Grand Rapids, MI 49512 | 616-446-8886 | info@westmichiganaviation ...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Meggan George
[email protected] Website: www.westmichiganaviation.org
WMAA 6th Annual Leaders of Tomorrow Gala Announced
Board of Directors Dick DeVos – President Kathy Maine – Vice President Cliff Maine Treasurer/Secretary Dr. Tandy Champion Eva Aguirre-Cooper Rick Fiddler George Kiefer Robin Koop Brian Lennon Patrick Cwayna - CEO
“The higher your altitude the broader your horizon.” ~ Dick DeVos
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – February 1, 2017 - West Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) is hosting its sixth annual Leaders of Tomorrow Gala at the Amway Hangar located at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. This year’s Gala will have close to 1,000 in attendance sharing in the theme of “Together We Soar” for WMAA students, staff, and the community they serve, as well as the industries of Aviation, Engineering and Robotics. This year’s guest speaker is, Jeff Skiles, Co-Pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, “The Miracle on the Hudson.” The son of two pilots, Skiles started flying at the age of 16 and has logged over 21,000 hours in the sky. Skiles has spent the last 30 years as a US Airways pilot and his lifetime of experiences contributed to the astounding outcome that day on the Hudson. The perfect landing was not a fluke, it was the result of intense training, preparation and the lessons learned from other pilots’ successes and failures. The event will showcase and share stories from WMAA community partners, students, parents, and faculty throughout the evening. The event will also provide an opportunity to experience the Amway hangar along with a variety of aircraft for guests to view. Additionally, WMAA students will be participating in several demonstrations and interactive stations for you to enjoy. This year’s event will also introduce opportunities for unique experience-based opportunities through a silent auction. WMAA is a tuition-free public charter high school that was founded in 2010 by Dick DeVos. Located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, WMAA is currently educating over 600 students in grades 9-12. The goal of this one-of-a-kind academy is to provide a unique education that expands the horizons of our students. WMAA’s vision is to provide a rigorous educational program through an aviation focus, preparing students for college achievement, career success, and engaged citizenship. Students may choose career goals ranging from flight, engineering/STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and aviation business to technical services. Current students come from over 40 different school districts throughout the West Michigan region, plus international, out-of-state, and home-school situations. WMAA encourages and embraces this diversity and accepts the challenge of providing a quality educational experience for all. The Leaders of Tomorrow Gala is an important event for West Michigan Aviation Academy, as the proceeds will provide assistance for enhanced aviation and engineering-related educational activities, which go beyond the support provided by state funding. This assistance includes offsite aviation/engineering-related visits, annual capstone trips, flight experiences, engineering equipment, and new student orientation. Other supported programs include robotics teams, flight simulators, summer soaring experience, and WMAA’s two Cessna 172 aircraft. For more information on the event visit us at www.westmichiganaviation.org or contact Meggan George for advance story leads, interviews, photo opportunities at [email protected] ###
5363 44th St SE – Grand Rapids, MI 49512 | 616-446-8886 | [email protected]
[email protected] Website: www.westmichiganaviation.org
WMAA 6th Annual Leaders of Tomorrow Gala Announced
Board of Directors Dick DeVos – President Kathy Maine – Vice President Cliff Maine Treasurer/Secretary Dr. Tandy Champion Eva Aguirre-Cooper Rick Fiddler George Kiefer Robin Koop Brian Lennon Patrick Cwayna - CEO
“The higher your altitude the broader your horizon.” ~ Dick DeVos
GRAND RAPIDS, MI – February 1, 2017 - West Michigan Aviation Academy (WMAA) is hosting its sixth annual Leaders of Tomorrow Gala at the Amway Hangar located at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 5:30 p.m. This year’s Gala will have close to 1,000 in attendance sharing in the theme of “Together We Soar” for WMAA students, staff, and the community they serve, as well as the industries of Aviation, Engineering and Robotics. This year’s guest speaker is, Jeff Skiles, Co-Pilot of U.S. Airways Flight 1549, “The Miracle on the Hudson.” The son of two pilots, Skiles started flying at the age of 16 and has logged over 21,000 hours in the sky. Skiles has spent the last 30 years as a US Airways pilot and his lifetime of experiences contributed to the astounding outcome that day on the Hudson. The perfect landing was not a fluke, it was the result of intense training, preparation and the lessons learned from other pilots’ successes and failures. The event will showcase and share stories from WMAA community partners, students, parents, and faculty throughout the evening. The event will also provide an opportunity to experience the Amway hangar along with a variety of aircraft for guests to view. Additionally, WMAA students will be participating in several demonstrations and interactive stations for you to enjoy. This year’s event will also introduce opportunities for unique experience-based opportunities through a silent auction. WMAA is a tuition-free public charter high school that was founded in 2010 by Dick DeVos. Located on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, WMAA is currently educating over 600 students in grades 9-12. The goal of this one-of-a-kind academy is to provide a unique education that expands the horizons of our students. WMAA’s vision is to provide a rigorous educational program through an aviation focus, preparing students for college achievement, career success, and engaged citizenship. Students may choose career goals ranging from flight, engineering/STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and aviation business to technical services. Current students come from over 40 different school districts throughout the West Michigan region, plus international, out-of-state, and home-school situations. WMAA encourages and embraces this diversity and accepts the challenge of providing a quality educational experience for all. The Leaders of Tomorrow Gala is an important event for West Michigan Aviation Academy, as the proceeds will provide assistance for enhanced aviation and engineering-related educational activities, which go beyond the support provided by state funding. This assistance includes offsite aviation/engineering-related visits, annual capstone trips, flight experiences, engineering equipment, and new student orientation. Other supported programs include robotics teams, flight simulators, summer soaring experience, and WMAA’s two Cessna 172 aircraft. For more information on the event visit us at www.westmichiganaviation.org or contact Meggan George for advance story leads, interviews, photo opportunities at [email protected] ###
5363 44th St SE – Grand Rapids, MI 49512 | 616-446-8886 | [email protected]
