Amidst the national focus on the turmoil sweeping America’s institutions of higher learning, there is a unique and positive example of the power of education found at one academic center on Long Island.
This month, the Academy Charter School in Uniondale conducted a series of STEM symposiums that has the means to open doors for students from economically disadvantaged communities to career pathways that include virtual reality, AI, aerospace, computer engineering, physics, healthcare technology and environmental sciences.
But what made this program particularly unique is those who opened that portal into the future were Academy Charter School seniors who shared their enthusiasm, expertise, academic accomplishments and vision with the youngsters coming up behind them.
This effort is about student mentors instilling in younger scholars the wonder of science and technology, creating career visions they would not have imagined. The presentations included exploring the many facets of the Metaverse, being challenged in a Chess Bot Tournament, genetic engineering, artificial intelligence applied to amputee modeling, and one of the fastest-growing sectors in aerospace: drones.
The academy has placed a considerable focus on one particular educational initiative, expanding its Career and Technical Education program to include drone and aviation technology. By doing so, our students can contribute to increasing the representation of African-American pilots in our nation’s aviation industry, which currently stands at only 3.9 percent according to the 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our strategic objective is to improve the opportunities for students of color to enter the aviation industry, which clearly lacks diversity. We are achieving this by providing rigorous academic training with a particular emphasis on unmanned aircraft and mechatronic engineering, a sector of the aviation community that is experiencing enormous growth.
The program is already showing results. The academy currently has two students who have been formally certified as licensed drone pilots by the U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration.
One of those students, Nayquain Daniels, of Hempstead, a junior at the school, has already utilized his certification in summer employment, conducting a drone-driven survey at the Freeport Recreation Center. When asked what the drone program has meant to him, he said: “It has broadened my mind and the possibilities (of where the field can take him).”
The students are currently learning yet another aspect of drone technology, drone light shows, and have showcased those abilities with a stunning spring display for an Academy appreciative audience.
This strategic effort is gaining notice by respected executives in aviation.
“We wholeheartedly support educational initiatives that put people of color on a path to securing careers in aviation that promise growth and success,” Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Aviation Director Charles R. Everett, Jr., affirmed. “The demand for this specialized skill is there and will only increase, and it’s encouraging to know that programs such as this are specifically aiding underrepresented groups to help fill the ranks.”
His remarks are echoed by Shelley Larose Arken, Long Island MacArthur Airport’s commissioner. “The Academy’s program recognizes that aviation continues to change, morph, and evolve. That means a new generation of professionals must be prepared to accept that challenge, and this effort is exactly what this crucial industry needs.”
The Academy’s STEM symposium is a reminder that education is a pathway to the future for young people whose potential is truly unlimited. In this era of collegiate turmoil and suspended graduation programs, it would be wise to redirect our attention to those who will wear their caps and gowns proudly.
Nicholas Stapleton is the chief academic officer of Academy Charter School, Hempstead and Uniondal e.
Copyright © 2024 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.
Most Popular
Comments / 0