2018 Aviation Design Challenge Second-Place School Completes Redbird STEM Camp

Washington, DC – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today announced that the 2018 Aviation Design Challenge second-place team, from St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West St. Paul, Minnesota, completed the Redbird Flight Simulations Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Lab Camp.

On August 1 and 2, RedbirdSTEM’s Director of Training and Development Greg Roark taught 30 students from the school about subjects like aerodynamics, physics, flight, aviation weather and more over the course of five, one-hour classes. At the end of each day, the students applied what they learned in a round up competition on Redbird’s Jay Velocity simulators.

“The demand for pilots, technicians and other general aviation industry professionals is greater than ever, as confirmed by the 2018 Pilot and Technician Outlook that Boeing released at EAA AirVenture,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We’re proud to work with Redbird Flight Simulations and our other member companies to develop ways for students to learn about the industry, find pathways to a career in it and get hands-on experience with aviation.”

Redbird worked with St. Croix Lutheran Academy to offer the camp to more students than just those who competed in the Aviation Design Challenge, to increase the camp’s reach and impact on the student body. Of the 30 students who attended the camp, three participated in the Design Challenge.

“These kids did a great job,” said Roark. “We introduced applied math and science lessons to them that are normally reserved for more advanced classes, but they knocked it out of the park! The school community has been amazing and we’d love to go back.”

Additionally, students received support for their participation in the camp from members of the U.S. Congress. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-MN) Outreach Director visited the students on August 2, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the students praising them for their achievement in the Aviation Design Challenge and encouraging them to keep up the great work in pursuing STEM-focused education.

The GAMA Aviation Design Challenge is a life-changing competition promoting STEM education in U.S. high schools through aviation curriculum and a virtual fly-off. Since the program began in 2013, GAMA has reached over 400 schools and over 1,800 students spanning 43 states and Washington, D.C. In addition to Redbird Flight Simulations, the following companies also sponsored the 2018 Aviation Design Challenge: BBA Aviation, Boeing Global Services, Bombardier Business Aircraft, Bose, Cirrus Aircraft, Click Bond, Inc., Embraer, Garmin, GE Aviation, Glasair Aviation, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Hartzell Propeller, Jet Aviation, Lycoming Engines, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rockwell Collins and Textron Aviation. Sponsors provided round-trip airfare, hotels and meals for the first-place team as well as in-kind donations.

Attached is the official GAMA Aviation Design Challenge logo, and two photos of the camp for media use. Click here to see more photos of the camp, and watch a video of Roark reading Senator Klobuchar's letter to the students.

For additional information, please contact Sarah McCann, GAMA Director of Communications, at +1 (202) 637-1375 or smccann@gama.aero.

GAMA is an international trade association representing over 100 of the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA's members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and manage fleets of aircraft. For more information, visit GAMA's website at www.GAMA.aero.