Lively Technical College's aviation program showcases graduates, urges industry recruitment to keep local jobs

The Leon County School Board's superintendent spotlight on May 13 featured Lively Technical College's aviation program, where instructor Rutledge Fuller introduced two successful recent graduates and urged the district and local economic-development partners to help attract aviation employers to Leon County.

"Aviation is, we called the best kept secret in Leon County," Rutledge Fuller said, adding the program is affordable for county students and that many graduates immediately find well-paying work. "The day they leave our program, they are able to gain $90,000 a year," Fuller said.

Fuller introduced graduates Simon Buboles and Jefferson Prophet, who spoke to the board about their experience. Simon Buboles said he graduated about a year ago, received grants that covered his tuition and pursued a general-aviation path that let him gain flight experience while working toward a career. "I got grants for my schooling so I pretty much paid nothing out of pocket," Buboles said. "This is the best decision I've ever made. I'm living life. I'm flying planes now."

Jefferson Prophet, who graduated in August 2023 and now works in the industry, credited Fuller with ongoing mentorship and said he used program earnings to build a home. "It is a lot of hard work, but it is work that I do enjoy doing," Prophet said.

Fuller told the board the program must keep a roughly 25-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. He said the program can enroll about 17 students in August and another 17 in December and that it has been graduating roughly 50'to'60 students per year. He said the program serves a wide range of students, from teenagers to adults, and that some graduates have moved out of state for work, leaving local employers short.

"We are creating your workforce, and we could double the numbers if we had a couple more instructors," Fuller said. He listed local employers that hire graduates, including airlines and government agencies, and noted recent training-equipment and aircraft acquisitions the program can use for instruction: a Citation 500 (1970s model), a 1961 Cessna 172 and a Robinson R44 helicopter, which Fuller said are "runnable" and useful as consumable training assets. Fuller also thanked the district for funds used to purchase updated training aids.

Board members praised Fuller and the program. A board member asked Fuller about enrollment and anticipated graduates; Fuller gave the capacity and graduation estimates above and said recruiters nationwide seek his students. The superintendent and board members said they and others had visited the program and encouraged continued outreach to economic development partners to recruit aviation employers locally.

The spotlight did not include any formal board action; Fuller requested partnership with local economic-development staff and indicated program growth would require additional instructors.