EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP - Representatives of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Gaetz Aerospace Institute recently met with Atlantic County schools superintendents and educators to outline a proposal to establish Aviation STEM programs in area high schools.
The Atlantic County Economic Alliance and Atlantic County government arranged the meeting as part of their workforce development efforts. Their goal is to help ensure that high school curricula are in sync with the Atlantic County Economic Development Strategy, recommended in the AngelouEconomics report, which identified aviation as the sector of the county's economy that offered the most immediate opportunity for growth and development.
The ACEA has partnered with the FAA Tech Center, the South Jersey Transportation Authority and the National Aviation Research and Technology Park to establish an aviation innovation hub in Atlantic County.
County Executive and former teacher Dennis Levinson said that he recognizes the growing importance of a good STEM education and the need to improve the skills of the local workforce.
The proposal by the Embry-Riddle team is interesting and has the potential to capture the attention and imagination of our students and channel them into productive careers in the aviation industry where the demand for skilled employees is growing rapidly, Levinson said. This could be a significant opportunity for Atlantic County schools to develop new and exciting STEM initiatives for our students. This is all part of our collective efforts to move Atlantic County forward in bold, new economic directions.
Gaetz Aerospace Institute Director Colleen Conklin said the goal is to provide high school students with a clear pathway for an accelerated college degree and career in the aerospace industry.
Successful participants obtain college experience, earn up to 12 college credits and multiple industry certifications before graduating high school, Conklin said.
ACEA Executive Director Lauren Moore said the aviation hub requires a skilled workforce.
"Simply put, companies follow workers. The proposal by Embry-Riddle can help us begin to prepare students for jobs in emerging industries within our own communities, Moore said.
ACEA Board Chairwoman Brett Matik said Embry Riddle's Aeronautical University is world renown, and has the expertise to partner on the program.
Embry-Riddle started a STEM initiative in Florida nearly 12 years ago that now includes 125 high schools in 37 counties. High school classes include private pilot ground school, unmanned aircraft systems, aviation algebra and physics, manned and unmanned technologies, UAS applications in aerial photography, principles of management and more.
The meeting wwas held in the state-of-the-art Thunder Room of the newly completed 56,000-square-foot building at the National Aviation Research and Technical Park in Egg Harbor Township. It is the first of seven buildings in the park located on 58-acres adjacent to the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center and the Atlantic City International Airport.
The initial meeting with Embry-Riddle generated a lot of excitement and interest. Our thanks to the ACEA and NARTP for bringing us all together, Executive Atlantic County Superintendent of Schools Robert Bumpus said. We plan to hold our next meeting of county superintendents in early January to begin fleshing out the details.
