McKinney ISD’s aviation program was able to receive a $25,000 funding grant from Cirrus Aircraft according to a Dallas Morning News article from March 9 which reports,
“McKinney ISD’s aviation program got a boost last week when it received a $25,000 gift from Cirrus Aircraft.
Cirrus Aircraft executive director Jonah Santom presented the check to students enrolled in the program and district representatives at McKinney National Airport, according to a news release from the district.
The gift represents the Duluth, Minn.-based aircraft company’s “commitment and excitement about the McKinney ISD Aviation program,” the release said.
McKinney ISD will use the money “primarily to continue funding the program’s airplane build projects,” Todd Young, McKinney ISD senior director of career and technical education, said in the release.”
In addition to the monetary support, the ongoing partnership with Cirrus will provide opportunities for more mentors, internships and visits to the Cirrus facility at McKinney National Airport.
Aside from the $25,000 grant, Cirrus Aircraft will also provide additional support and opportunities for MISD to which Todd Young could only express his gratitude especially since MISD is one of the few schools in Texas focusing on aviation according to a Star Local Media article from March 7. They say,
“We appreciate the donation so much and Cirrus’ support of the McKinney Aviation program,” said Young. “Our students are highly motivated to join the airline industry in a variety of ways, and Cirrus is helping bridge the gap.”
MISD remains one of about four public school districts in Texas that offers aviation courses for students aspiring to be pilots or aviation mechanics. The district began offering aviation classes in 2011 with an initial enrollment of just over 40 students. Within two years the program grew to more than 200 students and has maintained that enrollment consistently from year to year.
The four-year preparatory program enables students at all MISD high school campuses to study the history of aviation, careers in aviation, participate in hands-on projects, build and fly model aircraft, earn a student pilot license, work on aircraft and learn more about the many options available in the aviation industry.”
MISD has successfully built and developed an aircraft with a two-single engine specification. Currently, they are looking to finish their third and fortunately, the funding came just in time for them to make it more refined and developed.
