When Panthers Learn to Fly: STEM Day at SJPII

By Izzy Pence

When the students at St. John Paul II Catholic High School learned that we were going to have a STEM Day, no one knew quite what to expect. Sure, we had guests come to our school and talk to us before, but it was nothing compared to what we learned on our day with AviNation. While our school is home to the recognized Aerospace Engineering Club, the majority of the students have never learned anything about aviation beyond the basics.

Upon entering the gym, students were greeted with a variety of tables set out, each seating a different individual or group dedicated to a career in aerospace. We sat down for a bit to listen to several testimonies from each of the presenters and were then released to engage with them in smaller groups, allowing students to ask questions and learn more about their respective careers.

Our group got to see many different demonstrations and hear from various professionals in the world of aviation. We learned about what it is like to be part of the Coast Guard and Navy, learning about all the different career paths associated with those two branches of the military. Then, we headed over to the next station where we got to talk to United Airlines Captain Nathan Maki about the steps he took to become a successful airline pilot.

At the next station, we learned about what Million Air does at our local airport, Tallahassee International Airport. The group explained what they do as an FBO and the jobs that come along within that field of work.

The final station our group attended was the presentation from Epic Flight Academy, a flight school from New Smyrna Beach that has a location in our hometown of Tallahassee. We were able to talk to one of the instructors about how we could do a discovery flight and start our journey towards getting our pilot’s licenses.

When we ended the day, everyone felt as though they had learned things about aviation that they never would have previously found out on their own, and that this experience was beneficial to everyone at our school, not just those who had prior interest in pursuing a career in aviation. My fellow students and I would like to share our gratitude with AviNation for bringing this wonderful experience to our school.