Flight Training - May 2023 - 27

YOU CAN FLY
BY EMMA QUEDZUWEIT
SWITCH
AND
LEARNING TO LEAD
STUDENT PIONEERS AOPA STEM PROGRAM
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CAMPELL GLADSKI'S
love of flying has taken her far, from pursuing
a career in aviation to sharing with
others through AOPA's Aviation STEM
curriculum at her high school.
Gladski's father is a member of a flying
club at Westerly State Airport (WST)
in Westerly, Rhode Island, and took
Campbell flying to surrounding areas
such as Block Island, Martha's Vineyard,
and Nantucket. Even though she hasn't
earned her certificate yet, she can take
off in dad's Cessna 172 and has nearly
mastered landings.
When the opportunity arose for an
internship during her junior year of high
school, she began searching for aviation
companies in Westerly. One of the companies
she discovered was Power Aviation
Strategies-an aviation sales and marketing
firm at the Westerly airport. Gladski
set up a meeting with CEO Jessica Power,
and the two hit it off.
" Jessica was such a wonderful person
to talk to, " Gladski said. " She exemplified
the power of women in the aviation industry.
Her passion for her aviation marketing
business got me inspired. "
Power introduced Gladski to the AOPA
Foundation High School Aviation STEM
Curriculum, which offers free aviation
courses for high schools. The program
consists of comprehensive, credit-bearing,
four-year aviation course pathways, and
schools may choose some or all courses
to match their needs. Subjects include
engineering design, aircraft systems and
performance, weather, instrument flight,
advanced drone tech, and more, while
teachers receive initial training, ongoing
support from AOPA, and access to an
extensive library of educational resources.
" I was so impressed, " says Gladski.
" And of course, I wanted to pursue this
project of integrating this program into
my high school. "
In August 2022, she spoke to the
school committee to advocate for the program.
She and Power met with Westerly
High's principal, STEM coordinator, the
head of career and technical education
pathways, and with program leaders at
AOPA who explained the needed details
and provided support. Gladski was " grateful
to the leaders at AOPA for being so
helpful and encouraging, " during the process,
and to her delight, the first course,
" Introduction to Aviation, " was approved
in December 2022.
Gladski's work is not over, however.
The next step in her plan is to present
the AOPA Aviation STEM Curriculum to
Westerly Middle School with the goal of
introducing ninth graders entering high
school to the exciting possibilities
in aviation.
Now in her senior year at Westerly,
Gladski is applying to several colleges
to pursue a degree in aviation management.
Her dream job would be to work at
Boeing or other major aircraft company
in the future.
" I am super excited to go to college
and study aviation, " she says. " With the
integration of the free curriculum into
my school, Westerly High School will
be the first school in Rhode Island with
this program. I cannot wait to share the
world of aviation and all it has to offer
with my peers. "
emma.quedzuweit@aopa.org
FLIGHT TRAINING MAY 2023
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Flight Training - May 2023

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