia is creating a knowledge region centered around aviation technology to develop and integrate aviation engineering studies. It is designed to improve the link between education and industry demand, promote aviation education, develop and support new, innovative and uniform aeronautical techniques and training courses. It is synchronizing the training of aviation technicians, securing and developing the Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) sector and improving the cooperation of MRO companies in the field of training.
Partners include Vlaams Luchtvaartopleidingscentrum, Aircraft Maintenance and Training School Netherlands, VIVES University of Applied Sciences, ZAVO, Brussels Airport House, Flemish Aerospace Group and Netherlands Aerospace Group.
After finding the greatest barrier to women in aviation was lack of awareness, Elevate Aviation has programs across Canada providing aviation career support and promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It introduces women to the careers in the aviation industry through tours, speaking engagements, and events. It immerses middle- and-high-school aged youth into week-long aviation experiences through our Elevate Aviation Learning Centre. It provides mentorship network and works with Canadian aviation leaders to promote their companies, unique careers and the industry as a whole.
Elevate Aviation Learning Centre
Estes model rocketry is used in more than 30,000 elementary, middle, junior high and high school science curricula across the United States.
ESA’s Teach with Space collection, developed in collaboration with the European Space Education Resources Office (ESERO) network, is a set of innovative curricular classroom resources that use space as the entry point to run STEM lessons during school hours. These resources include teaching guidelines, student activities and experiment kits.
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA)
The Experimental Aircraft Association is a growing and diverse organization of members with a wide range of aviation interests and backgrounds. Founded in 1953, it launched the Young Eagles program in 1992 and has dedicated more than 25 years to giving youth ages 8–17 their first free ride in an airplane. The only program of its kind, its sole mission to introduce and inspire kids in the world of aviation.
Young people ages 18 and under will be admitted free to EAA AirVenture, July 26-August 1, 2021 in Oshkosh, WI. This effort is designed to encourage more aviation-minded families and their children to attend the event that brings more than 10,000 aircraft from around the world to Oshkosh each year.
Recently it launched EAA AeroEducate, its newest youth aviation initiative which will bring an interactive, educational, and engaging experience to young people ages 5 to 18 years old beginning in 2021. This web-based resource provides clear, age-appropriate pathways to aviation and aerospace engagementt including career paths. A multitude of turnkey, easy-to-use aviation-themed activities for teachers and EAA chapters can be used at sites ranging from classrooms to EAA chapter hangars.
Aviore Resources for Parents, Educators
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) offers a slate of free, for-credit online courses for students in Arizona and Florida where it has bases. In partnership with Women in Aviation, it is offering self-paced Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) tailored to students ages 8-17. The free course leverages Embry-Riddle expertise and instructional design to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.
The mission of Explorer At Large is to create generations of curious and courageous explorers. The program provides content and resources empowering participants to successfully address global challenges, individually and through community. It engages students and teachers and gives them both a mindset and skillset to succeed as curious and courageous explorers. It seeks to scale up the program, bringing it to more schools, more districts, more states, more countries…through both Partner Location programs and online / distance learning.
FAA Aviation & Space Education (AvSed)
AvSed aims to prepare and inspire the next generation of skilled professionals for the aviation and aerospace industries using science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and to educate the public about FAA’s mission.
Aviation Career Education Academy
The ACE Academy provides unique summer aviation education programs for elementary, middle and high school students who are interested in aviation and aerospace. The program provides students with a wide range of aviation career exploration experiences and also focuses on STEM. ACE Academies are cosponsored by the FAA and various other host organizations.
A Teacher’s Guide to Aviation Education
FAA Challenge – Smart Airport Student Competition
Educators Guide Our Future Stars
The Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education provides global-best workforce development through strong technical training, integration of manufacturing core competencies, intensive professional practices and intentional hands-on experience to build the future of the modern manufacturing industry. As part of the Manufacturing Institute, it provides comprehensive, hands-on education.
Fargo Air Museum
The primary mission of the North Dakota’s Fargo Air Museum is to inspire new generations of aviators. Its education program provides opportunities designed to interest future pilots, aircraft mechanics, air traffic controllers and more. It provides aviation camps and school partnerships offering a variety of hands-on learning for school age flight enthusiasts. It also offers group tours and activities for the day-care-age crowd.
FIRST Robotics Competition encourages high school students to participate in the real-world engineering Robotics Challenge. Under strict rules, limited time and resources, teams of students are challenged to raise funds, design a team brand, hone teamwork skills and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team.
Flight Schools Association of North America (FSANA)
Founded in 2009, FSANA represents flight training providers and creates meaningful programs to increase the pilot population. Members provide flight training in the United States and foreign countries. FSANA establishes programs intended to help both new and existing flight schools.
