VAN NUYS, CA, Feb 29 (MARKET WIRE) --
More than 60 middle and high school career counselors from more than 35 area
schools serving 70,200 students today came together for Flight Path to the
Future, a free half-day forum aimed at enabling students interested in
aviation- and aerospace-related career paths to let their dreams take flight.
Sponsored by Van Nuys Airport (VNY) and the Economic Alliance of the San
Fernando Valley, the program provided counselors and other educators tools and
resources to guide students interested in both professional and career technical
occupations through panel discussions, keynote speakers and informational
exhibits.
"At Van Nuys Airport, which supports more than 12,500 jobs, we believe
strongly
that it is our responsibility to provide students the encouragement,
inspiration and practical advice necessary to give wings to their dreams,"
said VNY Airport Manager Selena Birk. "The Van Nuys Airport community is
committed to serving as an ongoing resource to educators, parents and the
students
they guide."
The counselors and educators at today's event heard from panelists
representing
aviation professional and trade occupations, as well as from Los Angeles City
Councilmember Tony Cardenas and Ronald A. Ramos, Director of Expendable
Propulsion
Programs, Pratt and Whitney Rocketdyne, who provided keynote remarks.
At lunch, approximately 20 students from San Fernando High School joined the
counselors after participating in a morning of job shadowing, which included
touring the airfield and shadowing a workplace mentor during normal on-the-job
activities. Students learned first-hand about careers such as airfield
operations, corporate flight operations, aircraft sales and management, and
airport maintenance.
"Today, more than ever, our young people need the support and guidance of
caring adults to understand the opportunities available to them," said Los
Angeles City Councilmember Tony Cardenas during opening remarks. "Your
workon the front line of education is also vital to building our future
workforce
and to keeping our state and nation competitive in the global economy."
Bruce Ackerman, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance of the San
Fernando Valley, added that the years to come will bring numerous opportunities
for students to pursue aviation and aerospace careers in Los Angeles County.
"Over the next decade, thousands of jobs are expected to be available in the
Los Angeles region in areas like aerospace engineering; aircraft and service
mechanic work; installation, maintenance and repair; air traffic control; and
avionics," he said. "We need students to know about these opportunities, and to
develop the life skills and workforce skills to both achieve their dreams and
to sustain a strong economy."
The expert panelists who participated in the Flight Path to the Future event
included Charles A. Sternberg, CDR, USN (Ret.), Deputy Director of Flight
Operations Facilities, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.; Mike
Terrill, Director of Academic Support, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University;
Tony
Marlow, General Manager, Hawker Beechcraft Services; Sergeant Kendra Williams,
K-9
Unit, Los Angeles Airport Police; Sharon Lencki, Instructor, Glendale Community
College; Phillip Struyk, Instructor, Education Center - North Valley Campus; and
Flora Margheritis, Superintendent of Operations III, Los Angeles International
Airport.
The sessions were moderated San Fernando Valley Business Journal Publisher
Pegi
Matsuda and CBS 2/ KCAL 9 News General Assignment Reporter and Weekend News
Anchor Juan Fernandez.
For more information on VNY's community and educational programs and
activities, visit www.lawa.org/vny or call (818) 909-3529.
Copyright 2008, Market Wire, All rights reserved.
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