Aviation Hosts Local High School Students

This month, the Aviation Campus was visited by seniors and juniors from Sunnyside High School for Aviation Job Shadow day. The event was arranged by Joint Task Force for Business and Mr. Doug Betts from the Bill Smilie Aviation Center. In addition to visiting the Aviation campus, the high school students also had a chance to tour the airport’s control tower, Mazzei Flying Service, and Pacific Aviation/Future Eagles.

While visiting our campus, the students were welcomed by an enthusiastic staff that enjoyed having the teens participate in a variety of demonstrations arranged by the faculty. For example, Mr. Kenitzer, Airframe instructor, is seen here demonstrating proper drilling and riveting procedures.

In the General Aviation classroom the students were greeted by Mr. Lionel Smith who had the students work with rigid and flex lines. Then, with Mr. James Smith in the Powerplant section, the Sunnyside students were able to experience up close the roar of a reciprocating engine going full throttle on the airstrip while Army National Guard F-16 aircraft were taking off in the background.

With the help of admissions advisor Luanna Hernandez, instructor Jason Alves, and our aviation maintenance students, the Sunnyside visitors were introduced to the culture of the Aviation Campus and got a real feel for what the College is all about. The group participated in hands-on activities, learned some fundamental aspects of aircraft mechanics, played a few games, and spoke to current students—all this while learning about their different career options in the exciting Aviation industry!