Take A Break. You've Earned It. | | |
As another school year comes to a close, I hope you will take a few moments to reflect on everything you and your students have accomplished. The pace of the academic year has a way of carrying us from one milestone to the next, and before we know it, summer is here and another group of students is preparing to take the next step in their journey.
This year brought a great deal to celebrate. Across the Choose Aerospace community, students completed nearly twice as many courses as last year and continued to pursue opportunities in aviation maintenance after high school. We are seeing students enroll in Part 147 schools, pursue military service, and make plans for careers in an industry that provides so much opportunity.
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One statistic that particularly caught my attention this year was participation in the ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential Exam. The number of students sitting for the exam doubled compared to last year, while the number of participating schools increased fivefold. Those numbers tell a story about commitment, preparation, and a willingness to finish strong. They also speak to the confidence our teachers have developed in preparing students for success and the confidence students have gained in their own abilities.
The broader outcomes data are equally encouraging. Our annual survey shows that students are making informed decisions about their future and increasingly viewing aviation maintenance as a realistic and rewarding career path. I encourage you to read the linked article later in this newsletter that explores those results in greater detail. The data provide compelling evidence that the work happening in your classrooms is making a measurable difference in the lives of students.
Before we begin planning for another school year, I hope you will take time to celebrate your successes and recharge. My family has a road trip planned for June. We will spend time with Granny and Grampa in Michigan before continuing to Niagara Falls. The kids are excited, and I am looking forward to creating a few memories before we turn our attention back to the work ahead.
Thank you for the care, effort, and dedication you have invested in your students this year. The future of aviation maintenance is brighter because of what you do, and I hope you feel a tremendous sense of pride as you head into summer break.
Have a wonderful summer, and congratulations on a year well done.
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Kelly Filgo
Director of Operations
| | First Outcomes Data Show Students Choosing Aviation | | For years, we have talked about the impact Choose Aerospace could have on students' career choices. Now, we have the data to begin measuring it. Results from our first cohort of mature programs show students pursuing A&P schools, seeking employment, earning credential endorsements, and exploring careers across aviation. See what we've learned from the first generation of Choose Aerospace completers. Read more. | CA Featured Program: Rising Aviation High School | |
At Rising Aviation High School in Addison, Texas, students are immersed in aviation-focused education from day one. The school combines career-focused learning with a high degree of student independence, helping learners develop the technical knowledge, accountability, and professionalism needed for success in the aviation industry. Through hands-on projects, industry partnerships, mentorship opportunities, and real-world experiences, students gain early exposure to aviation maintenance careers while building a strong foundation for future training and employment. Rising Aviation’s innovative approach demonstrates how secondary education programs can help prepare the next generation of skilled aviation maintenance professionals. Read more.
| | Building the Future of Aviation - One Student at a Time | The future of aviation maintenance depends on creating pathways that help students discover, prepare for, and pursue rewarding careers in the industry. Through the Choose Aerospace Scholarship program, students across the country are gaining access to training opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach. With support from industry partners, educators, and workforce advocates, the program continues to remove barriers, connect students to career pathways, and strengthen the next generation of aviation maintenance professionals. As planning begins for the 2027 scholarship cycle, Choose Aerospace remains committed to expanding opportunities and building a stronger workforce pipeline for the industry. Read more. | The FAA has reopened the Aviation Maintenance Technical Workers Workforce Development Grant Program, restoring access to federal funding for organizations working to strengthen the aviation maintenance technician pipeline. As part of a broader $26 million aviation workforce investment, the program supports initiatives including aviation maintenance education, curriculum development, apprenticeships, internships, scholarships, outreach efforts, and workforce transition programs. Eligible applicants include schools, nonprofit organizations, repair stations, labor groups, and government entities, with applications due June 22, 2026. The funding provides an important opportunity for organizations committed to expanding career pathways and addressing the industry's growing demand for skilled aviation maintenance professionals. Read more. | | |
September 18-20, 2026: Association of Women in Aviation Maintenance (AWAM) Annual Conference | Orlando, FL
September 22-25, 2026: Aviation Technician Education Council (ATEC) Fly-In | Washington, DC
November 15-17, 2026: AOPA Foundation Aviation Education Symposium | Phoenix, AZ
March 15-18, 2027: The Competition at VERTICON | Anaheim, CA
April 4-7, 2027: 2027 ATEC Annual Conference | Wichita, KS
April 12-15, 2027: The Competition at MRO Americas | Orlando, FL
| | Free Job Board for ATEC Members | In partnership with JSfirm.com, the ATEC Job Board gives members complimentary access to post open positions and connect with a targeted audience of aviation maintenance professionals, educators, and emerging talent. Whether you're hiring technicians, instructors, or program staff, this member benefit helps expand your reach while supporting stronger workforce pathways across the industry. | Now Open: Independent Study Registration | Enrollment is now open for the Choose Aerospace Independent Study program, offered in partnership with ATEC Academy and covering FAA Mechanic General subject areas. This fully online, 15-week program delivers approximately 150 hours of self-paced instruction through the Choose Aerospace LMS, supported by a certificated A&P instructor. Designed as a preparatory or supplemental pathway, participants who successfully complete the program and pass the comprehensive exam may earn the ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential. Read more. | | ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential | | The ATEC General Aviation Maintenance Credential provides students with an industry-recognized opportunity to demonstrate foundational aviation maintenance knowledge aligned with FAA Mechanic Airman Certification Standards. Designed to complement aviation maintenance education pathways, the credential helps students validate their skills, strengthen postsecondary and employment applications, and explore future opportunities in the aviation industry. Learn more about eligibility, exam content, and participating programs. Learn more. | | |
The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is proud to have given away more than $1,000,000 in scholarships to aspiring aviators, helping them become safe, qualified members of the worldwide aviation community. Deadline July 31, 2026
Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) Aviation Scholarship promotes and assists in make aviation as a career choice and to make students aware of the opportunities in the air cargo industry. Deadline September 1, 2026
The mikeroweWORKS Foundation’s Work Ethic Scholarship Program provides scholarships for the next generation of skilled workers looking to get trained for jobs that are in demand. All aircraft-mechanics-in-training are invited to apply. Open until October 31, 2026
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Colorado Perkins Innovation Grants
Colorado’s “Innovations in CTE” grants support creative CTE projects focused on workforce development, career pathways, industry partnerships, and program innovation. Eligible entities may submit projects of up to $250,000 for consideration. The annual proposal cycle typically opens in mid-March, with proposal reviews and awards occurring between May 15 and June 30 for implementation beginning around July 1.
Texas Perkins State Leadership Grants
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is accepting proposals for Perkins State Leadership Grants supporting high-demand credentials, CTE educator recruitment and retention, curriculum development, and workforce-aligned innovation projects for the 2025–2026 cycle. Current RFAs remain active through August 31, 2026.
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