Partnership Provides Students Real-World Experience

The recent National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Regional Forum at Westchester County Airport (KHPN) in White Plains, New York, was the launch pad for a new partnership between the airport’s sponsor Westchester County, and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology.

The partnership creates a paid college internship intended to set up students for good-paying jobs in the aviation industry with real-world experience in airport administration, operations, and airline services. Students will simultaneously have numerous opportunities to interact with private pilots, FBOs, commercial airlines, and flight departments of Fortune 500 companies. The internship was announced after NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen (pictured) spoke to the 3,000 attendees at the forum.

HPN Airport Manager Francisco Tejada said, “Announcing this internship at the most respected and well-attended forum of this type in the nation is important to Westchester County and to Avports.

The partnership with Vaughn will prove to be a vast pipeline of emerging talent for airports like Westchester and others throughout the region and nation as we hope to draw young aviation professionals with fresh perspectives as they begin their careers.” Avports is the airport’s operations and management company.

Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, Vaughn College President said, "We are excited to see our long-term relationship with Avports and Westchester County Airport continue to grow with this Vaughn dedicated internship program. Our alumni work in airports across the metropolitan region, including Westchester Airport, and beyond and that success comes with close industry partners like Avports that understand the importance of developing a talent pipeline."

FMI:  www.vaughn.edu/ , avports.com/