Fly for the Culture is a non profit created to serve young people interested in aviation careers. Through exposure, outreach, education, training, scholarships, mentorships and advocacy expects to become a driving force in expanding diversity and inclusion in aviation and mitigate pilot shortages.
Future & Active Pilot Advisors
Future & Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA) is a career and financial advisory service for pilots from school to retirement. It hosts career fares several times a year in various parts of the United States for pilots seeking work and for those interested in becoming a professional pilot. It’s mission is to help pilots and future pilots strategize to land successful flight deck careers.
Resources for School Guidance Counselors
Build the Pilot Pipeline Future Pilot Forums
For K-12, primary and secondary schools, the program aims to build an ecosystem for 3D printing in education by networking students, machines and content via an online platform Polar Cloud. Over the past two years, the AEP has donated over 1,000 polymer 3D printers to schools in 30 countries, providing access to technology and curriculum to more than 400,000 students. Educators and students from participating schools join the Polar Cloud to access tools, software and applications in a collaborative and secure environment. GE Additive has made a significant financial commitment over five years to invest in educational programs to deliver polymer 3D printers to primary and secondary schools and metal 3D printers to colleges and universities around the world. GE Additive is transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE Additive includes additive machine providers Concept Laser and Arcam EBM; along with additive material provider AP&C.
GE’s Auburn’s facilities 37 additive machines are expected to grow to 45 by mid-year to handle the needed higher volume.These employees require six weeks of in-house training. GE is looking at ways to engage the local community colleges in offering additive manufacturing as part of their curriculum. GE Aviation is also engaging with engineering students at Auburn University in additive manufacturing projects. The plant also offers training in non-destructive testing where employees become certified to evaluate jet engine components scanned in advanced X-ray machines to address the skills shortage
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE) launched an interactive Web site that teaches the basics of jet engines. A major goal of the site is to help science and engineering teachers create course materials. As part of GE’s commitment to education, the site will continue to expand with worksheets and other education materials for classroom use.
GE has several educational programs including flight data analytics. And, it is already partnered working with Cincinnati Public Schools offering a five year, $20 million “College Bound” math and science focused grant for Cincinnati (CPS).
It’s Lynn, MA, facility also created the GE Girls at MIT Summer Education Workshop, part of a renewed commitment to promote STEM to middle-school-age girls. GE partnered with MIT’s Edgerton Center and the Lemelson-MIT Program to develop the curriculum and exercises. Students interacted directly with faculty, graduate students and volunteer GE women who later hosted students to shadow them for a day. Themes were construction, programming, electronics, aviation and chemistry. Among the hands-on activities, the girls learned to program their own computer games, build cars and bicycles with LEGO bricks, build, launch rockets and demonstrate the science of airplanes.
In Auburn, AL, GE Aviation managers took up teaching duties at the Alabama State Training program in a close cooperation between GE Aviation, Southern Union State Community College and the Alabama Department of Commerceproving. The program provided month-long vocational training sessions at Southern Union in an effort to prepare workers for the skill sets required in its new modern factories across the U.S. GE plant leaders worked with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) to develop curriculum.
Giving Kids Wings Flight Academy (GKWFA) teaches aviation to excite, engage, and prepare students for careers in aviation, science, and math. It strives to increase educational equality and to increase diversity in professional aviation fields. Our organization strives to lead educational innovation at the institutional level to bring lasting social change.
General Aviation Manufacturers Association
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) exists to foster and advance the general welfare, safety, interests, and activities of the global business and general aviation industry. This includes promoting a better understanding of general aviation manufacturing, maintenance, repair, and overhaul and the important role these industry segments play in economic growth and opportunity, and in serving the critical transportation needs of communities, companies, and individuals worldwide.
High School Aviation Design Challenge
Go Fly: Create a Flying Machine $2M Challenge
Gleim Aviation, a for profit company, provides resources designed to help educators integrate STEM aviation into classrooms. It also offers online professional development courses to master aviation curriculum.
Gulfstream Aerospace Student Leadership Program (SLP) is a community program designed to equip students with skills to explore opportunities beyond the classroom to meet future local workforce needs through career and industry tours, interactive leadership workshops and community service. SLP reaches over 1,000 students annually in four communities. Programs have been developed in Appleton, WI, as well as Brunswick and Savannah, GA. It has already worked with more than 1,000 students and more than 500 teachers
Understanding that each community is different, SLP is developed to meet the needs of each community where the program exists. SLP has immediate and long-range advantages for students who participate in the program and provides students with experiences to gain the skills necessary to be successful in today’s world.
is adding to its student leadership program with a new service center and completion facility in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The program — which started in Savannah, Georgia, in 2008 — introduces high school students to aviation, engineering, manufacturing, and other related career paths. exposing more than 300 local students each year to an aviation/STEM-themed curriculum that focuses on developing work readiness and leadership skills, while providing information about career pathways. It will also include hands-on tours of Gulfstream Dallas and the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
The Harlem Children’s Zone mission is to end intergenerational poverty in Central Harlem and lead the way for other long-distressed communities nationwide and around the world to do the same. It is expanding its outreach, replicating its community-based cradle-to-career model of family and educational services to six new cities including Oakland, California; Minneapolis; Chicago; Detroit; Newark, N.J.; and Atlanta.
