NCDOT awards grants for local youth aviation academies
ACE Academies give students the opportunity to learn about career opportunities in aviation and participate in hands-on educational activities. Image courtesy of NCDOT.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Division of Aviation is awarding grants to 12 airports across the state. Each will receive up to $5,000 to support aviation-themed summer academies for K-12 students.
Smith Reynolds Airport in Winston-Salem and Statesville Regional Airport are among those selected to receive the funds, which are part of the Aviation Career Education, or ACE, Academy Grant Program.
The academies are designed to engage students in hands-on activities, such as airport tours, simulator sessions, and even real flights.
Alexandria Shaw, executive director of the Jim Shaw ACE Academy at Smith Reynolds Airport, says the grant will help the program better cater to underserved youth.
“Some students have, you know, never even been on a road trip, let alone a plane," Shaw said. "So flying in that four-seater shotgun plane is really the highlight of the program, and the most fulfilling thing about it, not only for the students but for our staff and volunteers as well.”
Parents and students interested in participating in the academies can learn more on NCDOT’s website.
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