SHINNSTON & BRIDGEPORT – The Harrison County School System has been partnering with Pierpont Aviation Programs this year to have aviation career presentations to 11th and 12th grade students at all six high schools and 8th grade students at all five middle schools. Dr. Brad Gilbert, Senior Professor and Director of Aviation Technology, and his team from Pierpont Aviation Program have been, and are continuing to talk with students about the aviation career opportunities available for them here in Harrison County.
On Friday, March 15, Dr. Gilbert and his team will be speaking to 8th grade students at Bridgeport Middle School at 9:30 a.m., then for the 8th graders at Lincoln Middle School at 10:45 a.m.
At the end of Pierpont’s presentation, students in every middle school and high school this year have been invited on a field trip to the Pierpont facility at Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Center in Bridgeport.
On Friday, April 12, 9 to 11 a.m., approximately 40 students from Bridgeport Middle School and Lincoln Middle School will be going on a field trip together to the Pierpont facility at 1050 Industrial Blvd. in Bridgeport past Maple Lake.
Students will tour the facility and hangar and get a close up view of the airplanes. They will also participate in a hands-on activity related to aviation. Students should be able to view the general area that houses the airport and aviation companies, like MHIRJ, Pratt & Whitney, Aurora Flight Sciences, Lockheed Martin, and several others.
Harrison County Schools, Pierpont Aviation programs, and our local aviation industry are hoping these presentations and follow up field trips will help to make our soon-to-be youngest generation of workers aware of the opportunities right here where they live. The aviation industry in our area continues to seek employees for many unfilled positions. So, Harrison County Schools and Pierpont have partnered to provide year-long, countywide aviation career exploration to our students and teach them about the opportunities in their own back yard along with a chance to see it for themselves.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Geraldine Beckett, CTE Liaison Specialist, Harrison County Schools, at 304-326-7387, or at geraldine.beckett@k12.wv.us