It provides on-the-ground, all-around programming that builds up opportunities for children and families to thrive in school, work and life. From early childhood, education, and career programs to community outreach and wellness initiatives, HCZ opens pathways to mobility and prosperity.
A division of Minority Aviation Education Association, ISP is a national non-profit science and math education company specializing in providing dynamic hands-on assembly and classroom demonstrations to improve test scores in science and math. ISP also provides professional development sessions for teachers interested in enhancing their ability to conduct meaningful, hands-on science demonstrations in the classroom.
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families
The institute partnered with Boeing create a new workforce training, recruitment and placement program component within the IVMF’s Onward to Opportunity program. The $7.5 million in new funding for this The signature program, a partnership with Syracue University, offers certification and training courses focused on the aerospace and defense industry, complemented by networking and employment opportunities for qualified transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses.
To date, Onward to Opportunity helped transition more than 50,000 service members, veterans and military spouses with training and certifications in in-demand civilian career industries. Among the strategic partners committing to renewed support include USAA, Lockheed Martin, Bank of America, Cisco, the Heinz Endowments and Wounded Warrior Project. In addition to O2O, these new funds will also enhance and expand program delivery in the IVMF’s community-based services and entrepreneurship portfolios.
The JetBlue Foundation is committed to supporting aviation-related education and STEM initiatives. It also offers grants to education programs focused on mentorship and technical education training, with the goal of adding more diversity within STEM and the aviation industry.
It supports non-profit organizations and qualified educational organizations in JetBlue’s network who provide STEM curriculum in Aviation Technology, Aviation Engineering, Aviation Operations, Aviation Maintenance and Sustainable and Environmental Programs. These programs must serve one or more under-represented communities including veterans, women, the economically disadvantaged and under-represented ethnic groups.
The Manufacturing Institute partners with employers, educators and communities across the nation to implement solutions to build a skilled manufacturing talent pipeline. It grows and supports the industry’s skilled workers for the advancement of modern manufacturing. The MI’s diverse initiatives support all American workers, including emerging workers, women, veterans and students, through skilled training programs, community building and career growth.
See Previous Listing for FAME, the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education
Curricula designed by management-level Fortune 500 engineers, scientists, software developers and aviators working with seasoned educators to carefully craft each course to create an internship-style experience in the classroom. Curricula focuses on hands-on projects emulating real-world practice through experiential activities. Its services include classroom, after school/summer and professional development programs.
Museum of Flight offers STEM programming for students, educators and parents, schools and groups.
The Boeing Academy for STEM Learning is the world’s largest educational department across all air and space museums. With The Museum of Flight, the Academy offers a wide variety of unique programs to educators and students in grades K-12 and college. Each program delivers immersive, user-driven experiences around the subjects of aviation, space and robotics—combining engineering challenges with hands-on scientific investigation to achieve an innovative learning approach that breeds clear comprehension and avid curiosity.
The Museum of Flight offers both on-site and outreach STEM programs.
With the support of the Walton Family Foundation and the DaRin Butz Foundation, it hopes to increase women’s participation in the industry by engaging and empowering our Soaring High Explorers to seek out and succeed in STEAM fields serving local and underrepresented communities in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and Arkansas.
Teacher Guide African American Pioneers in Aviation 1920-Present
Flights of Fancy Story Time Bessie Coleman
Flights of Fancy Story Time Three High-Flying Friends
National Association of Rocketry
NAR, with Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), runs The American Rocketry Challenge (TARC), an aerospace design and engineering event for teams of US secondary school students (6th through 12th grades). Teams can be sponsored by schools or by nonprofit youth organizations such as Scouts, 4-H, or Civil Air Patrol (but not the NAR or other rocketry organizations). The goal of TARC is to motivate students to pursue aerospace careers. It is co-sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers, Estes Industries, the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration and NASA.
The event involves designing and building a model rocket (650 grams or less in weight, 650 millimeters or more in length using NAR-certified model rocket motors totaling 80 N-sec or less of total impulse) that carries a payload of one Grade A Large egg for a flight duration of 40-43 seconds, and to an altitude of exactly 800 feet (measured by an onboard altimeter), and that then returns the egg to earth by parachute, without cracking it. Onboard timers are allowed; radio-control and pyrotechnic charges are not.
