Taking Today s Youth to a Higher Plane

Transcription

1 Taking Today s Youth to a Higher Plane

2 Letter from Captain Barrington Irving Founder and Executive Director Barrington Irving fueling his aircraft before his historic flight, Opa-Locka, Florida Dear Friend of, About In 2007, at age 23, I set two world aviation records to become the youngest person and first black pilot to fly solo around the world. I flew 30,000 miles in a single-engine aircraft on my 97-day journey, encountering thunderstorms, snow storms, sand storms, icing, and monsoons along the way. Why did I attempt the trip, with only 650 hours of flight time and an aircraft that was donated, one part at a time by generous sponsors? My goal was to send a message to other young people that regardless of who you are, where you come from, and what you have or don t have you too can achieve your dream. I wanted to show them that when a person has the passion and willingness to work toward a goal, nothing is impossible. I was born in Kingston, Jamaica and brought up in inner-city Miami. When I was in high school, I thought a football scholarship was my only route to college. But just before I turned 16, I met an airline pilot, Captain Gary Robinson, who introduced me to aviation and I never looked back. I had found my passion and my calling and I wanted to fly. I will always be grateful to the Captain for taking an interest in my future and I m proud to say he is still my mentor today. At, I am following his example by mentoring youth and encouraging them too to pursue professional careers. In 2007, I was honored when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a Resolution acknowledging my achievement and pioneering work in aviation education. I was also grateful when the Jamaican government presented me with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander, and the Florida State Senate awarded me the Medallion of Excellence. But receiving these accolades only deepened my sense of responsibility to give back to youth who are looking for ways to achieve their own dreams. Through, my goal is to inspire students to believe in themselves and in their potential to succeed at whatever they do. In 2005, at the age of 21, Barrington Irving founded the nonprofit organization, Inc. to motivate youth and address the shortage of technically skilled professionals in aviation, aerospace, and related career fields. Since then the team and its partners, middle-and high-school educators and community leaders have worked toward a common goal. Their mission is to inspire young people to identify and pursue their dreams through aviation-related programs designed to build math, science, reading, and problem-solving skills. Inc. is a 501(C)(3) non profit organization based at Opa-Locka Executive Airport in Miami, Florida. The organization operates a 3,100-square-foot learning center in a space it shares with an airport hangar. Successful programs offered at the center and at community partner facilities include a 9-week after-school Discover Aviation course; a 10-week Build & Soar project; Inspiration Career Tours; and a Career Development/Internship program. Because s programs are successfully bridging the gap between the classroom and the aviation industry, Barrington and his team are working to replicate that success by partnering with schools nationwide. Blue Skies, Barrington Irving 2 3

3 s dynamic programs enable students to progress from Interest to Knowledge to Industry Program 1 Discover Aviation Course After-School Program Academic Schedule: 100-hour course Two 9-week programs divided during fall and spring semesters Grade Levels: 6th 10th Slots Available: 150 Students Curriculum: Rockets, Robotics, Simulators, Navigation, Career Research, Professional Speakers, Field Trips Functional benefit: Increases students knowledge of the aviation industry and related careers and shows the importance of core competencies Student Selection: All interested students must attend a program orientation and submit an application before being selected to participate This program has opened my eyes to a world that was unknown to me, the world of aviation. It has also expanded the horizons of all the participants to learn more about aviation careers and help them find a future career path that would entice them. Shammon Julme, 12th grade, age 16 Required Program Support: Computers and Internet access, projector, classroom with After-School Program Build & Soar Program Career Development/Internships Goal: Introduce Aviation Careers Goal: Teach technical skills in the Goal: Increase number of future aviation engineering field professionals Center, hands-on learning, problem- Resources: Hands-on experience in Resources: Knowledge of the industry and solving skills through coursework and Airframe, Powerplant, Avionics, Electrical, its resources; career path including post- hands-on activities related to aviation and Sheet Metal, Aircraft Painting, Flight secondary education aerospace Planning and Aircraft Performance Resources: Learning capacity for 20 students, parental involvement Captain Irving influenced me to go to school, study hard, and follow my dreams. Davon Ochoa, 11th grade, age

