WEST CHICAGO — DuPage Flight Center, an FBO at DuPage Airport (KDPA), recently hosted the Tuskegee NEXT 2024 Red Tail Ball, celebrating the achievements of the Tuskegee NEXT graduating class of 2024.
During the seventh annual Red Tail Ball, the Tuskegee NEXT 2024 graduating class were presented their flight certificates.
“It’s a tremendous honor for us at DuPage Flight Center to honor and support Tuskegee NEXT and celebrate the achievements of the 2024 graduating class,” said Brian DeCoudres, general manager. “Witnessing these young aviators take their next steps toward their dreams is incredibly rewarding. We are deeply committed to empowering these future leaders with the tools and opportunities they need to excel. Their success is a testament to the spirit of innovation and perseverance that we cherish in the aviation community.”
While celebrating the accomplishments of the cadets, more than 600 guests helped raise over $1 million to support aviation scholarships. This funding enables Tuskegee NEXT to offer outreach programs for underrepresented youth offering flight training, life skills, leadership development, and educational assistance programs to help these young individuals obtain pilot certificates and begin careers in aviation.
The DuPage Flight Center has maintained a strong partnership with Tuskegee NEXT, an initiative founded in 2015 by the chair of the DuPage Airport Authority alongside strategic partners. The program honors the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II by training at-risk youth as pilots and aviation professionals. Since its inception, 78 young adults will have completed the 8- to 10-week residential program.
The Illinois Aviation Academy, located at DuPage Airport, plays a critical role in the training and preparation of these cadets, helping them earn a private pilot’s certificate and drone certification at no cost, according to FBO officials.
For more information: DuPageFlightCenter.com, TuskegeeNext.org
Leave a Reply