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The National Aviation Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring individuals who have uniquely contributed to America’s legacy of aviation achievement. Its Learning Center is dedicated to educating the public on its hall of fame inductees and their contribution to aviation history.
National Aviation Research & Technology Park (NARTP)
NARTP is a non-profit auxiliary organization of Stockton University dedicated to facilitating research and development, innovation and commercialization of emerging aviation technologies.
Located on the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center, its mission is to enhance the evolution of aviation sciences by creating an ecosystem of industrial, academic, and governmental partnerships that foster innovation and collaboration and promote sustained economic growth and job creation throughout New Jersey.
NASA offers a wide variety of aerospace activities and lesson plans for K-University generated by active teachers, educators, and NASA engineers and scientists. These activities are sponsored by the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate from NASA HQ, through the Educational Programs Office at NASA Glenn. Many of the activities were developed for the Learning Technologies Project at NASA Glenn.
National Association of State Aviation Officials
Established in 1986, the NASAO Center for Aviation Education and Research is a nonprofit organization (501C) that recognizes the vital role aviation education in our contemporary society. The Center, through its relationship with NASAO and the states, is in a unique position of being able to collect and market state-derived aviation information. The Center also advocates for aviation modules in the K-12 education system to foster enthusiasm for the diverse careers found within the Aviation Industry.
Its Aviation Education Outreach Initiative promotes aviation education, including but not limited to aeronautics, engineering and science. This includes organizing aviation education councils at the state level, collaborating to develop aviation education resources online and developing awards and grant proposals that fund relevant activities. Activities have included: Aviation Career Education (ACE) Camps, centennial flight celebration events, aviation education career-days, classroom assistance, teacher workshops, and the Federal Aeronautic International Art Contest which illustrates art is very definitely part of aviation.
NASAO Center for Aviation Research and Education
National Coalition of Aviation & Space Education NCASE
NCASE is a membership organization formed in 1993 when founding member groups signed a formal charter and established a partnership with the FAA. It promotes aviation and space education while supporting schools’ initiatives at the local, state and national levels and to provides a united voice on aviation education issues. It works with aviation educators, government officials and industry representatives to marshal education resources and use aviation to train America’s young. Its web site is a one-stop clearinghouse for aviation education materials including a comprehensive list of information sources available from member organizations including teaching aides or aviation career information.
National Council for Workforce Education
By placing a strong emphasis on student success in exemplary programs, NCWE serves as the national leader providing resources and expertise to community colleges to enhance their efforts in preparing the current and future workforce in a global economy.
NCWE can assist colleges and their partners with a wide array of services designed to maximize the effectiveness of education and workforce training programs and implement innovative designs that lead to improved outcomes and learner success. Expertise is in program development and review, career pathways integrated pathways, employer engagement strategies, developing and sustaining partnerships, apprenticeship, aligning programs with real-time labor market data, and an array of other topics germane to improving workforce education and training.
The New Workforce Professionals Academy was created to advance knowledge and skill development for community college workforce education professionals who are relatively new to the field of workforce education. Through peer learning, mentoring and a network of professional colleagues, the New Workforce Professionals Academy increases the knowledge base and leadership skills of new workforce professionals helping them attain the knowledge and skills to achieve success and advance more quickly as future leaders.
The Academy curriculum focuses on areas including: partnership building within and outside of the college; communication, collaboration, challenges and barriers; workforce program funding; employer engagement; data and data analytics; program design and program review; credit and noncredit workforce programming; and goal setting and measurements of effectiveness.
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship
Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a global educational nonprofit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to youth in low-income communities. NFTE’s rigorous programs are taught by a highly trained Teacher Corps and NFTE students are supported by a diverse Volunteer Corps drawn from the local community, including business leaders and entrepreneurs. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, NFTE has trained thousands of teachers and educated more than a million young people worldwide.
Its career relaunch program for adults teaches entrepreneurship essentials, enabling the discovery and cultivation of skills NFTE calls the Entrepreneurial Mindset.
New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program
A five-week program resulting in a national credential from the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council.
The Ninety Nines is an international organization of licensed women pilots from 44 countries with thousands of members throughout the world. It promotes advancement of aviation through education, scholarships and mutual support while honoring our unique history and sharing our passion for flight.
Although there are other female pilot organizations in various states and nations, virtually all women of achievement in aviation have been or are members of The Ninety-Nines. Today Ninety-Nines are professional pilots for airlines, industry and government; we are pilots who teach and pilots who fly for pleasure; we are pilots who are technicians and mechanics.
It provides support for all phases of flight training Including: Scholarship opportunities through the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarship Foundation, and from individual Chapters and Sections; Professional Pilot Leadership Initiative mentoring program (PPLI); Mentoring and Networking at Chapter and Sections level; Preserving history through the Museum of Women Pilots and Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum; Aviation and space education; first flight programs; Camaraderie among women pilots around the world.
