Ashley Sponsors 23 Students to Attend National Flight Academy

August 2, 2017  by Larry Thomas in Community / Charitable Support, Industry   

The children, who are in grades 7 through 12, attended the week-long event that was geared to inspire interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) careers.

Participants were housed in a multi-story facility adjacent to the National Aviation Museum, where they experienced theme-park style thrills surrounded by advanced technology, flight simulators, and virtual reality games that ignite imagination and encourage learning.

Ashley officials said the students were immersed in life as a Naval Aviator aboard a modern aircraft carrier. Students were assigned missions to test their mental agility, preparedness, and communication skills, while demonstrating the importance of teamwork and goal completion.

They also had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the famous Blue Angels practice barrel rolls and aerobatic formations with an unobstructed, front row view of the show.

“The National Flight Academy Ambition Program is an outstanding opportunity for students with interest in STEM related fields.” said Ron Wanek, founder and chairman of Ashley. “This program provides a hands-on experience that exposes these students to a multitude of career paths that will support our future workforce.”