UND Aerospace Foundation donates $25,000 to help student mechanics soar in Southern California

David L. Dodds

Document Type

News Article

Publication Date

7-10-2013

Campus Unit

John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences

Abstract

Gift will award scholarships to low-income students preparing for a variety of high-paying, high-skilled jobs as trained airframe and power plant mechanics

VAN NUYS, Calif. -- A contingent from the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation, based in Grand Forks, recently donated $25,000 to the Los Angeles Unified School District's struggling aircraft mechanics school.

The gift was presented on June 29 at a special event honoring leaders in aviation at the Van Nuys Airport in Southern California.

The donation will be used to award scholarships to low-income students preparing for a variety of high-paying, high-skill3ed jobs as trained airframe and power plant mechanics. Recently threated for closure by budget cuts, the Los Angeles Unified School District's aircraft mechanics school was saved by another large donation, a strong advocacy campaign and rent relief from Los Angeles World Airports.

"The University of North Dakota is home to one of the nation's top collegiate flight training programs, and we're honored to show our support for one of the nation's top aircraft mechanic schools," said Larry Martin, board chairman for the nonprofit UND Aerospace Foundation. "Aircraft maintenance is one of the most important jobs in aviation, and great pilots need skilled aircraft mechanics to protect the safety of both flight crew and passengers."

Martin was among UND and aviation industry leaders who presented a $25,000-check to Los Angeles school district officials at the prestigious Valley of the Stars Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony, which honored leaders in education, business and community services. The aviation-themed event also honored veteran pilot and UND Aerospace Foundation board member Clay Lacy. In fact, the gala took place in Lacy's aviation hangar in Van Nuys.

UND Aerospace

The John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, located on the UND campus in Grand Forks and the Grand Forks (N.D.) International Airport, is ranked one of the nation's top collegiate aviation programs. It offers the most technologically advanced flight training complex and the largest fleet of any public university in the world. UND Aerospace began in 1968 with just two planes and 12 students. Today, it owns and operates a fleet of more than 150 aircraft and flight training devices, and provides pilot training to nearly 1,500 students from 12 different countries. These students amass more than 120,0000 combined flight hours per year.

Photo caption: (Left to right) David Williamson, UND Aerospace Foundation board of directors member; Si Robin, CEO of Sensor Systems; Carlynn Huddleston, principal of VNY Aircraft Mechanics School; Larry Martin, chairman of the UND Aerospace Foundation board; Clay Lacy, UND Aerospace Foundation board member; and Al Palmer, director of UAS operations at UND's John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

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