Here is a opportunity for a WIN-WIN...... the Aerospace Academy.

Most high school students attend Tulsa Tech half the day and spend the other half of the day at their high school.  Rather than bus students back and forth, Tulsa Tech – with the help of many others – decided to create a high school academy here on campus.  The students attend their technical classes for half the day, eat lunch here on campus, and then come to their classroom.  There are 6 technical programs that feed into the Aerospace Academy:

• Aviation Maintenance Generals
• Private Pilot
• Cisco Network Technician
• Computer Network Technology
• Cyber Security
• Network Systems Administration

TTC currently has 15 students enrolled.  The classroom operates like a one room school house.  Through a program called Edgenuity.com, students can work on almost any required high school class.  These students vary in their academic standing.  Some students are a few classes behind in their credits, some students are ahead in their pacing.  The majority of these students are right on track.  All students are juniors or seniors.  The one thing they have in common is that they have high hopes of working in the aerospace industry one day.

Now that you have an overview of the Aerospace Academy, we hope to articulate how local industry leaders can help.  These students need and want real-world experiences in the industry.   The students need opportunities to job shadow, to participate as an intern, and other forms of work-based experience.  Their technical skills are just beginning.  However, they can help answer phones, organize papers, or do other odd jobs while they go through their training.  While doing these “small” things, they hope to learn about the industry and specific job opportunities.  Currently, thare are two high school seniors who have completed all of their high school courses.  Both are students in Private Pilot program.  They are using their time in the Aerospace Academy to polish their resumes and practice their interview skills since they do not have any other classes to take.  These students are hoping to find a job shadowing or internship opportunity during their morning academy time (8am -10:50am). 

Your support is what will move these students towards success in the aerospace industry.

If you are available to help with job shadowing or interning, your help is both needed and appreciated.

Contact Stephanie Aiken at TulsaTech.  Her email address is Stephanie.aitken@TulsaTech.edu  or she can be reached at (918) 828-4034. Also, the classroom door is open if you would like to learn more about how the academy works.