Students gather at the Radisson in Santa Maria Wednesday to learn about aviation, STEM, before exploring vintage planes.
More than 200 students from Righetti, Pioneer Valley and Orcutt Academy high schools explored the world of aviation and STEM Wednesday during a field trip to the Radisson Hotel and Santa Maria Public Airport.
The event, a collaboration between Skyward Bound, the Travis Manion Foundation, Planes of Fame, Art Craft, CAU, and the Airport, allowed students to learn from experts about various career opportunities in aviation and STEM fields.
Students explored planes on display for this coming weekend's Central Coast AirFest, interacted with professionals, and attended a seminar focused on interdisciplinary work and teamwork within the STEM fields. Held for the first time in 2023, participation increased from 70 students to over 200 this year, according to organizers.
Isabella Gonzalez, a junior at Orcutt Academy and vice president of the school's Aviation Club, noted the club's role in exposing students to a variety of career opportunities in aviation.
"As a group, Aviation Club, we like to immerse students in the possible career opportunities in aviation and show them that being in aviation doesn't only mean you have to be a pilot.
"It's really showing them that there are so many other opportunities in this field, whether it's business, whether it's engineering, or even artistry. You could be in the aviation field. We just really want to show students really early on and get them started on the path that they need to be started on. So then right after high school, they are basically set," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez also noted she has seen a lot more girls join the club, "which is really nice because I know it's mainly a male-dominated field," she said.
"More girls have joined the club because we're really showing them that females in aviation is possible, and we're actually seeing a spike in that. I've also seen more people start pilot lessons since joining the club, and that's always really cool to see," said Gonzalez.
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Ty Fredriks, a science teacher at Orcutt Academy High School and the Aviation Club advisor, said the Club is to inspire students to get excited about a career in aviation, whether it's flying or maintenance, or any of the many, many jobs that are available.
"We came last year, and we were the inaugural school that signed up for Skyward Bound. This year, we get to meet the A-10 Warthog demo team. And again, it's a female pilot, which is so exciting to have as a role model for my students. There are not enough ladies in aviation right now, so that was one of the big goals, said Fredriks.
He added that students would have further opportunities to engage with aviation over the weekend: "I have students that are going to be volunteering at AirFest Saturday and Sunday, so we'll actually get to see her [the A-10 Warthog pilot] in the air."
Derek Abbey, president and CEO of Project Recover, emphasized the importance of teamwork in both aviation and STEM careers, noting the interdisciplinary nature of the fields.
"The primary foundation of this education program was to expose students to interdisciplinary work and to show that every single element involved in the mission is vital and needed. Specifically, when it comes to our missions of searching for our Americans missing in action," said Abbey.
Abbey said Project Recover brings together experts from various fields, including STEM professionals such as engineers, historians, archaeologists, and scientists, to fulfill its mission of locating and recovering American soldiers missing in action from past wars.
Every role is crucial to the success of their mission, Abbey said, and stressed the value of exposing students to how different fields work together to achieve a common goal. He also touched on the emotional significance of Project Recover's work, which provides closure to families of soldiers who never returned home.
"It's a promise that we make to those that serve that if you fall in battle, we're going to do everything we can to bring you home, and that promise doesn't have an expiration date," said Abbey.