Museum of Women Pilots, Oklahoma City
Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, Kansas
Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals
OBAP is a world-leading organization changing lives by creating a pathway to success through educating youth, community and professionals shaping an aerospace industry as diverse as the people it serves. Its mission is to motivate youth to become educationally prepared for life and to increase minority participation in aerospace through exposure, training, mentoring and scholarships. It also seeks to increase the number of underrepresented minority professionals, engineers, scientists and management personnel in aerospace and related industries and better assist it amplifying membership concerns and constituencies.
Luke Weathers, Jr. Flight Academy
Aerospace Career Education Academy
Aerospace Professional Development Program
Piper offers career apprenticeships for ambitious people who want to earn a salary while they learn, gaining valuable experience, skills and knowledge. The two-year program accepts 10 new apprentices each year who receive a combination of on-the-job training as well as classroom instruction through Indian River State College (IRSC) in Florida. The program is designed to qualify the participants as a Journeyman in Aircraft Assembly. Additionally, the credits earned at IRSC may be used towards a two-year, Associates Degree.
Reno Air Racing Foundation, doing business as Pathways to Aviation, is a non-profit organization providing workforce solutions by informing, inspiring and engaging the future labor force.
Launched in early 2017, the Futures in Aerospace program has worked with hundreds of young people providing college and career planning resources and connections including internships, part/full-time jobs, and providing students enrolling in colleges and trade schools with professional connections.
The mission of Project Ianos is to engage and educate students with the wonders of space and to inspire them to become explorers, It introduces students to those on the frontlines of NASA. Engaging videos hosted by world-renowned explorer and award-winning television presenter Josh Bernstein highlight the past, present, and future heroes of human spaceflight. Standards-aligned activities bridge classroom learning with real-world context, inviting students to become explorers themselves. As a result, Project Ianos creates a connection between the students of today and the jobs of tomorrow, igniting passions and laying foundations for a strong and diverse future workforce. The Project Ianos team includes leaders in aspirational storytelling, curriculum development, teacher training, educational product distribution, and evaluation and metrics. Partners include the Aldrin Family Foundation, Explorer at Large (See separate listings), Kansas University and Public Consulting Group.
Project Scientist began in 2011 to increase diversity in STEM by inspiring girls. It has grown from serving 5 girls to more than 2,000 girls on university campuses across the nation each year. Designed to change the view of who a scientist is, it aims to transform the face of STEM by leveraging research on what drives and sustains girls’ interest in STEM.
Raytheon Technologies invests millionsin STEM education programs around the world including FIRST, a mentor-based global robotics competition designed to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders and innovators. It engages them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.
It also sponsors 22 Boys & Girls Clubs of America STEM Centers of Innovation in military-focused communities and partners with Partnership with the National Academy of Finance (NAF) a national network of education, business, and community leaders who work to ensure high school students are college, career and future ready. They work to establish engineering academies in under-resourced public high schools across the U.S.
Raytheon also provides for Girls Who Code to expand free after school clubs that teach coding, confidence and comradery to 3rd – 12th grade girls
Raytheon Technologies gave a $4 million grant to the newly formed Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE) to help prepare students for cybersecurity careers in government and industry. ASCTE is Alabama’s only fully public, residential high school for students from across the state’s 137 school districts seeking advanced studies in engineering and cyber technology. Tuition and housing for ASCTE are free. The curriculum at ASCTE will address America’s shortage of qualified cybersecurity and engineering development talent. According to a 2019 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, the current cybersecurity workforce needs to grow by 145% to meet global demand.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space also holds title sponsorships of National Collegiate Cyber Defense and MATHCOUNTS national competitions.
The Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) is an annual competition that provides high school students, grades 9-12, the opportunity to work on real world engineering challenges in a team environment. Each year, student teams will be asked to address a challenge that confronts our nation’s leading industries. Students will use professional engineering software to develop their solutions and will also generate presentations that convincingly demonstrate the value of their solutions. The RWDC provides students with opportunities to apply the lessons of the classroom to the technical problems that are being faced in the workplace.
The Royal Aeronautical Society exists to further the advancement of aeronautical art, science and engineering around the world. Established in 1866, the Society has been at the forefront of developments in aerospace, seeking to promote the highest professional standards and provide a central forum for sharing knowledge.
Its educational outreach events are designed o introduce young people to aerospace and aviation, which aims to inspire young people about past and future aerospace achievement. Its events are open to everyone and are designed to widen participation and inform young people about the breadth of opportunities that are available to them in the world of aerospace and aviation.