4 Program 2 Build & Soar Program Summer Program Summer Semester: Slots Available: Level I: 50 Hours-4 Weeks Level II: 200 Hours-8 Weeks Level I: 120 Students Level II: 30 Students Level I Curriculum: Planning Blueprints, Tooling, Safety, Painting and Finishing, Riveting Basics, Airframe, Powerplant, Electrical, Navigation Level II Curriculum: Working in teams, students assemble a flyable aircraft in only eight weeks Functional benefit: Supervised by professional engineering instructors, students construct the plane in an authentic industry work environment Required Support: Level I instruction takes place at a community partner site. Level II instruction continues at the Learning Center and the George T. Baker Aviation School The Build & Soar program helped me better myself so that I can get a job in aviation. It allowed me to meet new people and learn new things. Barrington motivated me to finish school and pursue a good career. Kenneth Mack, 10th grade, age 16 Build & Soar has opened many doors to help me fulfill my dream of becoming a pilot. If it wasn t for Barrington, I would never have gotten this experience of constructing a plane and popping rivets; I would have been at the mall with my friends shopping in different store outlets. Deshorn King, 10th grade, age 16 Program 3 Career Development and Internships Through our partnerships with distinguished companies in the aviation and aerospace industries, is proud to offer students opportunities for Internships in various fields. Our Industry Partners include: Airbus, Aeroservice, Chevron Global Aviation, Executive Aircraft Services, the Federal Aviation Administration, Endeavour Flight Training, Greater Miami Aviation Association, Irving Ventures, Miami Executive Aviation, Miami Maintenance Council, Turbine Aircraft Systems, Teledyne Continental Motors, Zenith Aircraft, and Wisetouch Interiors Student Selection: Students in the 11th and 12th grade, who have completed Experience Aviation s Discover Aviation and Build & Soar programs, are selected based on their career goals and on qualifications required by industry partners Career Fair: Every year offers a Career Fair to the community, held at Opa-Locka Executive Airport, that includes a skydiving show, aircraft displays, exhibitors, and access to industry professionals This program helped me see what real air traffic control tower work is like. I went on field trips to meet with big businessmen in aviation. I worked on teams and have been given positions of leadership where I had to lead some of my peers. Thank you,. Joseph Agbeyegbe, 12th grade, age

5 Television Coverage World Flight Adventure and Barrington s historic around-the-world flight in 2007 attracted more than 100 million viewers who followed his adventure on 830 TV broadcasts for a total publicity value of more than $5 million. In July and August 2008, coverage of Build & Soar on local TV and on CNN s American Morning and Headline News sparked a new wave of interest from other media venues nationwide Barrington s Story Reaches Millions of Readers Worldwide! The story of Barrington s 97-day, 30,000-mile flight in his beloved plane Inspiration struck a chord in the hearts and minds of readers and listeners throughout the world. The story appeared in more than 1,000 print and online publications including the New York Times, New York Daily News, International Herald Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, JET Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, AOPA Magazine, Plane & Pilot, Aviation Week and Space Technology, and Business & Commercial Aviation. Barrington s voice was carried by more than 80 radio outlets, including NPR, Radio One, XM Satellite Radio, and BBC World, reaching more than 60 million listeners. All service marks and trademarks are property of their respective trademark owners. 8 9

6 With thanks to the sponsors whose support helps us empower youth! Title Sponsors Miami Executive Aviation Universal Weather & Aviation Teledyne Continental Motors George T. Baker Aviation School The Children s Trust Batchelor Foundation Chevron Global Aviation NASA and NASA SEMAA Microsoft Flight Simulator Miami-Dade County Public Schools Alonzo Mourning Charities Zenith Aircraft City of Miami Anders Foundation Red Bull Centennial Airport-Denver Dolphin Stadium Latitude Zero Dade Community Foundation Flight Crafters Wise Touch Interiors Aviation and Commerce Center Turbine Aircraft Systems RBC Bank 5,000 Role Models International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading Foundation (ISTAT) Wolf Aviation Fund Miami Maintenance Management Council City of Fort Lauderdale Goodyear Aviation Avidyne Miami-Dade County Jeppesen Miami International Airport DelancyHill Steven J. Henriquez Earthrounders 10 11

7 To learn more about and its programs, please visit our website Inc NW 42nd Avenue Opa-Locka, FL Tel Photography by Jon Ross and Juan Rivera Design and printing by Chevron Global Aviation 2008, Inc. All rights reserved.