We Asked Kids: Who Is Your Aviation Hero?
FAA and partnering volunteer groups in Oakland stayed focused on their goal to inspire young people to pursue careers in aviation.
By C. Troxell, FAA Communications
A record 450 elementary students and educators in science, technology, engineering and math attended the fifth annual Oakland Aviation STEM Day and Aviation Hero Day.
The goal of the event is to introduce young people in Oakland, Calif., to aviation careers and concepts through interactive learning and conversations with aviation professionals and icons like Gigi Coleman, the great niece of aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman. Hosted by 20 FAA representatives and other community volunteers, it was the first one conducted virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, the agency and partnering volunteer groups, with representatives from around the country, collaborated to bring the lessons to the students in lieu of onsite facility tours and in-person classrooms at Oakland Airport.
“We reached more participants using this year’s format than attendees from the four previous years combined,” said Anthony Chu, a perennial event coordinator from the FAA-led NextGen organization. “We worked with local partners and teachers, and focused on mostly fourth- and fifth-graders at four Oakland elementary schools that serve communities with predominantly [non-white] populations.”
Aviation STEM Day introduced learners to forces of flight and weather concepts, and taught them how to build a paper airplane that flies. Many of the students identified as English-language learners fluent in Spanish.
“It was so enjoyable to see the excitement of not only the children, but the teachers as well,” said Christine Madden, Runway Safety Program manager at the FAA, who used her pilot background to lead these lessons with FAA safety inspector Arlander Barker. “Not only was it fun and a great diversion from the pandemic, I had the opportunity to meet colleagues across the country.”
The Professional Women Controllers organization sponsored Aviation Hero Day. Students from Franklin Elementary heard from Gigi Coleman, who portrayed Bessie Coleman flying in virtually to speak with them. Bessie was first African American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license. Wearing a period aviation dress, Gigi acted as Bessie during the entire presentation. She spoke about her journey to becoming a pilot and the challenges she faced due to her identity. She also encouraged children to explore her ‘Don’t take ‘No’ for an answer’ motto. The Port of Oakland sent story books to the school as a resource for teaching about Bessie, a way of continuing and expanding aviation STEM education.
Other volunteer groups included several FAA employee associations promoting diversity and inclusion, the Port of Oakland, Community Resources for Science, the Oakland Public Education Fund, and Children Rising.
“It has been incredible to see this event grow over the years, and it’s a privilege to be able to share my passion with the kids while working with friends from our agency,” said the event’s co-coordinator, James Sulton, support manager for training at the FAA’s Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center.
“There has been nothing more exciting during a national health crisis than to watch the resilience of our future leaders,” Wilmington Tower Air Traffic Manager and event co-coordinator Jason Cornish added. “Young minds engaged with this program continue to be at the forefront of STEM professions. Oakland Aviation Day changes lives.”
With the aviation and aerospace industry growing, tremendous opportunity exists for today’s students. To help build their awareness of aviation and aerospace as a career path, we are committed to educational outreach to our younger generation through our STEM Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) program. Read about the educational opportunities that are available through the STEM AVSED program.