A $600,000 U.S. Department of Education challenge to advance technology education in rural high schools. The Rural Tech Project empowers educators with resources to create technology education programs that are customized for their students and local needs. This open innovation challenge uses flexible delivery methods, including distance and blended learning, as well as competency-based education — a learning approach enabling students to master skills at their own pace — to provide high school students with advanced technology skills. By advancing technology skills development, rural communities can help their students prepare for rewarding career opportunities.
The San Diego Air & Space Museum is dedicated to engaging the community with the past, present, and future of aerospace innovation. Our hands-on, inquiry-driven programming inspires learners of all ages, highlighting the creativity and imagination in science, technology, and engineering. It is a partner in the San Diego STEM Ecosystem
Sally Ride Science at UC San Diego is a nonprofit organization run by the University of California, San Diego. It was founded as a company in 2001 by Sally Ride, America’s first woman in space, along with Tam O’Shaughnessy, Karen Flammer, Terry McEntee, and Alann Lopes to inspire young people in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and to promote STEM literacy.
with K12 STEM + Arts (STEaM) education; professional development for teachers; and online programs through UCTV. The goal is to help educators build students’ STEM literacy and make connections between what students are learning and the STEM fields that are expected to experience rapid job growth in the coming decades.
The Sally Ride Science Junior Academy, launched in 2016, offers hands-on workshops that allow middle school and high school students to delve into a variety of STEAM subjects. Other new programs shine a spotlight on women scientists in the University of California system. The Constellation: Sally Ride Science Conversations is a series of video interviews on The Steam Channel at UCTV. Tam on STEAM is a series of online articles tracing the career paths of women doing groundbreaking research.
Scobee Education Center, San Antonio
Scobee Education Center engages our students and community in life-changing experiences inspiring pathways to STEAM careers. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). It is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults alike by fostering a love for science, technology, and astronomy through hands on experiences and programs at the Challenger Learning Center and Scobee Planetarium. The Center was established on the campus of San Antonio College in memory of the lives given by the seven crew members of the Space Shuttle Challenger/STS-51LL “Teacher in Space” mission. Its goal is to carry on the crew’s educational mission, to spark youth interest and joy in science and engineering. The center is named after the Francis R. (Dick) Scobee family – Commander Scobee, his widow Dr. June Scobee Rodgers, and their children Kathie Scobee Fulgham and Maj. Gen. Richard W. Scobee.
Scobee Education Center at San Antonio College is a 22,000 square foot facility combining the Scobee Planetarium, a first-of-its-kind, next-generation Challenger Learning Center and a rooftop star deck and observatory.
Programs include summer camps and educator professional development.
The center is now fund raising to complete The Santikos Micronaut Center, launched as a branch of the Scobee Education Center, and hoping for a grand opening in March of 2022. The learning lab, designed to look like a space station, will include 12 student stations for children 4-7 years of age thematically designed to have them serving as crew members on the international space station.
Micronaut Early Childhoon Missions
Shades of Blue was created by a group of airline pilots, educators and aviation/aerospace business people to introduce students to the career opportunities available in the field of flight. The non-profit educational organization is dedicated to mentoring, tutoring, counseling and arranging internships and employment referrals for young people pursuing STEM careers. It developed a system to identify and track its student members from elementary school through college. In addition, SHADES has developed partnerships and strong relationships with many businesses and educational entities within the STEM-oriented fields, thus providing graduates with potential future employment and/or educational opportunities.
To develop pathways and partnerships to increase the number of black women in the professional pilot career field.To increase our sisterhood through scholarship, mentorship, and outreach.
Sisters of the Skies You Tube Introduction
Girls Rock Wings Youth Program
Society of Aviation and Flight Educators
SAFE is a member-oriented organization of aviation educators fostering professionalism and excellence in aviation through continuing education, professional standards and accreditation. Together with our industry partners and the FAA, SAFE provides the aviation community with resources to advance the profession and to assist aviation educators in developing skilled, knowledgeable and safe members of the aviation community.
The Manned Space Flight Education Foundation is a nonprofit educational foundation offering extensive science education programs and a space museum. The cornerstone of its education mission is Space Center Houston, a leading science and space exploration learning center. It is the Official Visitor Center of NASA Johnson Space Center and a Smithsonian Affiliate.
Aerospace Center for Excellence (ACE)
The program delivers aviation education to more than 30,000 students each year. Support for ACE and the Aerospace Discovery Museum and Education Center comes largely from the annual SUN ‘n FUN Fly-In and Expo. The career expo, the drone zone, the activities at Aerospace Discovery at the Florida Air Museum, and the Project Stratos competition was expanded with 19 aviation outreach projects for juniors and seniors.
Tango Flight, a high-school engineering program, is dedicated to fostering student interest in trade careers and hobbies. More than just the construction of an airplane, Tango Flight ensures students experience every part of aerospace. Through mentorship, Tango Flight is devoted to teaching mechanical skills as well as life lessons in commitment and teamwork. Tango Flight allows students to acquire lifelong skills and expertise in the aviation industry.
