Middle Georgia gets big education boost

The city of Warner Robins goes by a few names. War Town and the International City are two distinguished monikers. However, if the citizens of Warner Robins are asked what they call their city, there’s a good chance they’ll respond, “The City of Planes, Trains, and Heroes.” Warner Robins is well known for Robins Air Force Base, the largest industrial complex in the state. Now, thanks to the Houston County Career Academy (HCCA) and Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), young students all over middle Georgia may get the opportunity to build on this reputation by taking part in the Dual Enrollment Aircraft Structural Technology Program (AST).

Starting in the fall, HCCA and CGTC will be working in conjunction to provide middle Georgia students the opportunity to get hands-on experience working with aircraft and completing tasks in repairs and manufacturing. The program is not exclusive to Houston County schools but will allow students across the entirety of the region to attend, including students of public, private and home school environments. Classes will be held at the Central Georgia Aerospace Training and Sustainment Center, formerly known as the Boeing Building. Classes will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will be offered majorly to high school juniors and seniors.

Sabrina Phelps, principal and CEO of the HCCA, is keyed up for the program. “We’re super, super excited about this effort, and for our students to be able to learn firsthand and be on the campus at Macon Airport. They’ll be right there in those project-based learning classrooms and be able to gain that hands-on experience.” Phelps also explained that this program lasts for one year, and once completed, students will be given an Aircraft Structural Technical Certificate of Credit from CGTC. “The students are, we like to say, interviewing every day. They’re in these jobs, so they’ll be working with some of our partners in the class and will be provided real-life projects for them.”

Kim Gunn, Director of High School Initiatives for CGTC, also expressed her excitement. “If [students] can earn the certificate, and they figure out in high school that this is really something they want to do, the hope is that they will continue on at CGTC, either to finish out the Aircraft Structural Technology Diploma, or roll that into a degree or maybe a different pathway. What we’ve seen over the years is that a lot of Aircraft Structural Technology dual enrollment students really find their niche, and they like it a lot, and they want to continue.”

Courses available in this program include Basic Blueprint Reading, Aircraft Structural Fundamentals and Advanced Blueprint Reading.

CGTC will be hosting a Parent Night event that will give parents the opportunities to gain a better understanding of what this program is and ask any questions they may have. Parent Night will take place on April 13 between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at 1821 Avondale Mill Road, Macon Georgia, in building one.

HHJ News