FLY COMPTON FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER Q4 2025

Cheers to a New Year!

We Couldn’t Do What We Do Without YOU! 

As we celebrate another year of Fly Compton’s uniquely impactful work and launch the next, we want to thank you for believing in our students, powering our mission, and creating real pathways to aviation and aerospace for so many young people. 

We are sending our very best wishes to you and your family for a joyful, safe, and inspiring 2026!

Exciting News & Announcements

2025 Compton Air & Space Fair: 5,000+ Strong!

What a moment for our community.

The 2025 Compton Air & Space Fair was a major success, bringing together 5,000+ attendees for a day of learning, inspiration, and flight-focused community building. From youth and families to educators, volunteers, and industry leaders, your presence helped make this one of our most impactful events yet.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped us bring aviation access and visibility to Compton and beyond.

CSUDH: Our Home for Saturday Ground School

Thank you to David Ochi and our invaluable partners at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and the CSUDH Innovation Incubator. CSUDH has been our neighbor and we now value you as a tremendous partner in expanding Fly Compton’s impact. CSUDH’s has welcomed our students to their state of the art classrooms where our Saturday ground schools, STEAM Design Camp and our expanded curriculum elevate and educate our future aviators and aerospace leaders.

To this expanded and thriving hub of learning, we’re proud to welcome — for the first time in our 5 year history — 200 students! Yes, both our 100 returning FCF students AND the 100 students who previously remained on our annual waiting list will be members of our 2026 student body. We hope you’re as proud as we are to have 200 students participating in our Spring semester! Classes begin Saturday, January 24, 2026. 

The Fly High SKYLAB Launches in 2026

We want you to be the first to know we’re launching The Fly High SKYLAB, a new hands-on experience where young pilots, engineers, and innovators build, code, and explore aviation technology. Beginning in January, sessions run every third Saturday, 10AM–11AM.

This SKYLAB is only a reality thanks to our partnership with CSUDH Physics Department and the exceptional Dr. Horace Crogman. This program is specifically for students enrolled in our aviation program and is a supplement to our curriculum that reinforces classroom learning. Know any young people who’d like to join us for SKYLAB? Click the image below for more info.

100

Students Returning

100+

New Students

Another First! More than 200 Aviation and Aerospace Scholars join FCF’s Spring Semester!

Our 2025 Summer Solo Camp pilots consistently show up, support one another and represent what Fly Compton stands for: courage, discipline, and community. We couldn’t be more proud of these remarkable young women's commitment to service and growth — they continue to inspire the next wave of FCF students and remind us what’s possible when talent is met with opportunity and support.

That same spirit shows up in individual milestones too, and we’re especially proud to celebrate Summer Solo camper, and now Fly Compton Ambassador, Ivy Bragg-Guzman. A huge congratulations to her for wrapping up her first semester of college at USC. Ivy successfully complete our solo program and has continued to show up as a peer mentor, program volunteer, and assists with classroom instruction for her younger peers. 

Ivy is a powerful reminder of what Fly Compton is all about: lifting as we climb, building pathways that extend beyond flight training and into long-term academic and career opportunities and success, and always, always giving back. We can’t wait to see what Ivy accomplishes next!

They went on to co-found the Coffey School of Aeronautics with Willa Brown, training many of the Tuskegee Airmen. Their story is about persistence and finding allies in unexpected places. Learn More...



A Message From Our New CEO

Friends,

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in aviation, it’s that smooth transitions require preparation, trust, and a crew you can count on. After five remarkable years leading Fly Compton Foundation, Demetrius has handed me the controls, and I’m both honored and energized to continue this flight!



The foundation Demetrius built is solid. The standard he set? Sky-high. And while those are admittedly some serious shoes to fill, I’m blessed to be flying with a team that makes the impossible feel routine.

Meet Our FCF Crew:

Christa June - Chief Executive Officer

Alex Barker - Founder, Chief Flight Instructor & Board President

Carla Norman - Founder, Programs Director

Priscilla Burton - Development Advisor

Jennifer Jaime - Finance Director

Rosa George - Volunteer/Logistics Coordinator

Youssef Awad - Lead Flight Instructor

While maintaining altitude is essential, the fun is in the climb—and Fly Compton is definitely climbing! Our programs are thriving, our community is engaged, our Board is deeply committed, and our impact continues to expand. Simply put, we’re doing what we were built to do: opening the skies to young people who deserve access to aviation and every opportunity that comes with it.

As we continue to chart our course for 2026 and beyond, I hope you’ve enjoyed the preview we’ve shared with you today. I look forward to continuing to share with you even more of what’s on our Fly Compton horizon. 

Our community (that’s you!) has been essential to our students’ successes, and you will be just as crucial as we continue climbing. 

Here’s to many exciting takeoffs and smooth landings ahead!

Soaring together,

Christa June

We couldn’t do this without the support of our amazing partners and sponsors. Your generosity helps us continue to grow and empower the next generation of aviators.

Connect with us!