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Can you imagine earning college credits and working toward an aviation career while still in high school? Teens enrolled in the Aeronautical Science Pathway (ASP) program in Washington state are living that dream.
The Museum of Flight (MOF) in Seattle is expanding the program by adding a new partnership with New Market Skills Center’s Aviation Careers Academy at Olympia Regional Airport (KOLM).
The ASP is an after-school program that provides career and technical education. It began in 2016 and is available to any student in Washington state. It is geared to high school juniors and seniors who aspire to careers in aviation.
According to MOF officials, the ASP has assisted hundreds of high school juniors and seniors to acquire both high school and college credits as well as the skills required to pursue careers as aviation professionals. The graduates go on to careers as pilots, drone operators, air traffic control, airport management and operations, and airline dispatch and other support fields.
Like the ASP at the MOF, the New Market Skills Center’s Aviation Careers Academy offers students the opportunity to earn up to six high school and 60 college credits at no cost. The academy is part of the Tumwater School District.
The MOF’s ASP instructors and administrators work closely with the New Market Skills Center (NMSC) to develop a program that closely aligns with the museum’s immersive career and technical education model, while supporting the school district to make the best use of local expertise and resources.
For example, airport management professionals at nearby Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) mentor and evaluate student projects at the Museum of Flight, while the NMSC’s Aviation Careers Academy receives similar support from Olympia Regional Airport.
“It is really exciting to be working with New Market Skills Center and the development of their Aviation Careers Academy,” said Rob Prosch, director of preparatory programs at the MOF. “The administration has hired a dynamic instructor with a huge passion for aviation and has so many ideas and vision for how the program can grow. And the program’s location at Olympia Regional Airport is very important. The partnership with the airport management and location of the facility on the airport allows students to directly access the knowledge and experiences that only onsite locations can provide.
“It all adds up to seamless pathways for the students aiming for aviation operations careers.”
New Market Skills Center educator Dana Tschirley, a former U.S. Air Force pilot and current CFI, says she believes in the aspirational purpose of the academy.
“I’ve seen firsthand how aviation can change a life,” said Tschirley. “This program is about opening doors. Aviation teaches discipline, confidence, and real-world skills. And right here in Olympia students will be able to see what’s possible and step directly into it. Bringing that opportunity to young people in our community isn’t just exciting. It’s necessary for the future of this industry.
“For many kids, myself included once upon a time, aviation feels out of reach. My goal is to make that first step accessible, exciting, and, hopefully, life changing.”
Taught by aviation experts certified in education, the project-based curriculum leverages hands-on learning experiences and partnerships with the localized aviation community. Earlier this year, the MOF announced a partnership with a replication of the ASP with Peninsula School District in Washington state.
