In one of the most challenging times the aviation and aerospace industry has ever experienced, the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission has set a record: It has awarded more than $335,400 in aerospace and aviation education programs across the state of Oklahoma.
This year, 38 schools, groups, and organizations were awarded Aerospace and Aviation Education Program grants. The record amount of funding will be used to bring more students in Oklahoma to STEM careers, particularly those in aerospace and aviation, commission officials said.
Grants are awarded for targeted learning programs that have a direct application to aerospace and aviation for primary through post-secondary education.
“Aerospace and aviation is our state’s second largest industry, yielding an annual economic impact of $44 billion. We need to continue to make these record investments in our workforce in order for Oklahoma to continue to provide top aerospace jobs in the country,” said Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Sean Kouplen.
“Aviation and aerospace is a huge economic engine in our state providing 206,000 direct and indirect jobs,” added Director of Aeronautics Victor Bird. “For commerce and communities a safe, reliable, and accessible aviation system is critical.”
Bird noted that funding requests topped $682,000 this year, “which exemplifies the importance of aviation and the realization that an adequate workforce is the lifeblood of the industry.”
The grant program, which has been nationally recognized, has awarded more than $2.8 million in aerospace and aviation education grants since FY2001.
For a program to qualify for an aviation education grant or contract, it must meet certain requirements. Most importantly, the program must demonstrate that its curriculum and goals are geared toward aviation and aerospace.
Grants approved for 2020:
- Ada City School District, $25,000
- Alva High School, $2,500
- Atoka Elementary School, $2,000
- Bishop John Carroll Cathedral School, $1,100
- Boys and Girls Club of Oklahoma County, $15,000
- Cameron University, $1,500
- Class Matters, $2,700
- Davenport Public Schools, $8,000
- Dove Science Academy High School, $6,650
- El Reno Regional Airport, $2,300
- FIRST Robotics Competition, $7,500
- Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma, $2,500
- Gordon Cooper Technology Center, $3,000
- Grand Aces Aviation Ground School, $1,750
- Guthrie Edmond Regional Airport, $1,150
- KISS Institute for Practical Robotics, $7,500
- McAlester High School, $5,000
- MetroTechnology Center, and the FAA Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center, $13,250
- Metro Tech STEM Mobile Lab, $10,000
- Mid-Del Technology Center, $4,000
- Mustang High School, $5,000
- Newspapers in Education Institute, $5,000
- Oilton Public Schools, $3,000
- Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation, $10,000
- Oklahoma Engineering Foundation, Inc., $5,000
- Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Foundation, $1,500
- Oklahoma Science and Engineering Foundation, $5,000
- Oklahoma State University, Speedfest, $9,000
- Okmulgee High School, $5,000
- Ponca City Regional Airport, $8,500
- Putnam City High School (Air Force JROTC), $12,000
- Rose State College, $13,500
- Southeastern Oklahoma State University, $6,500
- STARBASE Oklahoma Inc., $25,000
- STARR Solutions (Tinker Air and Space Show), $28,000
- Tulsa Air and Space Museum, $10,000
- Tulsa Community WorkAdvance, $15,000
- University of Oklahoma, Sooner Flight Academy, $46,000