Students, who build an aircraft during the year, learn about aviation and aerospace engineering as they work with local businesses. Students can even earn college credit. An educational partnership between Project Lead the Way, high schools, the non-profit Tango Flight and local businesses, Tango Flight provides a college-level curriculum with practical, hands-on experience. Students in the class may go on to pursue further education and careers in engineering, manufacturing or as pilots.
Growing from his private collection of Space memorabilia, Joe Lennox, a space program historian and space science, history and technology teacher now uses his collection for use in teaching programs. On the staff at The Gifted Child Society where he offers six- to 10-week classes, Lennox also visits classrooms to discuss space exploration. The former NASA flight controller wrote the ABCs of Space Exploration for children eight and up to teach space science, history and technology.
University of Tennsee Micronaut Program
The UTC Challenger STEM Learning Center is a member of the National Challenger Center Network that has 45 centers located in the United States, Great Britain, South Korea and Canada. The University of Tennessee Micronaut program is affiliated with Challenger STEM Learning and is designed for youth K-12 and home-school groups.
Challenger STEM Learning Center
A retired Lockheed L-1011 has a new role in STEM education as kids experience the world of aviation careers. It is based in Kansas City, MO, and is targeted at Grades 3-8.
Tuskegee NEXT offers aviation youth outreach programs. Honoring the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, Tuskegee NEXT seeks to transform the lives of at-risk youth so they can transform their communities. Its strategy is to provide role models and a clear path toward aviation careers through flight training, life skills and educational assistance.
As the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (TAI) we focus on honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the history of African Americans who participated in air crew, ground crew and operations support training in the Army Air Corps during WWII.Through education, youth initiatives, and more, we aim to honor and perpetuate the achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen.Our ongoing and national programs like Young Eagles and other TAI activities help to foster excitement and introduce young people across the nation to the world of aviation and science.
Tuskeegee Airmen Documentary by LucasFilm
Red Tail Training Program – NY
A primary goal of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is to reach out to the youth using the Tuskegee experience to mentor young people to successful and fulfilling lives and careers. In keeping with this, the chapter operates the Lee A. Archer Red Tail Youth Flying Program, using grants to provide ground instruction, flight training, equipment and training materials. The concept is to use flight instruction as a context to mentor, tutor and provide roll models for young men and women to affect positive change in their lives and in the community.
The National Museum of the Tuskegee Airmen provides a place not only to record the contributions of Americans, but a place where the youth may come to acquire inspiration about their prospects in aviation. Exhibits and artifacts are housed at the Coleman A. Young Gallery at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit. It also has facilities at Coleman A. Young International Airport where it offers youth programs aimed at introducing young people to aviation, even providing some flight training. The museum also recently began an A&P familiarization program for kids who are interested in the aviation trades.
University Aviation Association
The University Aviation Association (UAA) is the voice of collegiate aviation to members, the industry, government and the general public. Through the collective expertise of members, UAA plays a pivotal role in the advancement of degree-granting aviation programs that represent all segments of aviation. It consists of over 1200 members from more than 220 colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Europe and Asia.
US Chamber of Commerce Center for Education and Workforce
Encouraging business to become more engaged in moving education and workforce initiatives forward.
US Economic Development Agency STEM Challenge
The STEM Talent Challenge seeks to develop or expand regional workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures, industries of the future (which usually includes industries that leverage emerging technologies), and other innovation driven businesses that have a high likelihood of accelerating economic competitiveness and job creation in their respective regions and in the United States.
The STEM Talent Challenge is designed to help communities with two activities – planning and development, and program implementation. A total of $2 million has been appropriated for this program and EDA invites applications that maximize impacts across both activities within this program, though planning and development activities are optional.
It is designed to create and implement innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) apprenticeship models that complement their respective region’s innovation economy. The STEM Talent Challenge is authorized under Section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. § 3723).
Vertical Flight Society is a non-profit, charitable educational and technical organization. Since it was founded as American Helicopter Society (AHS) in 1943 — just as the first US helicopter was being put into service — the Society has been the primary forum for interchange of information on vertical flight technology. It provides resources for elementary and secondary students who want to learn more about vertical flight. The VFS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Program strives to Educate, Motivate, and Engage educators and students to gain and apply knowledge on a variety of VTOL topics.
Education Programs Overview PDF Download
Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum Illinois
The Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum is dedicated to sharing its passion and knowledge of aviation and transportation history with students and adults alike in Boone County, Winnebago County, and the surrounding area. It offer a variety of programs both inside and outside the classroom, specifically targeted for schools, home-school groups, Scout troops and adult groups.
