Regional high schoolers learn about high-wage aviation career opportunities as part of grant

Published on May 2, 2024

By Megan Smedley

High school freshmen across the region were granted an exclusive opportunity to tour local airports as a part of the $350k National Science Foundation grant awarded to Maysville Community & Technical College last year.

The field trips, held earlier this spring, provided ninth-grade students with an immersive experience at their regional airport, focusing on aviation safety, pre-flight inspections, aviation maintenance technology education and career opportunities.

According to Shana Savard-Hogge, MCTC Director of Grants and Contracts, the collaboration between the airports, the EAA Chapters, and the MCTC Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) program provided students with an invaluable opportunity to explore aviation-related fields so they might one day pursue careers in the industry.

“Through our initiative, we're not just addressing the documented needs of the aviation industry, we're also opening doors for students, particularly those in rural areas, to explore exciting career opportunities. These field trips offer firsthand experiences in aviation, enriching students' understanding and inspiring their potential pathways,” said Savard-Hogge.

“By partnering with regional airports and EAA chapters, we're not only shaping educational pathways but also elevating the visibility of aviation in our community. Together, we're making a lasting impact on both education and career opportunities, the sky is the limit for students in the MCTC service region,” she added.

This project was made possible through the college's NSF grant award titled “Recruiting Rural Students and Veteran Populations into an Aviation Maintenance Associate Degree Program.”

Rowan County Schools, Harrison County Schools, Montgomery County Schools, and Morgan County Schools each participated by traveling to the airport in their respective or neighboring airport.

“This grant opened the door to aviation careers for my high school students and allowed my students to explore possible career opportunities that they would not have considered otherwise,” said Dr. Shannon Murphy, aviation maintenance instructor at Rowan County Senior High School. “The students' exposure to possible aviation careers in the MCTC service area and the accessibility of these programs has motivated many of my students to consider aviation careers.”

Participating airports included Morehead-Rowan County Regional Airport, Cynthiana-Harrison County Regional Airport, Mount Sterling-Montgomery County Regional Airport, and Fleming-Mason Regional Airport. Partnering EAA Chapters included EAA 1522 (Cynthiana-Harrison County), EAA 1227 (Mount Sterling-Montgomery County), EAA 1525 (Morehead-Rowan County), and EAA 1626 (Fleming-Mason).

By addressing the critical need for skilled aviation maintenance technicians, MCTC will contribute to the development of a highly qualified workforce in the aviation industry.

AMT classes take place at the Fleming-Mason Airport near Maysville, and the first cohort of students began coursework last fall.

Those interested in learning more about the program can visit the MCTC Aviation Maintenance Technology website.