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Students showcase ACE aviation academy; district reports nearly 500 students served by summer programs
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Summary
Board heard a showcase of the ACE (Aviation Career Education) Academy and a summary of summer learning: the district reported nearly 500 students served across programs, 399 high-school credits recovered during credit recovery, and several industry and university partners supporting programming.
The Lenoir County Board of Education heard a presentation Aug. 4 highlighting the ACE (Aviation Career Education) Academy and the district's summer learning programs, which together served nearly 500 students.
District staff described ACE as a multi-week summer program run in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation Division of Aviation. The academy was split into three tracks this summer: ACE 1 for students with little or no drone experience, ACE 2 for students with prior experience, and ACE 3 with a career focus. Students learned principles of flight, drone programming and hands-on STEM projects. Staff and students described field trips to aviation employers and visits to regional aviation facilities; presenters said students toured an Antonov aircraft that was on-site during camp and that industry partners included Draken and Flight Exclusive.
Presenters emphasized industry and higher-education partnerships. Staff said the program works with NC State's Institute for Transportation Research and Education, and that the N.C. Department of Transportation Division of Aviation provided grant funding and sponsorships supported field trips, instructor salaries and supplies. Teachers James Lewis and Ally Lewis (camp instructors) and student presenters described building control towers and models, using flight simulators and participating in a Shark Tank-style pitch that focused on aviation-related product and service ideas.
In a broader summary of summer programming, the district reported nearly 500 students served across grade levels by offerings that included elementary flight-themed camps, a middle-school bridge academy, the District C pitch event (students working with local businesses on real problems), health-care career camps, and a 21st Century credit-recovery program that resulted in 399 recovered high-school credits (11 more than the prior summer). District staff said the District C pitch event was grant funded and that community partners included Pink Hill Chiropractic, the Community Council for the Arts and Neuse Regional Library.
Board members and presenters praised students' creativity and engagement and said staff planned to spotlight student work at a future meeting.
