CENTRAL FLORIDA’S NEW HIGH SCHOOL

Located at Winter Haven Regional Airport, Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Winter Haven is a new careerand-technical academy opening this fall. This four-year program partners with organizations within the local and national aerospace communities to add to the bounty of resources that allow students to reach new heights. This academy, which is part of Winter Haven High School, features its own campus, instructors, and curriculum.

Many in aviation may know of Central Florida as an aviation hot spot – being the home of Fantasy of Flight, Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base, and most notably, the Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo. Those in attendance of Sun ‘n Fun may have had the opportunity to tour Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Lakeland. This school, which has had proven success for over a decade, now serves as a blueprint for its fledgling counterpart on the east side of the school district.

What is unique about both of these programs is that they are physically located at airports. “Being at the airport puts you closer to opportunities for experience and learning,” said James Vanvakas, a senior who is attending Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Winter Haven this fall. James, 17, is currently gaining hands-on experience towards his Airframe and Powerplant Certificates. Notably, the airport is an environment that fosters growth. “Physically being at the airport during a school day is better,” James continued.

While the location of the school brings students geographically closer to opportunities for learning, there is something to be said for the motivational mindset that it brings to students. Yerlenis Camacho, another senior in the program, is studying Aerospace Sciences towards her goal of flying for American Airlines. One of her biggest draws to the program was how much more involved the school would allow her to be in the local aviation community. She states how the programs open access to education, community, knowledge, and opportunities. “You have to take advantage of it,” Yerlenis shared.

The idea of school being a place where you learn things is a valid one, but a school becomes far more effective in impacting a community or industry when it also serves the purpose of acting as a beacon of inspiration for its students. Brian Hughes, the Director of the Aerospace program for Winter Haven High School, is proud to facilitate the expansion of these opportunities to the eastern side of the school district.

“With Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Lakeland located on the far-west side of the school district, bringing a similar program to Winter Haven is a step in the right direction to provide an equitable experience for students in the eastern part of the district.”

Serving in the High School’s administration for over a decade, Brian Hughes is no stranger to education in Winter Haven. A few years ago, community members approached the school to establish an aerospace program. Having heard of the opportunity, and having an interest in aviation, it didn’t take long for Brian to say, “I’m in”. Stepping out of administration and back into the classroom, Brian began teaching the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association’s (AOPA) High School STEM Curriculum as an elective course.

Expecting only 20-25 students in the first year of the course, it came as a surprise to all involved when over 150 students signed up for the class. With a proven concept within the Winter Haven community in hand, Brian and members of the local community began to pitch the idea of establishing an academy at the Winter Haven airport, like the program in neighboring Lakeland. To get the academy up and running, support was needed from all angles of the community. Alas, in 2022, the Polk County School Board, the City of Winter Haven, and the Winter Haven Regional Airport came together to establish the Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Winter Haven.

Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Winter Haven uses AOPA’s High School STEM Curriculum to teach the classes. The curriculum is a turnkey, fully-accredited program that AOPA offers to school districts and educators at no cost. The program has seen widespread success – implemented in hundreds of public, private, and charter schools in both urban and rural areas of the country. Winter Haven’s program will be utilizing all four years of the curriculum. The first year of the program educates students on the history of flight and the fundamentals of flight. By the completion of the curriculum in the fourth year, students will be prepared for the FAA written tests, complete an encompassing capstone project, and look decades into the future of the

By Austin Banttari

industry to what is in store. The curriculum also offers opportunities for students to explore the world of Unmanned Aerial Systems.

While the program’s primary focus is on aerospace sciences, which tend to best fit the career path of being a pilot, Brian hopes to expand the academy’s offerings to engineering, aircraft maintenance, avionics, and more. Though, he notes that the addition of many of these programs will come with the growth of the academy.

Currently, the academy is a collection of portable buildings on the south side of the field. Long-term expansion plans include the construction of a permanent, state-of-the-art building located on the airport’s property. “The airport has plenty of property on which a building could be constructed, an idea that falls in line with the airport’s future plans,” Brian stated, with the airport supporting the academy’s construction (in any degree) from the beginning.

One of the keys to growth for the academy comes from maintaining a strong relationship with its community. Most notable for the program is the Aspiring Aviator’s Aero Club (AAAC). Located next door to the academy, the AAAC is a high school flying club that has been around since 2020. Many of the academy’s students, such as James and Yerlenis, are also members of the neighboring aero club. The club, which is currently restoring a few aircraft so that students can have access to low-cost flight training, has a symbiotic relationship with the high school. While the high school can offer a well-rounded and accredited education, the aero club can provide hands-on experience and serve as a hotspot for the social community surrounding the academy.

Just as the high school, the AAAC is very modest in its facilities. While the passion and support exists for both programs, they face constraints in the same areas: facilities and finances. Brian, who is also the Vice President of Aspiring Aviators, mentioned how a new hangar and monetary support would allow the club to grow and better support the same students who attend the academy.

Central Florida has become a national hot spot and model for aerospace education – even more so with the opening of Central Florida Aerospace Academy of Winter Haven. The region’s success seems to come from the openness and willingness of different agencies, organizations, and individuals to work together towards a common goal: preparing the next generation of aviators for flight. Beyond the enrichment of the local community, these programs have international effects, producing students that go on to work for major airlines, serve in the military, and give back to their communities. It seems like Central Florida has it going on!

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