Youth Exploring Aviation 15-21
Washington Center of Excellence
Washington has 11 Centers of Excellence focused on sector strategies and economic development. Centers of Excellence are flagship institutions, building and sustaining Washington State’s competitive advantage through statewide leadership. Each Center focuses on a targeted industry that drives the state’s economy and is known for fast, flexible, quality education and training programs. A targeted industry is identified as one that is strategic to the economic growth of a region or state. It’s purpose is to make Washington a national model in developing partnerships among business, industry and education for the purpose of enhancing economic and workforce development initiatives to meet the current and future needs of the industries critical to the state’s economic vitality. Washington’s Centers of Excellence shall serve as the statewide liaisons to business, industry, labor and the state’s educational systems for the purpose of creating a highly skilled and readily available workforce critical to the success of the industries driving the state’s economy and supporting Washington families.
Washington State Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee
The Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC), launched in 2008 with an investment from Washington State to skill-up the aerospace and advanced manufacturing workforce through registered apprenticeship. AJAC developed and implemented 10 high-growth, in-demand apprenticeship occupations to serve a variety of demographics, industries, and companies across the state. AJAC serves approximately 400 apprentices per year at close to 300 companies. AJAC is a statewide, nonprofit 501(c)(3) aerospace and advanced manufacturing registered apprenticeship program.
AJAC’s mission is to provide exceptional and responsive apprenticeships, innovative supporting signature training with cutting-edge curriculum and highly effective trade’s trainers. AJAC offers a method for transferring the breadth and depth of knowledge and skills between generations of the workforce, thus promoting the value of contributing to the next generation.
Whirly-Girls International is a nonprofit, educational and charitable organization dedicated to advancing women in helicopter aviation. There are more than 2,000 members representing 49 countries. It has several missions including the promotion of women through scholarship awards, mentoring, and informational displays in aviation museums. It encourages the exchange of information among women in helicopter aviation; promotes community acceptance of rotorcraft through increasing public awareness of rotorcraft utility and versatility.
The Whirly-Girls Scholarship Fund, Inc., was incorporated in 1974 to oversee and administer the scholarship funds raised by the Whirly-Girls and their supporters. The Fund is a federally tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity. The Fund administers many separate scholarships valued, in some recent years, at more than $175,000.
Wings of Hope is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization that has been helping the world’s most vulnerable communities since 1962. As our name suggests, we use our wings to connect people to the resources they need to meet their development goals. Wings of Hope changes and saves lives through the power of aviation.
It has a robust eduation and outreach program including field trips, camps, internships educational programs and a four-week STEM course.
Women in Aviation International
WAI offers aviation education activities for use by chapters and others at Girls in Aviation Day (GIAD) events, at any aviation event or in the classroom. These activities may also be used to fulfill the requirements for the WAI Aviation Fun Patch.
Women in Manufacturing® (WiM) is the only national trade association dedicated to providing year-round support to women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry. At present, more than 6,200 individual members representing nearly 1,000 manufacturing companies have joined our growing ranks of industry professionals. WiM encompasses manufacturers of all types and welcomes individuals from every job function – from production to the C-Suite. Membership is available to women and men working within the manufacturing sector.
Leadership Institute for Women in STEM & Manufacturing
WiM Education Foundation (WiMEF)
The Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation (WiMEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to developing and supporting powerful programs and resources which further the advancement for women in the manufacturing workforce.
Women Military Aviators
Women Military Aviators, Inc. is a non-profit corporation formed in 1978 to promote and preserve for historical, educational, and literary purposes the role of women pilots, navigators, and aircrew in the service of their country during times of war and peace.
Other Resources
Top 5 free online aviation courses
Future & Active Pilot Advisors (FAPA) Pilot Career Resource Center for Guidance Counselors
NASA, USAF, Aviation Museums Develop Free Content for Kids
WAI, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) Free Courses for Girls
ERAU Aviation is your Future for 8 to 17
Influencing the Next Generation Aviation Maintenance Technicians
Cradle of Aviation STEM & Space Camps
How Apprenticeship, Reimagined, Vaults Graduates Into Middle Class
Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) Museum
Global Women in Aviation Organizations
Female Aviators Sticking Together
Editor’s Note:
This list is culled from hundreds of articles about local programs promoting aviation education.
No one can find all the many free and paid resources available for either the promotion of aviation/aerospace or educational resources.
For that reason, we call on the community to help crowdsource a more complete list than is available anywhere on the internet.
PR Professionals: Please check the listings. If your company has a program, please email kcreedy@futureaviationaerospaceworkforce.com
If you know of programs we’ve missed or think one of the programs listed here should not be on it contact kcreedy@futureaviationaerospaceworkforce.com
Future Aviation/Aerospace Workforce News 