Free College Credit, In-Class Instruction A "Win-Win"

Forty-three local high school students joined their Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) instructors for first day activities at the US Sport Aviation Expo in Sebring, FL Thursday. The young people spread out around the expo, delighting in seeing sport aircraft up close and personal.

The high school program, Charlotte Aerospace Institute, is a partnership between ERAU and Charlotte City, according to Program Director and ERAU Assistant Professor Eric Webber, and in its inaugural year.

More than 100 students from Charlotte, Port Charlotte, and Lemon Bay High Schools in their freshmen to senior years participate, attending a daily college-level class at their school and receiving college credit, courtesy of Charlotte City.

The curriculum, which Charlotte contracted with ERAU to develop, avenues  paths to three career paths: aviation fight operations, airframe and power plant, and aerospace engineering. If a student enters the program in his or her freshman year, that student could accumulate 60 college credits by high school graduation -- at no charge to the student's family -- giving the student upper sophomore or junior level status when they enter Embry Riddle.

This, of course, substantially reduces the cost of a college education for students and their families, said Weber, and would save them some $60,000 at ERAU.

Which is important to many. "I heard about the program and was intrigued by it," said Port Charlotte freshman John O'Dell. "I was worried a lot about paying for college; this program is just phenomenal."

Students interested in the program are screened to see if they are academically ready to handle college courses and have the discipline to stay with it.

The excursion to Sebring came after a fall field trip to ERAU. An overnight is being planned for the Kennedy Space Center later this school year.

The first year of programming, said Weber, concentrates primarily on flight, the earth's atmosphere, and manned and unmanned space flight. As student progress through the program, they will take advantage of the aviation technology, simulation devices, etc. at Charlotte's tech center.

Weber, who teaches the program with ERAU instructor Wayne Palmer, anticipates the program will double in size next year and grow to 400-500 students in two years.

Jonathan Farstill, 18, of Port Charlotte, participated in the first year program as a senior. Already accepted at ERAU for next fall and coming into his senior year already holding private pilot's certificate, Farstill is often the "go to" guy for both instructors. "It really interested me and I learned new things," he said. Farstill will major in aviation business management and minor in aeronautical sciences.

For Weber, the program is one of the most significant to reach young people in high school. And looking at how Charlotte Aerospace Institute is set up, it seems to be a win-win for everyone.

FMI: www.embryriddle.edu, www.ccps.k12.fl.us/HighSchools.cfm