Mr. Tom Jenkins, 8th-grade STEM teacher at Greenon, recently devised a field trip for all Greenon Local 8th-grade students. Partnering with the Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport and many industry leaders in aviation, Mr. Jenkins created an all-encompassing experience with hands-on learning and the discovery of many career opportunities in aviation.
The beginning of this experience for students traces back to a collaboration between Mr. Jenkins and Seth Zimmerman, Manager of Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, last December. Together, they envisioned an entire day dedicated to students' first-hand learning rather than a quick field trip. The intention was to expose students to practical experiences, enlighten them about the diverse career prospects within the airport industry, and give them hands-on experience.
Brittany Olson, a Greenon graduate and Assistant Airport Manager at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport, played a pivotal role in materializing this vision. Her efforts in collboarting with Mr. Jenkins and various airport and industry entities created a plan and schedule, ensuring the seamless execution of the field trip.
During their visit to the airport, industry leaders graciously hosted students, including representatives from Joby Aviation, Beta Technologies, Lone Mountain Aircraft, Spectra Jet Inc., and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). Each stop on the all-day trip offered invaluable insights into different aspects of aviation and transportation, providing students with an understanding of the field and career opportunities.
Highlights of the trip included:
Joby Aviation: Students discussed building businesses, prototyping, and exploring various career options. They also had the opportunity to experience a personal flying lesson using the company's flight simulator.
Beta Technologies: Students learned about vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technology and experienced flying simulators, gaining insights into rapid delivery services and modeling importance.
Lone Mountain Aircraft: Students investigated aviation maintenance, troubleshooting aircraft issues, and exploring internship opportunities in the field.
Spectra Jet Inc.: Students received hands-on experience with high-end private jets, discussing avionics, sensors, and career pathways in jet maintenance.
Ohio Department of Transportation: Students participated in a vertiport engineering design challenge, gaining practical knowledge about logistics, regulations, and drone usage in transportation.
Mr. Jenkins expressed his gratitude to all involved parties for their unwavering support and dedication to the educational experience of Greenon students. He stated “this field trip took a lot of coordination and support from industry leaders, and I could not have done it without their willingness to share their expertise. It’s an honor to know we’re a part of impacting and shaping future leaders and innovators of tomorrow.”