On Aug. 12, Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) commissioners approved a grant to Alva High School for $2,500. The amount was part of $335,400 the commission donated to foster aviation and aerospace education in the state.
STEM Careers Crucial
Forty-five years ago last month, millions of people around the world watched on television as the U.S. Apollo and U.S.S.R. Soyuz spacecraft docked to mark the first historic international space mission and what is generally considered the end of the space race.
The Apollo module was commanded by Oklahoma favorite son General Thomas P. Stafford. Stafford also commanded Apollo 10, which mapped the landing site for Apollo 11, which landed the first man on the Moon and was that giant leap for mankind.
Stafford has helped to establish Oklahoma as a national leader in the aerospace and aviation industry.
“The United States is still the only nation to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth, and we did it several times,” Stafford said. “That remarkable achievement, the success of our space program, and our robust aerospace industry would not be possible without the scientists, engineers, technicians and other workers that built and maintained the spacecraft and aircraft, and administered the systems necessary for their operation. An adequate and competent workforce is the key, and aviation education programs like that of the Aeronautics Commission are critical to helping ensure that we have that workforce.”
This spring and summer have marked some of the most challenging times the aviation and aerospace industry has ever experienced. The industry has been knocked down and behind the power curve before: pre-World War II aircraft technology and readiness, the early days of the space race with the Soviet Union, 9/11 and the effects on commercial aviation, and the 2008 Great Recession.
In all those downtrodden moments for the industry, however, there are two great things that stand out: first, aviation and aerospace has always turned things around and come out on top for the better and, second, a high-quality, well-educated workforce was the main source behind that turnaround.
This workforce and the need to attract new talent is the reason why the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) believes this is the perfect time to invest in our future and inspire today’s youth to become pilots, engineers, mechanics, astronauts and scientists. The commission is determined to focus on vectoring young minds towards the exploration of aviation and aerospace through their nationally recognized and award-winning education grant program.
38 STEM Programs Get Grants
This year, 38 entities were awarded Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants from the commission totaling over $335,400. The record amount of funding will be used to bring more students in Oklahoma to STEM careers, particularly those in aerospace and aviation. The funding was approved by the commission at its most recent meeting.
Grants are awarded for targeted learning programs that have a direct application to aerospace and aviation for primary through post-secondary education. The grant funds are part of the agency’s initiative to give more Oklahoma young people access to STEM careers in the aerospace and aviation industry.
The commission’s program has been nationally recognized, enjoying a positive reputation of investing more in aerospace and aviation education than any other state. Since FY 2001, it has awarded over $2.8 million in aerospace and aviation education grants.
In order for a program to qualify for an aviation education grant or contract, it must meet certain requirements. Most importantly, the program must demonstrate that its curriculum and goals are geared toward aviation and aerospace.
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