James Jan-Feb 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 67
eorgia’s aerospace industry is a cornerstone
of our state’s economy.
Within this sector, my
primary focus is directed towards aviation, particularly aviation education.
Our objective in academia is far-reaching and uncompromising: to cultivate
a robust talent pool of skilled professionals and to prepare them to meet
the highest standards of excellence
demanded by our state’s industry
giants, who stand as global leaders on
an intensely competitive stage.
Georgia recently secured the title
of the number one state for business
for the tenth consecutive year. That
is a much-earned commendation and
an open invitation for businesses, but
it is also an invitation for students
statewide to secure high-paying jobs
within their home state. As a business powerhouse, Georgia’s efforts
to attract and support the aviation
industry demand strategic planning
and execution. The collaboration
between the state and industry is
not just talk; it’s backed by action. By
aligning interests and pooling resources, Georgia is experiencing a significant economic multiplier effect,
benefiting numerous stakeholders.
Having spent decades in public
aviation education in Georgia, I’ve
witnessed ongoing support across the
state. Georgia’s commitment to aviation education begins in high school
and extends through higher education.
Dual enrollment options, the HOPE
Career Grant, the HOPE Scholarship,
and substantial investments in educational facilities and resources collectively position Georgia as a national
leader in aviation education.
Aviation education, especially pilot
training, demands substantial resources, including significant infrastructure,
specialized equipment and highly
skilled personnel. Pursuing a career
as a pilot entails a notable financial
investment with the additional costs
associated with accumulating the
necessary flight training hours to meet
pilot license requirements. Fortunately,
dual enrollment opportunities and the
HOPE Scholarship play a pivotal role
in alleviating some of the financial
burdens on students, making a career
in aviation more accessible and affordable for students across Georgia.
This investment has statewide
reach into Georgia high schools— take,
for example, Middle Georgia State
University’s new partnership with
Coffee High School, situated in Douglas, Georgia. This initiative provides
a direct route for local high school
juniors and seniors to join Georgia’s
aviation sector. Through this program,
students learn about aviation while
simultaneously earning college credits
as dual-enrolled students, potentially
finding themselves in the cockpit as
entering freshmen at Middle Georgia
State University.
Other dual enrollment opportunities are thriving and growing, including our new partnership with Griffin
Region College and Career Academy
that serves students in Spalding, Butts,
and Pike counties. Several College
and Career Academies offer avenues
for high school students to become
aviation maintenance technicians, another high-paying and high-demand
aviation career option. Students at
Maxwell High School of Technology,
a public magnet school in Gwinnett
County, can pursue a flight operations
pathway and seamlessly transition
into our university’s pilot program.
Other aspiring aviators throughout
the state can take online aviation
classes, such as Aviation Meteorology
from Middle Georgia State, to get a
head start on their degree.
Private backing serves as a crucial supplement to public funding, as
industry partners and also individuals demonstrate their commitment
through significant investments in
education. The Delta Airlines Foundation recently awarded a substantial
grant to the university, specifically
allocating funds to support aviation
education in high schools across Georgia. Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
continues to be a steadfast supporter
of aviation education with its contributions to training programs focused
on technologically advanced composites and composite repair. Beyond the
corporate contributions, individuals
are demonstrating remarkable generosity by raising their hands to fund
training aircraft, facilitate international
accreditation, and broaden scholarship
opportunities for aviation students.
These aren’t just educational
endeavors; they’re engines of hope,
showing students across Georgia that
the sky’s the limit in an industry with
many career options. Together, the
collaborative efforts of the state and
its aviation partners are not merely
breaking down barriers; they are
unlocking doors to a career where the
dreams of flight are achievable for
every student willing to take flight.
Adon Clark is the Dean of the School of Aviation
at Middle Georgia State University.
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