Aviation, Education, and Military Motivation: UMES Establishes Education Partnership with National Guard
Students Soaring on the Shore: Universities and the Military Expanding Educational Resources.
PRINCESS ANNE, MD – Students are soaring to new heights, and the military is doing the motivating. University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) and the Maryland Army National Guard are building lasting relationships that benefit students by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Officially signed on Wednesday, May 1st- this will allow UMES students to receive classroom instruction and career opportunities.
Partners
“We can bring practical aviation whether it’s an aviator, a maintainer, an air traffic controller, a navigator- for these students to talk to mentor, coach, teach, and train, and learn from. That’s why it’s really important that we signed an MOU today.” Major General Janeen Birckhead and the president of UMES Dr. Heidi Anderson put pen to paper. Students participating will receive classroom instruction from aviation professionals with Army experience and gain invaluable insight. Dr. Anderson says that what this will do for students is give them real-world mentors. “Our students learn how to fly the plane, they learn how to do the air traffic control, they learn how to, how to actually fix the plane as well.”
Diversity
Organizers say that there is a lack of representation within the aviation world. Dr. Anderson and Major General Birckhead both agree the market has room to expand – and inclusion is important. “First of all,” says Anderson, “the National Guard has a keen interest in trying to increase the diversity of the members of the guard, and those in leadership positions especially.” Major General tells us how visual representation can make a difference in inspiring the youth. “We understand that having diversity, the Army at large, the National Guard it’s really important. So, it’s important in the larger organization, it’s important in STEM, and it’s important in aviation. Today we brought down the pilot for this Black Hawk. He is an African American Male who is our brigade commander, and Colonel Hawkins is a fabulous pilot. He came down today and he’ll be part of this mission to mentor, coach and train. So, they can see one and they can be one.”
Education
“Here at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, we signed this MOU today to inspire student to join and become a part of the Aviation community- but they don’t have to join the national guard.” This coming directly from the Major General- “We’re not expecting them to join, if they do the program sells itself The Maryland National Guard sells itself.” At the ceremony, students were able to view a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter but will have the opportunity to fly various aircrafts in the program. The National Guard wants all to know the military is an option for those who it fits best for, and the overall goal is to encourage students to become part of the greater aviation family. The National Guard says that on May 2nd they will do a similar event along their STEM initiative by partnering with Sailsbury University and their nursing program.
