Part One: Thomas Wathen Foundation, A Strong Commitment to
Improving Education through Aviation
by ANN Correspondent Maxine Scheer
While AirVenture 2008
is over, the spirit and enthusiasm is likely to continue amongst a
unique group of students from opposite ends of the US and a network
of aviation foundations and industry organizations dedicated to
aviation education.
Students from Frankfort High School Aviation Academy in
Frankfort, Kentucky, and students participating in High School and
other educational programs at the Historic Flabob Airport in
Riverside, California all came to experience AirVenture in very
different ways. Aviation organizations who hosted these
students included the Thomas Wathen Foundation, EAA, Build A Plane,
and General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
There are a number of stories within the effort and initiatives
that brought these deserving and delightful students to
Oshkosh.
The first is story is the unrelenting commitment to Aviation
Education of the Thomas Wathen Foundation. Tom Wathen is a familiar
face to many members of EAA. In 2000, Tom provided funding to save
a historic airport from closure and redevelopment -- Flabob
Airport, located in Riverside, CA and home to EAA Chapter 1.
Tom handpicked a group of talented educators, pilots, aircraft
technicians and craftsmen and created a foundation which hosted the
EAA Air Academy, developed numerous after school and outreach
programs, and in 2005, established at Flabob a tuition-free,
Aviation-Oriented Charter High School which now has nearly 60
students enrolled. Through the Foundation and numerous alliances,
the Wathen Foundation is also seeding initiatives in other parts of
the country.
ANN talked with John Lyon, Executive Director of the Wathen
Foundation to hear about the agenda for the Wathen students at
AirVenture 2008. "We want the kids to have a good time and really
experience AirVenture," said John. Wathen student Adrian Ortiz flew
to Oshkosh with Tom Wathen and John Lyon in Tom’s Merlin 3B.
"It was a six and a half-hour trip with one stop, said John, "and
it was a thrill to see Adrian’s excitement; Adrian had never
ventured outside his neighborhood."
A central theme to the Flabob experience is building confidence
and a good work ethic. A number of Wathen students were working
hard at the show. Cara Durell and Hualdo Mendoza are aviation
students at San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), a Wathen alliance
partner. They came to Oshkosh and worked exhibits for Flabob based
companies. Carah worked at AirVenture for AeroCraftsman, which Lyon
described as a high-end, vintage restoration provider. Hualdo
worked for Poly-Fiber, a company that has developed aircraft
covering systems and provides training throughout the US. Three
other students were also working at the exhibit aircraft
manufacturer Luscombe Silvaire.
Lyon described Hualdo as an at-risk kid that was referred to
Wathen through the Riverside Youth Opportunity Service. "His life
has turned around. Hualdo now works at Poly-Fiber part time and is
continuing his education at SBVC."
Lyon pointed out that all of the kids are treated with respect
and are given responsibilities. A number of students from Flabob
have participated in AirVenture over the last five plus years.
"They come back from AirVenture with confidence", says Lyons "and
can handle new challenges." The vision and activities of the Tom
Wathen Foundation continue to grow and I suspect that they will
have many new and exciting announcements in years to come.
The story continues in Part Two – A Science Teacher
and State of Kentucky, coming Tuesday to ANN.
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